Meet our Experts
Toronto Rehab researchers are pushing the frontiers of rehabilitation science. We’re finding practical solutions to prevent stroke and to help individuals who have experienced a stroke to regain their independence. We’re also working hard to get our best ideas and innovations into widespread use. Current stroke-related research projects include:
Benefits of early, sustained aerobic exercise
Toronto Rehab research has shown the benefits for stroke patients of starting aerobic exercise earlier and sustaining it longer. A study by
Drs. William McIlroy and
Dina Brooks revealed that patients who began exercising as soon as two weeks post-stroke improved their fitness and strengthened their heart.
Restoring grasping ability
Dr. Milos Popovic and colleagues are using functional electrical simulation (FES) to improve voluntary grasping ability. The technology has effectively “retrained” some people’s nervous systems to function even when the device is removed. The team is investigating whether FES can help stroke patients stand and walk.
Improving swallowing
Difficulty swallowing is common for stroke survivors. Twenty per cent of stroke patients die in the first year from pneumonia caused by food or liquid entering the airway. Senior scientist
Dr. Catriona Steele has pioneered new ways to treat tongue weakness to help people regain the muscle strength and function needed for swallowing.
Robotic strength rebuilding
A robotic device to help stroke patients rebuild upper-body strength is being developed by
Dr. Alex Mihailidis and others at Toronto Rehab and beyond. The new device will enable patients to do these exercises unsupervised at any time, with individual adaptation thanks to artificial intelligence.
Linking stroke and sleep apnea
Senior investigator
Dr. Douglas Bradley has uncovered a link between stroke and sleep apnea, a condition in which people stop breathing for short periods during sleep. Unfortunately, only 10 per cent of sleep apnea cases are diagnosed. Dr. Bradley is devising a screening device to catch the condition in more people earlier.