Beverly Hills stroke victim walks again

 

Pilates-based physical therapy program buds at Heartland

 

By Andrea Zarczynski

C & G Staff Writer

     BEVERLY HILLS — Pilates has become a route to more than just a bikini-ready body. Since joining the new Pilates-based physical therapy program at Heartland Rehabilitation Outpatient Services in Birmingham, 40-year old Mary Iorio of Beverly Hills has regained the use of the entire left side of her body after suffering a debilitating stroke on New Year’s Eve in 2004.

     “It’s a great program. Beaumont got me on my feet, but it was at Heartland that I feel I got a lot stronger. I feel well balanced now, because of the strength I got there,” Iorio said.

     Immediately following her stroke at age 38, Iorio spent almost two weeks in intensive care and about six months in rehabilitation at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. She had lost all feeling and use of the entire left side of her body, developed a “droop” in her face, and she could not sit straight without assistance.

     According to Iorio, doctors misdiagnosed her with Mitral Valve Prolapse, or a “heart murmur,” at age 9. She said that it wasn’t until her stay at Beaumont that doctors informed her the stroke was caused by a blood clot passing through a hole in her heart.

     According to the American Heart Association, strokes are the third-leading cause of death in America.

     When her insurance plan changed in July 2006, Iorio enrolled in the Pilates program, never having tried any such exercise before. She said that she was “terrified” she would not be strong enough to use the intimidating equipment properly.

     Today she visits the center to meet with a physical therapist twice per week and an occupational therapist once each week. Pilates machines at Heartland include the Reformer and the Cadillac.

     Allison Nakisher, physical therapist and Pilates instructor at Heartland, has been training with Iorio for more than one year and said that many West Bloomfield residents visit the center for Pilates therapy to improve post surgical symptoms, knee injuries, and back and foot problems.

     “It’s universal,” she said, “Initially, Mary had no functional use of her left hand and had a painful dislocated shoulder and a significant limp … she was walking with a cane. Obviously there has been a lot of hard work and many people involved in her recovery, but from the standpoint of her functionality, this (Pilates) equipment has really empowered her.”

     Nakisher said that she uses Pilates to help teach Iorio’s brain how to control the affected side of her body and to build core strength. She also said that to her knowledge, Heartland clinics are the only local rehabilitation clinics offering Pilates in conjunction with physical therapy.

     “Since the Pilates, I can get up by myself — that’s a huge deal for me,” she said. “As a mom, it’s nice to be able to pick up the messes on the floor.”

     Iorio is the mother of one 10-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, both students at Brookside Lower School at Cranbrook. She worked as an Alumni Magazine editor at Cranbrook but left the position during summer recess in May 2006 to concentrate more on physical therapy. Returning to work is reportedly a future goal for Iorio.

     Joseph Pilates reportedly invented Pilates during World War I to help bedridden patients exercise using resistance bands attached to the beds.

     Heartland in Birmingham — 1024 South Old Woodward — is presently the only location offering rehabilitation-based Pilates. Other locations that may offer the service by next year include Southgate, Livonia, Novi, West Bloomfield and Garden City.  Call (248) 594-4269 for more information.

     You can reach Andrea Zarczynski at azar@candgnews.com