The evidence base for physical therapy is growing stronger by the day, and patients, payers, and other stakeholders are taking notice. The next step: making the all-important connection between research evidence and real-world practice.
The 2019 APTA Combined Sections Meeting, set for January 23-26 in downtown Washington, DC, has no shortage of sessions focused on how physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) can bring that evidence into practice. Here are a few suggestions (and you can always find more by searching the CSM programming page).
The Ten Commandments for Fear of Falling: Evidence-Based Management Strategies
This session provides evidence-based guidance for managing fear of falling in older adults in a variety of practice settings. Hear about the evidence for comprehensive interventions such as exercise, floor recovery, hip protection, cognitive-behavioral approaches, and functional mobility training as well as recent developments in emergency alert systems for older adults. The presenters will highlight community-based programs that target fear of falling reduction and fall prevention in older adults. Thursday, January 24, 8:00 am–10:00 am.
Spotlight on Research: Translating Rotator Cuff-Related Research Into Practice
Time to get interactive in a session that will present a series of rotator cuff-related abstracts accompanied by a 20-minute discussion focused on translating the evidence into practice, with plenty of opportunities for audience debate. The topics of this session can cover the spectrum of examination, rehabilitation, and treatment outcomes of subacromial pain pathologies, which may include areas such as rotator cuff tendinopathy, subacromial pain or impingement, tears, surgery, and postoperative management, depending on the research submitted to the section. Friday, January 25, 11:00 am–1:00 pm.
Aquatic Therapy for the Lower Extremity: Applying CPG Recommendations to Practice
In this session, a board-certified orthopaedic clinical specialist, aquatic therapy specialist, and clinician will review the importance of incorporating recommendations and findings of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) into practice. The focus will be on linking recommendations from 3 lower-extremity CPGs to aquatic therapy interventions, with plenty of discussion of aquatic therapy research as it relates to the clinical decision-making process. Saturday, January 29, 8:00 am–10:00 am.