Table 4 The level of GRADE for outcomes

FMA-UL

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke (< 1 month)

SMD 0.44 (0.24 to 0.63)

443 (10 studies)

 ⊕ ⊕ ⊕ ⊕ 

high^1,3

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke ( 1–6 months)

SMD 0.61 (0.34 to 0.87)

233 (8 studies)

 ⊕ ⊕ ⊕ ⊖ 

moderate^2,3

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke (> 6 months)

SMD 0.13 (− 0.11 to 0.38)

274 (4 studies)

 ⊕ ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ 

low^1,2

10 Hz rTMS over ipsilesional M1 for stroke (< 1 month)

SMD 0.75 (0.49 to 1.02)

229 (3 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

10 Hz rTMS over ipsilesional M1 for stroke ( 1–6 months)

SMD 0.42 (− 0.10 to 0.93)

60 (2 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

Grip strength of affected limb

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke (< 1 month)

SMD 0.37 (− 0.15 to 0.88)

62 (3 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke ( 1–6 months)

SMD 0.32 (− 0.27 to 0.92)

44 (2 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

FMA-LL

1 HZ rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke (< 1 months)

SMD 0.67 (0.35 to 0.99)

166 (4 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

1 HZ rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke ( 1–6 months)

SMD 0.59 (0.32 to 0.86)

223 (4 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

MBI/BI

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke (< 1 month)

SMD 0.67 (0.44 to 0.89)

343 (8 studies)

 ⊕ ⊕ ⊕ ⊝ 

moderate^1,2,3

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke ( 1–6 months)

SMD 0.21 (− 0.08 to 0.50)

195 (6 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

MAS/AS

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke (< 1 month)

SMD 0.03 (− 0.49 to 0.54)

58 (2 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke ( 1–6 months)

SMD − 0.15 (− 0.54 to 0.23)

107 (3 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke (> 6 months)

SMD − 0.49(− 1.36 to 0.39)

21 (1 study)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

NHISS

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke (< 1 month)

SMD − 0.19 (− 0.09 to 0.46)

223 (5 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke (> 6 months)

SMD − 0.05 (− 0.31 to 0.22)

233 (2 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

3 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke (< 1 month)

SMD − 0.73 (− 1.06 to − 0.41)

154 (4 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

Amplitude of ipsilesional of MEPs

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke (< 1 month)

SMD 1.09 (0.70 to 1.48)

121 (4 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

Amplitude of Contralesional MEPs

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke (< 1 month)

SMD − 0.58 (− 0.90 to − 0.27)

167 (5 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke ( 1–6 months)

SMD − 0.23 (− 0.80 to − 0.35)

54 (2 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

rMT of affected hemisphere

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke (< 1 month)

SMD − 0.48 (− 0.87 to − 0.09)

105 (3 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

BBT affected hand

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke ( 1–6 months)

SMD 0.00 (− 0.59 to 0.59)

44 (2 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4

1 Hz rTMS over contralesional M1 for stroke (> 6 months)

SMD 0.03 (− 0.54 to 0.60)

48 (2 studies)

 ⊕ ⊝ ⊝ ⊝ 

very low^1,2,4