• You’ll be cared for by some of the area’s leading Physical and Occupational therapists.
• Your orthopaedic or podiatric physician will work in close collaboration with your therapist on a daily basis. (That’s one the things that make Excelsior so unique!)
• Your treatment will be a completely customized, “functional” plan – designed to address your unique needs and to get you back to the daily activities of your life, whatever they may be.
• You’ll have access to an amazing facility, conveniently located on the Excelsior medical campus.

Outstanding Therapists

Excelsior Orthopaedics is home to some of most highly skilled, experienced and dedicated Physical and Occupational therapists in Western New York. With their impressive academic credentials they have been well prepared to be at the top of their profession, and their commitment to continuing education keeps them there. The Excelsior team includes specialists in sports medicine/training, ASTYM certification as well as two Certified Hand Therapists (CHT) who are skilled in the fabrication of custom orthotic splints. But beyond their skills and expertise is the personal, caring approach our therapists take with every patient. It’s all part of our commitment to ensure that your experience at Excelsior is a superior one.

Meet the Excelsior Physical and Occupational Therapy team

“Team” Approach to Care
One of the things that set Excelsior Orthopaedics apart from other local providers is the fact that at Excelsior, our physicians and therapists work in close collaboration to design and implement your treatment plan, which ensures that it is based not only on your current condition, but also on all other relevant medical considerations. That’s made possible by the fact that we’re all working under one roof. So it’s easy for our physicians and therapists to consult with each other on a daily basis.

Functional and Manual Therapy Treatment,
Driven by Your Needs
At Excelsior, we take a practical, “functional” approach to your treatment – one that focuses on restoring, as quickly as possible, your ability to perform the activities of your daily life: at home, at work, at school, at play. It’s a highly customized approach that starts with an in-depth functional assessment of your condition, including your general health, specific orthopaedic problem, physical capabilities, and the activities of your daily life to which you need to return. Based on that assessment, we develop a treatment plan that utilizes a functional therapeutic exercise program in conjunction with manual therapy and home exercise program.



ASTYM is Augmented Soft-Tissue Manipulation, which is a manual treatment performed by certified PT’s, PTA’s, OT’s, and ATC’s. This is an evidenced based rehab process designed to effectively treat: Chronic tendon disorders and Scar tissues and fibrosis. ASTYM stimulates the body’s healing response resulting in absorption and remodeling of scar tissue and regeneration of degenerative tendons. This treatment also includes exercises and stretching which positively influences alignment of new collagen. Some of the benefits of ASTYM are the resolution of tough chronic conditions where other treatment have failed, rapidly resolves pain and increases functional ability in about 4-6 weeks, long term results, patients can stay active in work, sport, or activity, positive and predictable results and EBP supported by research. Diagnoses that respond well to ASTYM:

• Post-surgical/post-trauma scarring
• Lat/med epicondylitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Dequervain’s tenosynovitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendonosis
• Shin splints
• Patellar tendinitis
• Hamstring strains
• Most chronic tendinopathies

For more information, please go to www.astym.com/patients/.

Amazing Facilities
When you’re an Excelsior Orthopaedics patient, you can complete your therapy in the same place where all your other treatment was done – at the Excelsior medical campus in Amherst, which features a spacious, 9,000 sq. foot treatment area with state-of-the-art equipment and half-size, regulation basketball court. It’s a comfortable, open environment, designed to optimize your treatment and make it an enjoyable (even fun!) experience.

Using this collaborative, customized, functional and hands-on approach to care, at Excelsior Orthopaedics, we can get you back to doing all the things you want and need to do, as quickly as possible.

Physical and Occupational Therapy Staff:

Josette A. Fisher, PT, ATC, CSCS, Director
Matthew Alessi, PT
Melissa Bedford, PTA
Jamie Husted, PT, DPT
Paul Iwan, PTA
Diane Kramer, PTA
John Meyer, PT
Elisa Rojas, PT, DPT, CSCS
Jonathan Todd Sweeney, OTR/L,CHT
Nikole Scott, MS, OTR/L, CHT
Johanna Studer, PTA
Jill Talamo PT, SCS
Thomas Venne, PTA
Kimberly Zugelder PT, MBA

Insurance Participation

BC/BS, IHA, UNIVERA, MC, United Health Care, MVP, EMPIRE, Workmen’s Comp

Hours of Operation – Physical and Occupational Therapy:

Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
(Last appointment at 6:00 p.m.)
Friday 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(Last appointment at 3:00 p.m.)