Combined Transcranial and Peripheral Muscle Magnetic Stimulation in Chronic Tinnitus

Combined Transcranial and Peripheral Muscle Magnetic Stimulation in Chronic Tinnitus

Magnetic stimulation of the brain (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) and of neck muscles (repetitive peripheral muscle stimulation) is used to alter tinnitus-related cortical activity and neck muscles tension.

Chronic tinnitus is characterized by several comorbid disorders. One of them is neck and back pain. Here, we investigate the feasibility, safety and clinical efficacy of the combination of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and peripheral muscle stimulation (rPMS) in chronic tinnitus in a pilot study. rTMS is considered to interact with neural tinnitus networks. rPMS is suggested to bring relief to muscle tension. This is an one arm study where explorative analyses will be done with special consideration on patients suffering from neck pain in the analysis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of bothersome, subjective chronic tinnitus
• Duration of tinnitus more than 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Objective tinnitus
• Treatable cause of the tinnitus
• Involvement in other treatments for tinnitus at the same time
• Clinically relevant psychiatric comorbidity
• Clinically relevant unstable internal or neurological comorbidity
• History of or evidence of significant brain malformation or neoplasm, head injury
• Cerebral vascular events
• Neurodegenerative disorder affecting the brain or prior brain surgery
• Metal objects in and around body that can not be removed
• Pregnancy
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Acute neck or back pain
• Neck or back pain of unknown etiology
• Implants in the neck or back, that are sensitive to magnetic fields