Lisa Sheehy
PT, PhD
Affiliate Investigator
Member
International Stroke Recovery Research Alliance (ISRRA) Emerging Leaders Group
Member
University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute
Clinical Research Manager
Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation - Brain-Heart Nexus Research Program
About:
Lisa Sheehy is a physiotherapist who graduated from McMaster University in 1992. She has worked in hospital and private clinic settings as a physiotherapist, including in geriatric, orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation. She returned to school in 2004 and completed her MSc and PhD in Rehabilitation Science at Queen’s University in 2013. She has worked at Bruyère Research Institute since 2014, first as a postdoctoral fellow, then as a research associate, and now as Affiliate Investigator. She also works as a Clinical Research Manager for the Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation’s Brain-Heart Nexus Research Program.
Her primary research areas include investigating the use of technology for stroke and geriatric rehabilitation, including use of non-immersive virtual reality in recovery. She is the coordinator at Bruyère for the “Walk n Watch” multi-centre trial, which is investigating the implementation of an enhanced protocol of walking to improve gait and functional outcomes after stroke. She also coordinates Bruyère’s involvement in the CanStim feasibility trial, which is assessing the feasibility of adding transcranial magnetic stimulation to occupational therapy to enhance upper extremity recovery after stroke.
Sheehy is also interested in smart apartment technology that allows individuals with cognitive impairment to age in place and support informal caregivers, and how immersive VR avatars may be used as a companion for people living with dementia as a means to reduce social isolation and improve responsive and reactive dementia behaviours. Her work explores how both arts and technology can enhance quality of life for patients in hospital and residents living in long-term care.
Sheehy received the 2022 AMS Compassion and AI Fellowship for work addressing the impact of immersive virtual reality on pain and distress for patients living in complex continuing care.
Research Interests:
Stroke and geriatric rehabilitation, virtual reality (VR), technology for aging in place, use of arts and technology to improve quality of life.
Select Publications:
O’Neil J, Keely B, Morgan Donnelly E, Sheehy L, Sveistrup H. (2023). Identification and description of telerehabilitation assessments for individuals with neurological conditions: A scoping review. Digital Health.
Sheehy L, Sveistrup H, Knoefel F, Taillon-Hobson A, Martin T, Egan M, Bilodeau M, Welch V, Yang C, Finestone H. (2021). The use of home-based non-immersive virtual reality to encourage physical and cognitive exercise in people with mild cognitive impairment: a feasibility study. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity.
Li L, Wiebe C, fleury cj, Sveistrup H, Sheehy L. (2021). Impact of an Artist-in-Residence program in a complex continuing care hospital: a quality improvement investigation. Arts & Health Journal.
Sheehy L, Taillon-Hobson A, Sveistrup H, Bilodeau M, Finestone H. (2020). Sitting balance exercise performed using virtual reality training on a stroke rehabilitation inpatient service: A randomized controlled study. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Sheehy L, Taillon-Hobson A, Finestone H, Bilodeau M, Yang C, Hafizi D, Sveistrup H. (2020). Centre of pressure displacements produced in sitting during virtual reality training in younger and older adults and patients who have had a stroke. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology.
Contact:
lsheehy@bruyere.org