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hand therapy.

What is hand therapy?

The American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) defines hand therapy as “the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper extremity of the human body, which includes the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder girdle.”

Hand therapists are occupational therapists or physical therapists who, through extra training and experience, have specialized knowledge of upper extremity function. A Certified Hand Therapist has a minimum of five years of clinical experience, successfully passed and examination of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper extremity rehabilitation and meets mandated criteria to maintain this specialized credential. Using targeted assessment and treatment, hand therapists work with their patients to prevent injury or impairment, restore functional activity, and enhance participation in daily life.

How can hand therapy help me?

A qualified hand therapist can evaluate and treat any problem relative to the upper extremities. The hand therapist can effectively treat and rehabilitate the patient through postoperative rehabilitation, preventative, non-operative, or conservative treatment, or industry consultation.

The therapist works closely with the physician and patient to provide a continuum of care. This often starts within days of the injury or surgery right through to the patient’s return to work and/or a productive lifestyle.

occupational hand therapist working on patient in NY for hand pain.

How do I know if I’m a candidate for hand therapy?

Before committing to a hand therapy treatment program, you should be sure that you’re a good candidate, and that hand therapy is actually right for you. Hand therapy can be particularly useful for patients who suffered an accident or trauma that left them with scars, wounds, burns, injured tendons or nerves, fractures, or amputation of fingers, hands, and arms.  Those with conditions like tennis elbow and carpal tunnel also frequently benefit from hand therapy.

While hand therapy can address a wide range of issues, there are a few common instances when you should be sure to book an appointment. These include:

Ulnar wrist pain:

This typically occurs during rotational movements and weight bearing scenarios, and it can really put a damper on your softball season or gym schedule. Hand therapists can put together an effective program for managing ulnar-sided wrist pain, to reduce pain and improve your mobility.

Elbow fractures:

Elbow fractures can really limit your range of motion, and hamper your ability to perform everyday tasks. A hand therapist can help improve your elbow mobility with target exercises and casting.

Wrist fractures:

One of the most common reasons for seeking hand therapy, a wrist fracture is no fun for anyone. The sooner you get it checked out, the happier you’ll be.

Occupational hand therapist working on patient for hand pain treatment.

What are some of hand therapy’s main benefits?

  • Treatments that don’t require an operation
  • Reducing sensitivity to nerve issues
  • Relief from pain
  • Teaching patient how to make splints to help improve stiffness
  • Expedited timeline for returning to work
  • Increased ability to perform everyday tasks
  • Regaining feeling after a nerve injury
  • Help crafting personalized home exercise programs that will benefit your movement and strength

Our hand therapy services

  • ADL (Activities of Daily Living) Training
  • Adaptive Equipment
  • Custom Orthotic Fabrication
  • Custom Splinting
  • Dexterity Training
  • Edema Management
  • Ergonomic Evaluations
  • Home Exercise Programs
  • Joint Mobilization
  • Nerve Mobilization
  • Pain Management
  • Physical Agent and Modalities
  • Scar Management
  • Sensory Desensitization and Re-education
  • Strengthening
  • Therapeutic Exercises to Improve Range of Motion and Function
  • Work Hardening/Conditioning
  • Wound Care

our commitment to advancement.

Our Hand Therapy Mentorship Program

Professional’s Hand Therapy Mentorship Program is designed for Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists at all stages of experience including new graduates who are looking to gain clinical knowledge of how to treat hand-related injuries, and for those experienced therapists looking to expand their clinical practice knowledge. The program works through the disciplines required to prepare clinicians for the Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) exam.

Program Details

Professional’s Hand Therapy Mentorship Program is an 11 month clinically-based program, with onsite training and education with a CHT mentor to gain proficiency in the evaluation and treatment of hand therapy. The program includes:

  • Manual Skill Training
  • Splinting Workshops
  • Surgeon Lectures
  • Journal Clubs
  • Medbridge Hand Therapy Learning Tracks
  • Monthly Clinical Outline, focuses on specific topics that include:
    • Hands-on-experience
    • Detailed learning documents
    • Monthly readings from The Rehab of the Hand textbook and peer-rated journal articles, as well as other timely articles
    • Open-ended discussion group calls to discuss study material and methods of study. The call is moderated by a different CHT each month, allowing the student to learn from different perspectives.

Professional’s Hand Therapy Mentorship Program is well-known for its interactive learning forum. Each participant, under the supervision of a mentor, benefits from their guidance and expertise, as well as the collaborative nature of the organization.

