Leading-edge stroke rehabilitation

Toronto Rehab’s stroke rehab service is informed by a robust, world-class research program overseen by renowned rehabilitation engineer
Dr. Geoff Fernie. Advances in research are rapidly translated to the clinical setting so that patients can continually benefit from the most cutting-edge therapies, methods and equipment.

The Mobility Team is conducting groundbreaking research showing that aerobic exercise during the sub-acute phase has the potential to improve recovery and reduce the risk of another stroke, for example. This has enabled Toronto Rehab to design and implement an exercise program for patients within two weeks after a stroke. This represents a major shift away from the traditionally delicate treatment of stroke survivors.
Patients are currently testing new technology designed by Toronto Rehab’s Activity Team. One such technology is worn under clothing to collect and transmit real-time physiological data such as heart rate, respiration, temperature and symmetry of movement. This will enable clinicians to design more specific treatments based on actual activity patterns.

Eminent neurological rehabilitation researchers work closely with the health care team that cares for stroke survivors and are accessible for discussion with patients, families and third-party funders. Researchers include:

Dr. Angela Colantonio, Senior Scientist and Saunderson Family Chair in Acquired Brain Injury Research, who has published and presented widely in the areas of stroke and dementia
Dr. William McIlroy, Senior Scientist and Mobility Team Leader, who is conducting leading-edge research to identify ways to improve mobility of patients after a stroke and to develop new treatments and technologies that will minimize the risk of falling
Dr. Dina Brooks, Research Scientist, who is widely respected for her research probing the benefits of physical activity and investigating how to bring those benefits to people with chronic conditions, including stroke survivors
Dr. Douglas Bradley, Senior Investigator and Director of the hospital's Sleep Research Laboratory, who has achieved international renown for work studying the pathophysiology of sleep apnea and its relationships to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases

In addition to constantly implementing best practices in stroke rehabilitation, Toronto Rehab is consistently recruited to lead the development of best practice.
Toronto Rehab routinely provides continuing professional development events for its health care professionals in order to ensure that members of the health care team remain at the forefront of rehabilitation practice. (Learn more about Toronto Rehab’s Professional Education Events)

Recommend Toronto Rehab to your stroke patients so they can benefit from the remarkable outcomes that are made possible by our comprehensive, specialized, leading-edge and individualized service.