The Hill News

Doctors are pleased with Sen. Mark Kirk's (R-Ill.) progress in rehabilitation therapy from a stroke he suffered last month. 

"Sen. Kirk is adapting well to the rehabilitation program," Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Center for Stroke Rehabilitation Medical Director Dr. Richard L. Harvey said in a statement on Friday. "This week he started walking exercises on a treadmill and is performing an increasing number of routine tasks independently. We are pleased with his progress."

Kirk suffered an ischemic stroke in late January. He then underwent a number of surgeries to relieve brain swelling as a result of the stroke.

{mosads}Doctors predicted that Kirk was likely to make a recovery in a matter of weeks or months and would likely h! ave to deal with some amount of motor-function impairment on the left side of his body. Kirk's mental functions, however, would be fine, his physicians said.

Earlier in February, Kirk was able to see his family and watched the Super Bowl over the weekend after his condition was upgraded to "good."