Researchers
Hillel Finestone

Hillel Finestone

MD, FRCPC

Clinician Investigator, Inflammation and Chronic Disease

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Director of Stroke Rehabilitation Research, Bruyere Continuing Care

Elisabeth Bruyere Hospital

Professor, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

University of Ottawa

Contact

hfinestone@ottawahospital.on.ca

613-562-6262 ext. 4064

@paindetective

Bio

Dr. Finestone regularly treats in and out-patients who had a stroke and he devises stroke rehabilitation programs for them in a multi-disciplinary setting at the Elisabeth Bruyere Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He treats patients experiencing musculoskeletal and neurologic pain and teaches on the topic to medical students, residents, family doctors and specialists.

His stroke research interests include: 1) Virtual Reality stroke rehabilitation technology to enhance exercise and balance- (patients play video games). 2) Driving and Stroke, 3) Technology to assist toileting in stroke, disabled and geriatric populations. His pain rehabilitation research deals with effectively communicating the Mind-Body issues that frequently concern the patient experiencing chronic pain.

Dr. Finestone is a Full Professor in the division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, at the University of Ottawa, Director of Stroke Rehabilitation Research at the Elisabeth Bruyere Hospital, Bruyere Continuing Care and Electromyographer at the Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre.

Research Goals and Interests

  • Driving and Stroke Issues
  • Nutrition, Dysphagia and Stroke
  • Effect of of Psycho-social Issues on Recovery from a Musculoskeletal Injury
  • Use of Virtual Reality in the Physical Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients

Funded Projects



Finestone H, Sveistrup H, Bilodeau M, Welch V, Hossain A, Sheehy L, Taillon-Hobson A. Home-based virtual reality training for sitting balance after discharge from inpatient stroke rehabilitation: A feasibility study. BAMO Grant, 2017. Principle Investigator.  

Finestone H, Knoefel F, Sheehy L, Sveistrup H, Taillon-Hobson A, Yang C, Bilodeau M, Welch V. Can a program of home-based virtual reality training maintain physical function and slow physical and cognitive decline in adults with mild cognitive impairment? A feasibility study. Canadian Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CC-ABHI), 2017-2018. Principle Investigator. 

Finestone, H. Sveistrup, M. Bilodeau, D. Levac, D. Fergusson. Does virtual reality exercise improve sitting balance ability and function after stroke? Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Grant, 2014-2017. Principle Investigator.  M. Bédard, S. Classen, S. Dubois, H. Finestone, L. Hunt, S. Gagnon, C. Gibbons, S. Marshall, R. Middleton, N. Mullen, G. Naglie, J. Polgar, B. Weaver. Development of a three-tiered, standardized process to assess senior drivers. Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 2013-2018. Co-applicant. 

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