Hand Therapy Near Me
Hand Therapy on Long Island — Find a Certified Hand Therapist Near You
If you’re searching for hand therapy near you on Long Island, the most important thing isn’t proximity alone — it’s finding a therapist with the right credentials, the right experience, and a location convenient enough that you’ll actually keep your appointments.
East End Occupational Therapy is a specialized hand and upper extremity rehabilitation practice with four locations across Nassau and Suffolk County. Every clinic is led by therapists with advanced training in hand therapy, including Certified Hand Therapists (CHTs) — the gold-standard credential in upper extremity rehab.
Use the location list below to find the East End OT clinic nearest you, or keep reading for guidance on choosing the right hand therapist for your injury.
Bohemia
868 Church Street Suite 4
Bohemia, NY 11716
631-676-4185
Rockville Centre
77 North Centre Avenue Suite 312
Rockville Centre, NY 11570
516-632-9256
Massapequa
5394 Merrick Rd
Massapequa, NY 11758
516-798-1761
Plainview
100 Manetto Hill Rd, Suite 210
Plainview NY, 11803
516-386-6946
How to Choose a Qualified Hand Therapist
Searching for hand therapy “near me” will return a long list of physical therapy and rehab clinics — but not all of them specialize in hands. The hand is one of the most complex parts of the body: 27 bones, 34 muscles, hundreds of ligaments and tendons, and a dense network of nerves and blood vessels. Recovery often depends on choosing a therapist with specific training in upper extremity rehabilitation.
Here’s what to look for when you’re evaluating your options.
Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) Credential
A Certified Hand Therapist is an occupational therapist or physical therapist who has met rigorous additional requirements:
- Minimum of three years of clinical experience
- At least 4,000 hours of direct hand therapy practice
- Passage of a comprehensive certification exam covering anatomy, pathology, surgical procedures, and rehabilitation techniques of the upper extremity
- Ongoing continuing education to maintain certification
The CHT credential is administered by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC) and is widely recognized as the highest standard in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation. East End OT was founded by Anthony Marullo, MS, OTR/L, CHT, and our team includes therapists with advanced hand and upper extremity training.
Specialization in the Upper Extremity
A general outpatient rehab clinic that “also treats hands” is not the same as a dedicated hand therapy practice. Look for clinics that focus specifically on the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder — places where every patient who walks through the door has an upper extremity concern, and every piece of equipment is selected for that work.
One-on-One Treatment
Some clinics rotate patients between aides and assistants while the licensed therapist supervises from across the room. For hand injuries, hands-on time with a credentialed therapist matters. Ask whether your sessions will be one-on-one with the therapist or shared across multiple patients.
Custom Orthosis (Splint) Fabrication On-Site
Many hand and upper extremity conditions benefit from custom-fitted splints or orthoses. Clinics that fabricate orthoses on-site — rather than ordering generic off-the-shelf braces — can adjust your splint in real time as your recovery progresses.
Experience With Your Specific Condition
A clinic that regularly treats post-surgical hand patients, workers’ compensation injuries, or arthritis will be more efficient than one that occasionally sees them. Ask about caseload before booking.
Convenient Location and Hours
Hand therapy often involves two or three appointments per week over several weeks. A clinic 45 minutes from home or work is statistically less likely to result in completed treatment than one 15 minutes away. Choose a location you can realistically get to consistently.
Conditions Treated at East End Occupational Therapy
Our certified hand therapists treat a full range of hand, wrist, and upper extremity conditions, including:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome and other nerve compressions
- Trigger finger and De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
- Tendonitis and tendinopathies of the hand, wrist, and elbow
- Fractures of the fingers, hand, wrist, and forearm
- Tendon and ligament repairs (post-surgical)
- Sprains, strains, and dislocations
- Arthritis of the hand and wrist
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Crush injuries and lacerations
- Repetitive strain and overuse injuries
- Workers’ compensation hand injuries
- Sports-related upper extremity injuries
- Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow
- Shoulder injuries including rotator cuff conditions
If you’re not sure whether your condition is appropriate for hand therapy, give us a call — we’re happy to talk through what you’re experiencing and recommend the right next step.
What to Expect at Your First Hand Therapy Visit
A typical first appointment at East End OT includes:
- A conversation about your injury or condition. We talk through how it happened (or how it’s developed), what activities are affected, and what you’d like therapy to help with.
- A clinical evaluation. We assess range of motion, strength, sensation, and function, and review any imaging or surgical reports if applicable.
- A custom treatment plan. Based on the evaluation, we develop a plan tailored to your specific condition, lifestyle, and goals.
- Hands-on treatment. Depending on the condition, the first session may include manual therapy, fabrication of a custom splint, education on protecting the injured area, and a starter program of exercises.
- A clear plan going forward. You’ll leave knowing how often you’ll be coming in, what to expect, and what to do between visits.
Most patients are seen one-on-one by a credentialed therapist for the entire session.
Insurance and Coverage
East End Occupational Therapy participates with most major insurance plans and is authorized to treat workers’ compensation and no-fault auto cases. When you call to schedule, our office team can verify your coverage, explain any out-of-pocket costs, and confirm whether a referral is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not quite. Hand therapy is a specialized branch of rehabilitation that focuses specifically on the upper extremity — hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Hand therapists can be occupational therapists or physical therapists who have completed advanced training in upper extremity rehab. Certified Hand Therapists (CHTs) have met the highest credentialing standard in the field.
It depends on your insurance plan. Some plans allow direct access; others require a referral from your physician. Workers’ compensation cases typically involve a referral from your treating physician. When you call to schedule, we’ll verify what your plan requires.
Recovery timelines vary widely based on the injury or condition. Simple tendonitis may resolve in a few weeks of therapy; post-surgical rehab after a tendon repair can take three to six months. We’ll give you a realistic estimate after the initial evaluation.
Yes. Custom orthosis fabrication is done in-office at every East End OT location. Custom-fitted splints are often more comfortable, more effective, and better adjusted to the stage of recovery than off-the-shelf braces.
We generally recommend continuity of care with the same therapist whenever possible — your therapist gets to know your injury, your goals, and your response to treatment. That said, all four locations are staffed by therapists with hand and upper extremity training, and we can coordinate care between locations when needed.
Yes. We treat workers’ compensation hand injuries across all four locations and handle the required documentation and reporting.
Ready to Schedule?
The best time to start hand therapy is when you first notice that pain, stiffness, or weakness is affecting your daily life. Earlier intervention typically means shorter overall treatment.
Choose the East End OT location nearest you and call to schedule, or use our online appointment request form.
📞 Main line: (631) 676-4185
