Objective      To investigate the effect of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the recovery of motor function in the patients with acute cerebral infarction.       Methods      A total of forty-four hospitalized patients with acute cerebral infarction combined with hemiparalysis were divided into a low-frequency rTMS group (n=22) and a sham rTMS group (n=22). The patients of the low-frequency rTMS group were given 10 daily sessions of 1 Hz rTMS over contralesional primary motor cortices. All the patients underwent motor function training after the rTMS treatment. The NIHSS

Barthel index (BI) and Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) were performed before and in 10 and 40 d after low-frequency rTMS treatment.       Results      No significant difference was found in basal rating scales between the two groups (P0.05). The clinical function scores (NIHSS

BI and FMA) of the two groups improved significantly at days  10 and 40 after treatment (P0.01). The patients of the low-frequency rTMS group showed more significant improvement in the NIHSS

BI and FMA scores as compared with the patients of the sham rTMS group (P0.05).       Conclusion      Low-frequency rTMS can improve the motor function recovery of patients with acute cerebral infarction

with effects lasting for at least one month after treatment.