News Releases - 2007

June 25, 2007

Conquering Everyday Challenges of Stroke Rehabilitation

Spasticity clinic helps stroke survivors regain mobility and live life to the fullest

Toronto (June 25, 2007) – For Scott Plummer, every halting step is a victory. Told five years ago he’d likely never walk again after a massive stroke, the active 48-year-old is now back on his feet and dreams of one day running.

Despite his progress, lingering after-effects of the stroke known as spasticity continue to challenge Plummer, as they do approximately 60 per cent of stroke survivors. Spasticity is caused by damage to the part of the brain which regulates muscles and controls voluntary movement, often resulting in the muscles of hands, arms, legs or feet tightening up like a coiled spring.

“I had no movement in my left arm and hand, and my toe pointed straight up, so I couldn’t put on my shoe,” says Plummer, who was an avid football player before the stroke. He feared he would have to endure the rest of his life with the symptoms, until he was referred to West Park Healthcare Centre’s spasticity service.

The service in west Toronto is one of only a handful across Canada specializing in spasticity, offering patients physical therapy, oral medication, or injections of botulinum toxin A (approved in Canada as BOTOX). Headed by Dr. Chris Boulias and Dr. Farooq Ismail, the service treats more than 200 patients a year and its numbers are rapidly growing with the prevalence of stroke.

“We see dramatic results with our patients who regain flexibility of their limbs,” says Dr. Ismail, a physiatrist with West Park’s neurorehabilitation services. “The treatments give patients confidence and independence, allowing them to overcome everyday challenges such as dressing themselves.”

“It’s made a huge difference in the quality of my life,” says Plummer, who plans to write a book for other stroke survivors. “I never gave up and now I dream of one day running again.”

This month, Transamerica Life Canada donated $125,000 to support West Park’s spasticity service.

“When we saw the difference this service was making in the quality of life of its patients, it was an easy decision,” said Glenn Daniels, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Transamerica Life Canada.

June is Stroke Month, promoting education and awareness of this illness which strikes 40,000 to 50,000 Canadians each year.

West Park Healthcare Centre provides specialized rehabilitation, complex continuing care and long term care services, helping people overcome their health barriers to live life to the fullest after the onset of an illness or injury. The Centre is also recognized internationally for its expertise and research in respiratory medicine, its rehabilitation services for those with emphysema and chronic bronchitis (known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD) and its care of those with tuberculosis.

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For more information, please contact:

Vince Rice, Director, Public Relations
Phone: (416) 243-3730
Pager: (416) 372-2915
Email: vice.rice@westpark.org