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Friday, Aug 10, 2012 7:19 PM UTC

Experimental stroke therapy helps Illinois senator

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Topics: From the Wires,

Experimental stroke therapy helps Illinois senatorThis photo taken from video provided Aug. 5, 2012 by Sen. Mark Kirk's office, shows Sen. Mark Kirk at his home in Fort Sheridan, Ill. Kirk is making excellent progress as he recovers from a stroke he suffered in January, according to medical experts not involved in his care who watched a video provided this week by the Illinois Republican's office. (AP Photo/Courtesy Sen. Mark Kirk's office)(Credit: AP)

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.

More Carla K. Johnson.

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