Experimental stroke therapy helps Illinois senator

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Associated Press

Story Created: Fri Aug 10, 2012 2:43 PM

Story Updated: Fri Aug 10, 2012 2:43 PM

CHICAGO (AP) — Experimental therapy may have helped U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk recover more of his mobility after his stroke than he would have with the care typically offered.

Experts who watched a recent video of Kirk walking and climbing stairs say the Illinois Republican is making excellent progress. They say he always may need a cane, but even that is difficult to predict.
Kirk credits Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago researcher George Hornby with pushing stroke patients to work harder during their recovery.
Hornby says patients getting his experimental therapy are urged to walk 10 times farther than they would in standard therapy.
The 52-year-old Kirk suffered a stroke in January. He walked nearly 15 miles and climbed 145 flights of stairs over nine weeks while participating in Hornby's research.
 
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