EvidencePT.Fall Prevention

Evidence Physical Therapy Helping you get back to the life you love!

Did You Know?

of the population over 65 suffers a fall each year? Every 11 seconds, an older adult is rushed to the emergency room for a fall. Are you or a loved one at risk? Read on to see how EvidencePT can help!

DON’T FALL FOR IT! P R E V E N T F A L L S B E F O R E T H E Y H A P P E N W I T H P H Y S I C A L T H E R A P Y

PT and Balance How PT can help to prevent accidental falls

Lower Your Risk How PT can lower your risk of contracting COVID-19

Healthy Recipe A healthy, picnic-ready summer recipe!

Evidence Physical Therapy Helping you get back to the life you love!

DON ’ T FALL FOR I T ! According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 2.5 million adults were treated for nonfatal injuries in emergency departments in 2013. In older adults, falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries. Most people don’t think about keeping their balance in shape until it is too late and they suffer a harsh fall. The good news is that most falls can easily be prevented, simply by the regular exercising of your balance system. If you have recently sustained a balance-related injury, it is important to seek the help of a physical therapist immediately, in order to avoid additional injuries in the future. It is important to note that you should also contact a physical therapist if you have any of the following symptoms: • Dizziness or vertigo (“spinning” sensations, even when remaining still). • Inability to focus or remain alert. • Double vision or tunnel vision. • Nausea or vomiting. • Arm or leg weakness. • Abnormal eye movements. • Difficulty standing up from a seated position or standing for prolonged periods of time. Do you frequently notice an imbalance, dizziness, or unsteadiness that makes you feel as if you may fall over at any given time? Have you suffered from a fall in the past? Are you worried that you may be at risk of sustaining a fall-related injury? If so, contact EvidencePT today so we can help you figure out the root of your problem and treat it accordingly!

PREVENT FALLS BEFORE THEY HAPPEN WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY

AM I AT RISK OF FALLING? Some people have a higher risk of falling than others. Certain risk factors include:

• Advanced age. • Being female.

• Fatigue. • Previous stroke or heart attack. • Arthritis or alternative joint pain. • Problems with vision. • Problems with walking or staying balanced. • Overall poor health.

• Living a sedentary life. • Previous history of falls. • Vertigo or dizziness. • Parkinson’s disease. • Alzheimer’s disease. • Heart disease. • Diabetes.

Your physical therapist will assess your medical history to determine how many risk factors toward falling you may have. They will educate you on what these factors mean, as well as steps you can take to decrease your risk. After this, they will perform a thorough physical evaluation to figure out what the best treatment plan for you will be. HOW WILL PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP REDUCE MY FALL RISK? A recently published systematic review by Cochrane, comprised of over 100 randomized controlled trials, supports exercise interventions as an effective treatment method for patients with an increased risk of falling. The average age of patients in this review was 76, and 77% of the patients were women. (Continued Inside)

CALL 301.352.8370 (GLENN DALE) OR 301.856.8386 (CLINTON) TO SCHEDULE YOUR PT CONSULTATION TODAY!

EVIDENCEPT.COM

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic we like you to know that we are working hard to help slow down the spread of this disease and keep everyone safe at our facility. Although our Clinics are open and fully operational, we understand that some of our patients may prefer to continue with social distancing. We genuinely care about the health of each and every one of our patients, which is why we are offering telehealth services to those whowould prefer to limit in-person contact. To learn more about how you can set up our telehealth services on your smartphone or computer, give us a call today. We are here to help you with all of your physical therapy needs. WE ARE OFFERING TELEHEALTH VISITS!

How Physical Therapy Can KEEP YOU ON YOUR FEET

• Walking and moving programs. This part of your treatment plan is aimed at getting you back to your normal physical function when walking and/or moving. Your physical therapist may ask you to perform certain activities, such as walking in a circle or completing an obstacle course. • Balance training. Balance is a large part of fall prevention, as lack of stability is one of the main reasons why falls occur. Your physical therapist will design a balance training plan for you as part of your treatment, and may ask you to perform certain balance-based activities, such as standing on one leg or holding your balance while performing a mentally-stimulating task (such as reciting the alphabet, reading a page from a book, or using our fun Smartfit system.) • Strength training. Strength training is typically paired with your balance training. Your physical therapist will design a strength training plan for you, which will focus on specific muscle groups in need of improvement. The goal of this will be to improve your standing and walking balance, as well as your ability to recover from a loss of balance. Are you ready to get back on your feet by improving your balance and decreasing your risk of sustaining a fall. Schedule a consultation or speak with one of our licensed physical therapists at 301.352.8370 (Glenn Dale) or 301.856.8386 (Clinton).

