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716-235-3013 [email protected]
Buffalo Rehab

Buffalo Rehab

Conditions We Treat, Dementias, Neurological Rehabilitation, Pain, Progressive Neurological Diseases, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Walking Conditions

Buffalo Rehab in West Seneca, NY

Authored by Michelle Eliason, MS, OTR/L, CKTS, C.D.S.

Buffalo Rehab Option :

Buffalo Occupational Therapy

Buffalo Occupational Therapy is a specialized buffalo rehab option and was founded in October of 2018 through the Aging with Purpose organization. Buffalo Occupational Therapy has multiple practitioners with specific specialties and professional interests. The practitioners use a neurological-centered approach to rehabilitation which is more commonly known as Neurocentric Rehabilitation. Their hybrid approach to occupational therapy sets them apart in outpatient rehabilitation. 

How can outpatient occupational therapy help you?

Outpatient occupational therapy is a great option within the Buffalo rehab group. We can help you immediately following a medical event or surgery, but also provide long-term oversight and maintenance if you have a progressive diagnosis like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or Multiple Sclerosis. When you choose an outpatient occupational therapy practice, you are creating a long term relationship with a rehab specialist who knows you, your condition, and what you should expect throughout each stage of recovery and/or maintenance.

What are some problems occupational therapy can help solve? 

Check out other problems we help resolve!

Other Specialized

Areas of Practice

Upper Body and Lower Body Rehabilitation

In order to be functional experts, occupational therapists are fully trained in human anatomy- both upper body and lower body rehabilitation strategies and techniques. This allows us to address upper body and lower body diagnoses, posture, balance deficits, and more. We use various treatment methods such as exercises, stretching, training in body mechanics, massage and manipulation, endurance and stamina activities, stair climbing, walking training, and modalities such as e-stim, vibration, cold, and heat. 

Vocational Rehabilitation

Vocational Rehabilitation helps you get back to doing what you love and find meaningful. If you have recently experienced a traumatic medical event, been given a diagnoses affecting your livelihood, or have a loved one needing support and training to enter the work-field for the first time, Buffalo Occupational Therapy can provide vocational rehabilitation for a reasonable cost. 

Geriatric Rehabilitation

Current research has revealed the human body goes through enough changes over the age 65 to demand a unique approach to medicine and rehabilitation. Buffalo Occupational Therapy uses a Neuro Therapeutic approach partnered with their knowledge of human development to treat older adults through Geriatric Rehabilitation. 

Neurological Rehabilitation

Neurological Rehabilitation uses a variety of techniques and methods to promote neuroplasticity, neuronal re-patterning, and return of function to enhance daily living. It is used to help those who have  been diagnosed with Neuro-related illness, like Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's, or Multiple Sclerosis,  suffered a stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury.

Kinesiology Taping

Buffalo Occupational Therapy is specialized in applying kinesiology taping techniques to the skin in order to enhance neural plasticity, support recovery, offer joint support, reduce chronic pain, decrease nerve pain,  and help correct muscle imbalances.

Adaptive and Durable Medical Equipment

Buffalo Occupational Therapy offers specialized advice on appropriate adaptive equipment and durable medical equipment for aging  in place as well as maximizing independence when living with a progressive disease or chronic illness. Offering low-cost options to address your concerns is something we pride ourselves on, and if we can't offer you a solution, we will find someone who can! 

Functional Rehabilitation

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Environment and Home Assessments

Ensuring your personal physical environment and home environment is accessible and safe is just one area of occupational therapy practice. Buffalo Occupational Therapy is specialized in assessing your physical symptoms and needs and applying this information to creating a livable environment both now and throughout the course of your diagnosis. Occupational therapists seek to maximize independence to keep you living in the place of your choice.

Cognitive Therapy and Dual Tasking

Buffalo Occupational Therapy has a special focus in neuroanatomy and what each area of the brain controls in terms of information processing, functional performance, and executing gross mobility. Where many other practices only work on mobility or only work on cognition, Buffalo OT is the only practice in Western New York, addressing both needs in one plan of care. Dual tasking and cognitive therapy is an area BOT feels very confident in addressing as we have seen amazing therapy outcomes. 

Helpful Page Definititions

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are essential for independence in life roles and required for aging in place. There are 8 activities core activities for independence including cooking, cleaning, communication, taking and managing medication, handling your personal finances, transportation and community mobility, shopping

Cooking - The ability to follow a recipe and having the stamina to prepare a meal for yourself and/or your family

Cleaning -   The ability to perform light housekeeping including making your bed, doing your laundry, washing the dishes, taking out the trash, vacuuming, sweeping, cleaning your bathroom, etc. 

Communication - The ability to use the telephone, the computer, have conversations with people (familiar and strangers), communicate your needs clearly.

Taking medication - The ability to sort and organize your medication or determine a compensatory method to do so as well as taking the appropriate dosage at the appropriate time. 

Personal Finances - The ability to establish an organization method to understand financial responsibilities and pay your bills on time. 

Transportation - Whether you are driving, calling for a driving service like a taxi or Uber, or taking public education. You must have a defined action plan for community mobility and transportation.

