Exercise and stroke prevention

Noreen O’Shea (left), the hospital’s Physiotherapy Manager, with Helen Flynn and Rachel Fitzgerald, physiotherapists who both work with the hospital’s stroke service. The department had two stands throughout the exercise promotion week – one in the hospital’s public concourse and one in the private clinic.

It is clear that exercise – or the lack of – increases the likelihood of stroke. The hospital’s exercise promotion week took place during the first week of June and the Department of Physiotherapy helped patients and visitors with information and advice with regard to exercise. And, as the hospital is focused on fundraising for the stroke service this year, they spoke particularly to the benefits of exercise in connection with prevention of stroke and prevention of stroke recurrence.

Stroke is a huge health problem in Ireland. Up to 10,000 people suffer stroke annually in Ireland. And, while it is a disease that will strike almost every family in the country in some way, outcomes for stroke patients in Ireland are the worse in Western Europe. A dedicated team at St. James’s Hospital – that includes consultant doctors, specialist nurses, occupational therapists, speech therapists as well as physiotherapists – is focused on addressing the problem by developing organised specialist care. And this team of clinicians aims to fundraise €250,000 before the end of 2010 to provide the specialist facilities that will enable further improvements in the service for stroke patients and ensure outcomes consistent with best practice throughout the world.

To read more about the hospital’s fundraising campaign for the stroke service please click here.

Contact Us

St. James’s Hospital Foundation
St. James’s Hospital
James’s Street
Dublin 8

Telephone 01 428 4086
Email foundation@stjames.ie