Balance dysfunction is one of the most common sequelae in patients with supratentorial stroke. The cerebellum, which plays a crucial role in balance, has been targeted with intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) to improve balance function in these patients. However, the improvement of different types of balance abilities by this approach remains unclear.

To explore the influence of cerebellum iTBS intervention on the three types of balance abilities of static balance, dynamic balance and dual-task balance in supratentorial stroke patients.

Forty supratentorial stroke patients who were admitted to the Rehabilitation Medicine Center of Changzhou Dean Hospital from July 2023 to December 2024 were selected and divided into an experimental group (n=20) and a control group (n=20) by using a random number table. Both groups of subjects received conventional rehabilitation intervention. The experimental group received cerebellar iTBS intervention on this basis, while the control group received sham cerebellar iTBS intervention. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Trunk Injury Scale (TIS) were used for assessment before the intervention and 2 weeks after the intervention. They were classified and statistically analyzed according to the static balance items and dynamic balance items. In addition, a balancing instrument was used to measure the overall stability index (OSI), anterior-posterior stability index (APSI) and medial-lateral stability index (MLSI) of the patients in the stable platform, unstable platform and dual-task stable platform.

One participant in each of the experimental and control groups dropped out during the treatment period; thus, 19 patients in each group were ultimately included in the analysis. After 2 weeks of intervention, the static balance subscore of the BBS increased significantly compared with baseline within both groups (P<0.05). After 2 weeks of intervention, the OSI, APSI, and MLSI under the stable surface condition were all significantly reduced compared with pre-intervention values within both groups (P<0.05). After 2 weeks of intervention, the dynamic balance subscores of the BBS and TIS were significantly increased compared with baseline within both groups (P<0.05). After 2 weeks of intervention, patients in the experimental group showed significant reductions in the OSI and APSI under the unstable surface condition compared with pre-intervention values (P<0.05). After 2 weeks of intervention, both groups exhibited significant reductions in the OSI and MLSI under the dual-task stable surface condition compared with baseline (P<0.05). Between-group comparisons demonstrated that improvements in the experimental group were significantly greater than those in the control group in terms of the total scores of the static and dynamic balance items of the BBS, the total scores of the dynamic balance items of the TIS, the OSI and APSI under the unstable surface condition, and the OSI under the dual-task stable surface condition (P<0.05).

Cerebellar iTBS can effectively improve the balance function of patients with supratentorial stroke, and has a positive impact on static balance, dynamic balance and dual-task balance.