Shopping - The ability to plan transportation, plan a grocery/clothing list of needs for yourself and your home, have the stamina to collect your items at the store, and be able to get them into your house. 

Activities of Daily Living

Occupational therapists are trained in occupations and activity analysis. An occupation is an activity that you believe is important to your life. There are many levels of occupations, but activities of daily living (ADLs) are the most personal activities and are usually the ones people find most important if they were to lose the ability to complete them.  

ADLs include:

  • Bathing and showering
  • Getting dressed
  • Going to the bathroom
  • Walking and getting up and down from a chair or car
  • Eating and swallowing
  • Feeding 
  • Sexual activity 
  • Personal hygiene and grooming
  • Being able to use personal care devices like adaptive equipment and durable medical equipment 

Outpatient Occupational Therapy

Outpatient Occupational Therapy

Conditions We Treat, Dementias, Neurological Rehabilitation, Pain, Progressive Neurological Diseases, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Walking Conditions

Outpatient Occupational Therapy

Authored by Michelle Eliason, MS, OTR/L, CKTS, C.D.S.

What is the role of outpatient occupational therapy?

Outpatient occupational therapy, like every other outpatient rehabilitation, is a specialized area of rehab that makes the ability to recover more accessible for you when you return home. If you have ever complained of chronic pain, had a muscle injury, joint replacement, or other medical event, typically your medical provider will recommend outpatient rehab. The role of occupational therapy is to address your physical concerns, environmental concerns, and functional abilities required for independence.

How can outpatient occupational therapy help you?

Outpatient occupational therapy can help you immediately following a medical event or surgery, but also provide long-term oversight and maintenance if you have a progressive diagnosis like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or Multiple Sclerosis. When you choose an outpatient occupational therapy practice, you are creating a long term relationship with a rehab specialist who knows you, your condition, and what you should expect throughout each stage of recovery and/or maintenance.

What are some problems occupational therapy can help solve? 

Check out other problems we help resolve!

Helpful Page Definititions

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are essential for independence in life roles and required for aging in place. There are 8 activities core activities for independence including cooking, cleaning, communication, taking and managing medication, handling your personal finances, transportation and community mobility, shopping

Cooking - The ability to follow a recipe and having the stamina to prepare a meal for yourself and/or your family

Cleaning -   The ability to perform light housekeeping including making your bed, doing your laundry, washing the dishes, taking out the trash, vacuuming, sweeping, cleaning your bathroom, etc. 

Communication - The ability to use the telephone, the computer, have conversations with people (familiar and strangers), communicate your needs clearly.

Taking medication - The ability to sort and organize your medication or determine a compensatory method to do so as well as taking the appropriate dosage at the appropriate time. 

Personal Finances - The ability to establish an organization method to understand financial responsibilities and pay your bills on time. 

Transportation - Whether you are driving, calling for a driving service like a taxi or Uber, or taking public education. You must have a defined action plan for community mobility and transportation.

Shopping - The ability to plan transportation, plan a grocery/clothing list of needs for yourself and your home, have the stamina to collect your items at the store, and be able to get them into your house. 

Activities of Daily Living

Occupational therapists are trained in occupations and activity analysis. An occupation is an activity that you believe is important to your life. There are many levels of occupations, but activities of daily living (ADLs) are the most personal activities and are usually the ones people find most important if they were to lose the ability to complete them.  

ADLs include:

  • Bathing and showering
  • Getting dressed
  • Going to the bathroom
  • Walking and getting up and down from a chair or car
  • Eating and swallowing
  • Feeding 
  • Sexual activity 
  • Personal hygiene and grooming
  • Being able to use personal care devices like adaptive equipment and durable medical equipment 
Stroke Rehabilitation

Stroke Rehabilitation

Conditions We Treat, Neurological Rehabilitation, Stroke

Stroke Rehabilitation

Authored by Michelle Eliason, MS, OTR/L, CKTS, C.D.S.

In search of an outpatient neurological stroke rehab program in Buffalo, NY?

More Information

When should you have stroke rehabilitation?

Depending on how big your stroke was and the area of the brain your stroke affected, you may experience a wide range of physical and cognitive symptoms. These symptoms dictate the amount of stroke rehabilitation you should seek.

Discover more information regarding the type of stroke you had through the American Stroke Association.

If you have had a stroke, you will most likely have occupational therapy in an acute setting (hospital), sub-acute setting (nursing home), and sometimes part of a team of home therapy medical professionals for a short time.  Unfortunately, many symptoms and side effects linger long after these services take place. Your potential to improve may exist far beyond someone has told you that you have reached a  ‘functional plateau’ or functional baseline’. It is important to understand the body’s recovery process after a brain injury and to always look for a second opinion if you have had stroke rehabilitation for less than 3-6 months before being told therapy is no longer an option – regardless of age. Remember that your brain has a desire to find new pathways and new ways of meaningful activities (IADLs or ADLs)  after an injury (neural plasticity) and that function exists until the day you die.

Why is outpatient occupational therapy imperative for stroke rehabilitation?

