Steady Strides

Steady Strides: Medical Fall Prevention and Neurological Rehabilitation in Maryland

Steady Strides is a medical institute led by Dr. Levi (Levan) Atanelov, MD, focused on comprehensive fall prevention, balance and gait deficits, and stroke rehabilitation. The entity presents itself as the nation's first comprehensive medical fall prevention institute and operates from Owings Mills, Maryland, where it serves patients in the Baltimore area.

The gait and balance rehabilitation program was developed by Dr. Atanelov and combines modern medicine with the science of human biomechanics to diagnose and treat conditions that increase the risk of falls. The company states it has been providing services in Maryland since 2017.

Areas of Clinical Care

The institute organizes its activity around several lines of treatment:

• Fall Prevention: intervention aimed at preventing adverse consequences such as hip fractures or head injuries.
• Physical Therapy: comprehensive physical therapy to address balance, pain, and neuro-rehabilitation.
• Stroke Rehabilitation: medical treatment and specialized rehabilitative interventions.
• Occupational Therapy: work on essential daily functions for fall prevention and stroke recovery.
• Physiatry Services: integration of medical care and rehabilitation science for individuals with temporary or permanent disabilities.
• Elderly Nursing: collaboration with facilities across Maryland to elevate the level of care and coordinate rehabilitation efforts.

Method of Work: From Diagnosis to Personalized Plan

The team applies a comprehensive, evidence-based approach grounded in movement biomechanics with two objectives: to diagnose and prioritize each patient's medical and functional deficits, and to design a personalized recovery plan. This process is typically completed in one or two visits.

Planning is tailored to each person's medical history, lifestyle, movement patterns, and daily activities. The protocol includes setting goals jointly with the patient and their family, and the responsible physicians guide the process toward restoring mobility and independence.

Profile of Dr. Levi Atanelov

Dr. Atanelov is the founder, CEO, and rehabilitation physician at Steady Strides. He specializes in fall prevention, stroke rehabilitation, and spasticity management. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Cybernetics and a Master of Science in Biochemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles. He subsequently studied Jewish medical ethics and Talmud at the Heiden Institute in Jerusalem, Israel.

He completed his medical training at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Following his residency, he was recruited as a full-time faculty member in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at Johns Hopkins, where he served as Assistant Program Director and oversaw the training of resident physicians. He also served as Director of the PM&R Multidisciplinary Fall Prevention Program at Johns Hopkins. He currently dedicates the majority of his clinical practice to serving as Medical Director at Steady Strides.

He is the author of the Resident's Handbook of Medical Quality and Safety, which according to the company recorded 12,000 downloads in its first year of publication. He has been a member of the Maryland Falls Free Coalition.

Patients and Care Settings

Steady Strides serves older adults, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. It provides physiatric care in outpatient clinics, as well as in nursing homes and adult day care centers. The team works interdisciplinary with nurses, therapists (physical, occupational, and speech), and social workers.

The entity cites the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) to note that individuals who have experienced two or more falls in a year or a bone fracture from a fall are at high risk of future falls, and the American Heart Association (AHA) to indicate that stroke recovery improves with collaboration from medical specialists such as physiatrists specializing in neuro-rehabilitation.

Care Approach and Coordination

The institute describes its care as a process aimed at restoring independence and enabling patients to resume their activities without relying on others. The entity states that many patients arrive after years of physical therapy with limited progress and that at its facilities they achieve advances toward their goals. Its method combines advanced technology with proven traditional techniques.

The company states that it integrates patient education and comprehensive care in an environment designed to reduce anxiety about medical treatment, with a streamlined appointment system to minimize wait times.

Location and Contact

9199 Reisterstown Rd, Suite 101B, Owings Mills, MD 21117 · Phone: 443-898-8160 · Email: hello@steadystridesmd.com · Hours: Monday: 9:00-17:00; Tuesday: 9:00-17:00; Wednesday: 9:00-17:00; Thursday: 9:00-17:00; Friday: 9:00-15:00