Results concluded that those who participated in exercise interventions had a 23% decrease in falls as compared to the control group. Fall risk was also reduced at 21-24%, depending on if treatments were done in individual or group settings. The risk of fall-related fractures was decreased by 27% and the number of falls that required medical attention was decreased by 39%. Concluding statements from the authors demonstrated how overall, “Exercise reduces both the rate of falls…and the number of people experiencing falls.” At EvidencePT, your initial physical evaluation may consist of several parts to better determine what your most problematic factors are. These may include vision tests, thinking tests, resting heart rate checks, active heart rate checks, and evaluations of your gait, balance, range of motion, and strength. Based on the results of this evaluation, your physical therapist will design a treatment plan around your specific needs. These plans are aimed first and foremost at reducing your risk of falling, but they will also aid you in improving balance, strength, flexibility, endurance, and overall movement. Some common forms of treatment include: • Painmanagement. If you are feeling painful anywhere, it will be one of the first things addressed in your treatment plan. Your physical therapist will want tomake sure that your treatment is as comfortable as possible, so you will work together on relieving pain first, before continuing into any other forms of physical activity thatmay bring youdiscomfort.

WHY OUR PATIENTS LOVE US:

What’s New At EvidencePT HURRAY...KIERSTEN IS GETTING MARRIED!

“I’m very satisfied with the treatment I received at Evidence Physical Therapy. For thirty years I lived with chronic back pain, but after treatment at Evidence Physical Therapy I’m walking, sitting and working pain free. Thanks Evidence Physical Therapy.“

The EPT family would like to congratulate Kiersten on her upcoming wedding. We wish you all the best as you get married at the end of this month. Congratulations!

— HENRY

MEET OUR TEAM

Lower Your Risk of Contracting COVID-19 WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY

AVAN RAIMALWALA PT, DPT, OCS, CMTPT, CCI Avan Raimalwala is a skilled physical therap i s t who strives to help

With cases of COVID-19 still increasing, it is important to make sure that you are doing the most for your health. Did you know that physical therapy treatments could reduce your risk of contracting this virus? At Evidence Physical Therapy, our therapeutic exercises and modalities can help build your immune system to ward off dangerous illnesses. In fact, exercise in general is a great way to boost your immune system. When your body is in shape, it quite literally has more strength to fight off unwanted viruses. Aiming for at least 20-30 minutes of physical activity a day can help strengthen not only you, but your immune system as well. Our physical therapists are movement specialists who can prescribe the individualized exercises and stretches you need to stay in the best shape possible during this time. Additionally, our physical therapists can help with nutritional

services, which can prove to be a difficult task for many when distancing at home. The essential vitamins found inmany fruits and vegetables are key tomaking sure your immune system is as healthy as possible. Our services will be analyzed on a case-by- case basis. If you are in need of in-person care, we will be following strict sanitary protocols by making sure every surface in our clinic is thoroughly cleaned and wiped down at all times. This will decrease the risk of any potential germs lingering on surfaces. If your treatments are able to be done virtually, we will be helping you through our telehealth services. At Evidence Physical Therapy, we want to make sure you remain safe and healthy, especially as more and more places begin opening back up. We are still here to help you with whatever you may need, and our aim is to help you stay healthy and strong during this time. Give us a call today!

people live a pain free quality life. She graduated with a doctorate in physical therapy from Evidence in Motion. She has been a practicing physical therapist for more than 6 years. She is a certified dry needling therapist and clinical instructor. She likes to travel and explore during her leisure time. Avan’s treatment approach is to treat a patient as if they were her own family members. She prefers to see the patient as a person and not just a body part being treated. Avan has experience treating patients in various specialties- musculoskeletal, neurological, women’s health, and cardiovascular. She believes in using personalized treatment plans as compared to using a cookie-cutter approach.

H E A L T H Y R E C I P E

BROCCOLI SALAD INGREDIENTS

• 2 strips low-sodium bacon • 1/2 cup ice cubes • 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced • 1/2 cup buttermilk • 1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream • 1/4 tsp finely grated lemon zest

• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice • Kosher salt & black pepper • 6 1/2 cups broccoli florets • 1/3 cup golden raisins • 2 tbsp salted roasted sunflower seeds

You can learn more about Avan and other staff at EvidencePT by visiting our website at evidencept.com!

INSTRUCTIONS Combine the ice cubes, onions and 1 cup water in a small bowl. Let the onions soak for 10 minutes while preparing the rest of the salad, then drain and pat dry. Cook the bacon in a small nonstick skillet over medium- low heat until crispy, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings for the dressing. Finely chop the bacon strips and reserve. Whisk the buttermilk, sour cream, lemon zest and juice, reserved bacon drippings, 3/4 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Add the broccoli, onions and golden raisins to the dressing. Toss well, cover and chill for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours. Season with additional salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving dish and top with the chopped bacon and sunflower seeds.

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GLENN DALE LOCATION 12150 Annapolis Rd #201 Glenn Dale, MD 20769 CALL: 301.352.8370

CLINTON LOCATION 7801 Old Branch Ave, #105

Clinton, MD 20735 CALL: 301.856.8386

CLINIC HOURS Mon-Thurs • 7am - 8pm | Fri • 7am-6pm | Sat • 8am-1pm

Did you know that you have the right to choose a physical therapy clinic of your preference? We coordinate with your doctor. Call in for more information.

RE F ER A FR I END TO EV I DENCEPT !

� Move without pain � Bend and move freely � Balance confidently & securely

� Sit comfortably for long periods � Walk longer distances � Maintain a healthy life

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Glenn Dale Location 301.352.8370 • Clinton Location 301.856.8386 evidencept.com @evidencept @evidence_pt