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Early intervention with iRecover could help stroke patients


September 16, 2015

There are more than 60,000 strokes every year in Canada and 30 percent of patients suffer long-term disabilities. There is a critical period following a stroke when the brain tries to repair itself, making early intervention strategies key to maximizing recovery. Yet most patients are bedridden for weeks as they wait for critical rehabilitation therapy. Now, Drs. Dar Dowlatshahi and Dale Corbett have launched iRecover, a pilot research project which uses an iPad to help these patients use a self-guided, integrative stroke rehabilitation therapy. iRecover currently concentrates on language-recovery therapy, but it has also expanded to include cognition, fine motor control and depression therapy for stroke survivors. To learn more about the iRecover pilot project and other advances in the treatment of stroke, Drs. Dowlatshahi and Corbett, along with Dr. Cheemun Lum, will give a presentation at the University of Ottawa during Brain Health Awareness Week which runs from September 14-19. An article has also been published in Tabaret, the university’s online magazine.

About The Ottawa Hospital


The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care.


For further information, please contact


Lois Ross
Senior Communications Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-737-8899 x73687
Cell: 613-297-8315
loross@ohri.ca