What are some problems an occupational therapy can help solve? 

Additional areas of occupational therapy post stroke: 

PAIN

Pain experienced post-stroke is often due to muscle atrophy as a result of disrupted neuromuscular communication. Diagnoses such as shoulder subluxation can be addressed by way of occupational therapy in may ways including modalities, kinesiology taping, manual therapy, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation to re-establish the communication between the nervous system and the muscular system.

COGNITION

Cognition and the ability to effectively communicate when around friends, family, or even strangers will often times be effected after a stroke. Occupational therapy provides evaluation, evidence-based assessments, and research-based interventions for cognitive rehabilitation and utilizes neurocentric approach to maximize independence post-stroke.

SIDE NEGLECT

Right-sided or Left-sided neglect can often time occur after a cerebral vascular accident. The side of the brain which has been affected by the stroke will be the determining factor of sided-neglect. Experiencing neglect can greatly impact your safety, quality of life, and independence.  An occupational therapist will help you become aware of your neglected side through many types of interventions and treatment approaches. 

ADL/IADL TRAINING

Occupational therapists specialize in activity analysis. Activity analysis is breaking down a task into its basic parts and you master each part of the whole activity in order to enable maximum independence. Individuals suffering the affects of a large stroke (CVA) require education regarding how to work with the new way his/her body is operating in order to remain independent in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).

Helpful Page Definititions

Functional Plateau

What is a functional plateau or functional baseline?

It can be confusing when you are told that you have stopped making progress and no longer qualify for therapy - nobody wants to hear this! A functional plateau label is given when the therapist you are seeing stops seeing progress being made toward the goals he/she set during the evaluation process. It is also considered 'reaching a new functional baseline'. This means they believe you have reached maximum progress or you will not make any measurable gains in the near future. They can no longer justify restorative therapy (therapy to bring back function). 

Remember that there are other therapists with other perspectives! There are specialty therapists for each individual diagnosis and they may see different therapeutic potential! Always get a second opinion before accepting the idea that you or your loved one has reached all of your maximum potential! You may just need another approach! 

 

Neural Plasticity

What is neural plasticity or brain plasticity? 

Neural plasticity or brain plasticity is a concept known by neurological-centered medical professionals. It is your brain's ability to create new pathways to work around injured ones! This is the foundation of rehabilitation (your body's ability to repair itself). Whether you are re-learning to put weight through your joints after surgery or re-learning to open and shut your hand after a stroke -- neural plasticity is involved! If someone has had a stroke, brain injury, diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia, multiple sclerosis, etc. ---the body's desire to maintain its ability to function does not disappear it just needs to be guided in a specific way. 

Functional Activities

Occupation-based interventions are the most functional-based approach to rehabilitation. When you are invested in the activity and understand why you are doing something, your brain's ability to heal and re-learn motor patterns improves exponentially! Occupational therapists are functional rehabilitation specialists which means we are experts in translating physical strategies into functional activities! We understand that performing a sit-to-stand in the studio is much different than getting up from your favorite recliner chair! Likewise, re-learning how to move your arm or walk in the studio is much different than feeling confident entering your home or moving about the community! Buffalo Occupational Therapy always bridges this gap and includes these real-life elements as part of our outpatient rehabilitation process!

Activity Analysis

Occupational therapists specialize in activity analysis. Activity analysis is breaking down a task into its basic parts and you master each part of the whole activity in order to enable maximum independence.

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are essential for independence in life roles and required for aging in place. There are 8 activities core activities for independence including cooking, cleaning, communication, taking and managing medication, handling your personal finances, transportation and community mobility, shopping

Cooking - The ability to follow a recipe and having the stamina to prepare a meal for yourself and/or your family

Cleaning -   The ability to perform light housekeeping including making your bed, doing your laundry, washing the dishes, taking out the trash, vacuuming, sweeping, cleaning your bathroom, etc. 

Communication - The ability to use the telephone, the computer, have conversations with people (familiar and strangers), communicate your needs clearly.

Taking medication - The ability to sort and organize your medication or determine a compensatory method to do so as well as taking the appropriate dosage at the appropriate time. 

Personal Finances - The ability to establish an organization method to understand financial responsibilities and pay your bills on time. 

Transportation - Whether you are driving, calling for a driving service like a taxi or Uber, or taking public education. You must have a defined action plan for community mobility and transportation.

Shopping - The ability to plan transportation, plan a grocery/clothing list of needs for yourself and your home, have the stamina to collect your items at the store, and be able to get them into your house. 

Activities of Daily Living

Occupational therapists are trained in occupations and activity analysis. An occupation is an activity that you believe is important to your life. There are many levels of occupations, but activities of daily living (ADLs) are the most personal activities and are usually the ones people find most important if they were to lose the ability to complete them.  

ADLs include:

  • Bathing and showering
  • Getting dressed
  • Going to the bathroom
  • Walking and getting up and down from a chair or car
  • Eating and swallowing
  • Feeding 
  • Sexual activity 
  • Personal hygiene and grooming
  • Being able to use personal care devices like adaptive equipment and durable medical equipment