Occupational Therapy
Most people often wonder, what is occupational therapy?
The answer is it’s a rehabilitation service offered by Syracuse Area Health that focuses on helping patients live their lives as comfortably as possible. For some patients, that might mean adjusting to a new way to do certain tasks after surgery, while for others, it may mean adjusting to a new daily routine and way of life because of a disability. Whatever the medical condition, our occupational therapists are ready to help so you can regain the ability to live as independently and safely as possible.
To schedule an appointment with any of our therapists, please call 402.269.7622.
Our occupational therapists are trained to work with people of all ages from the young to the elderly, dealing with a wide variety of health issues. The type of occupational therapy they will provide depends on a patient’s medical condition itself in combination with his or her daily activities, hobbies, and duties performed at work.
Lindsay Tuxhorn, OTD, OTR/L
Rehabilitation Director
Occupational Therapist
Crystal Bennett, OTR/L, CLWT
Occupational Therapist
Certified Lymphedema & Wound Therapist
Occupational Therapy Services
Some of the diagnosed conditions that occupational therapy can help with include:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Arthritis
- Depression
- CVA
- Generalized weakness after illness or surgery
- COPD
- Joint replacement or back surgery
- Hand or arm pain or injury
- Parkinson’s disease or other neurological disorders
- Lymphatic system disorders like lymphedema and other edema related disorders
- Pelvic floor dysfunction, including incontinence
The current occupational therapy programs, services and treatments available at Syracuse Area health include:
- Primary treatment: Focusing on improving performance of activities of daily living or self-care such as feeding, dressing, bathing, toileting, home activities or meal preparation.
- Education in adaptive equipment: Concentrating on how to use as dressing devices, toileting aids, a shower bench or other equipment, offering expertise in modifying the environment to facilitate independence.
- Energy conservation instruction: Tips for simplifying methods of work or processes to avoid using high amounts of energy.
- Pressure relief and positioning instruction to prevent pressure sore development if there are prolonged periods of sitting or lying down.
- Fall prevention education in and around the home.
- Wheelchair evaluation and mobility training.
- Arm and hand rehabilitation to improve strength, range of motion and dexterity.
- Evaluate cognitive level for safe care of self in the home.
- Treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction related to incontinence.
- Lymphedema treatment
- Wound Care