Get hand therapy today

Our occupational therapists will diagnose your hand pain and customize a rehabilitation plan just for you. We will work in an effective way to get you back on your feet, focused on your wellness before, during and after therapy.

Hand Therapy in New York City: Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens

Chelsea

  • Lauren Conheeney OTR, CHT
  • Ozzie Melhado OTR

Phone: 212-741-9288

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Here is an image of our well maintained physical therapy clinic. It is located in Manhattan, New York City in midtown west at West 52nd street.

W. 52nd St.

  • Todd Bryson OTR, CHT
  • Ozzie Melhado OTR
  • Stephanie Wu MS, OTR, CHT

Phone: 646-912-9086

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Here is an image of our well maintained physical therapy clinic in Glendale, New York.

Glendale

  • Richard G. Scalise OTR, CHT
  • Jonathan Tianchon MS, OTR/L

Phone: 718-480-6207

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This is an image of the entrance to our physical therapy and hand therapy clinic in Bayside, Whitestone, NY in the Queens area of NYC..

Bayside / Whitestone

  • Anna Chow PT, MA, OCS, CHT
  • Neil Moss DPT
  • Farrah Sharkey-Goring, MSPT, OCS, CSCS

Phone: 718-767-0610

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Hand Therapy in New York Long Island, Nassau County

This is an image of exercise equipment at our physical therapy clinic in Great Neck, New York.

Great Neck

  • Anna Chow PT, CHT

Phone: 516-684-1122

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Here is a photo of our clean training room for physical & hand therapy at our clinic in Hewlett, New York.

Hewlett

  • Richard G. Scalise OTR, CHT
  • Mary Flaherty OTR, CHT

Phone: 516-374-4248

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An image of the interior of our physical therapy clinic in Hicksville, New York. There are six stretch beds and a treadmill in this photo.

Hicksville

  • Sejal P. Parikh OTR, CHT
  • Heather Anderson OTR

Phone: 516-261-9750

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Here is an image of the interior of our facility. There is equipment used is physical therapy here in the training room at our clinic in Long Beach, New York.

Long Beach

  • Jaclyn R. Quinn OTR, CHT

Phone: 516-432-3600

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Merrick HT

  • Nancy Marder OTR, CHT
  • Grace Budde OTR
  • Michael Saraceno OTR CHT

Phone: 516-868-5302

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This is a photo of physical therapy equipment used in our clinic in Rockville Centre, New York.

Rockville

  • Richard G. Scalise OTR, CHT
  • Jaclyn R. Quinn OTR, CHT
  • Alyssa Gianotti OTR/L

Phone: 516-255-4263

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Hand Therapy in New York Long Island, Suffolk County

This is a photo of the training room with stretch beds and treadmills at our physical therapy clinic in Bay Shore, New York.

Bay Shore

  • Kristen Kaplan OTR

Phone: 631-647-9124

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Here is an image of a table at our physical therapy clinic in Bay Shore, New York.

Bay Shore HT

  • Alexandra Demetriou OTR, CHT
  • Robyn McKenna COTA

Phone: 631-206-3130

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An image of the interior of our physical therapy clinic in Commack, New York.

Commack

  • Sejal P. Parikh OTR, CHT
  • Evan Ludin OTR, CHT
  • Daniel Crowe OTR/L

Phone: 631-486-5286

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Here is a photo of a large room with stretch beds at our physical therapy clinic in Copiague, New York.

Copiague

  • Karen Bartlett OTR, CHT

Phone: 631-842-4606

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Here is a photo of the Professional Physical Therapy sign on the wall at our clinic in Medford, New York in Long Island in Suffolk County.

Medford

  • Robert Klare PT, CHT
  • Jessica Wesley PT, CHT
  • Lori Kloiber-Staco OTR, CHT
  • Evan Ludin OTR, CHT

Phone: 631-207-3600

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Here is an image of three stretch beds under the Professional Physical Therapy Hand Therapy sign at our clinic in Melville, Long Island in Suffolk County, New York.

Melville

  • Joanne Kassimir OTR, CHT
  • Jonathan Tianchon MS, OTR/L

Phone: 631-425-7100

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Port Jefferson

  • Robert Wilutis OTR, CHT
  • John Gianfortone OTR, CHT
  • Jessica Van Epps OTR, CHT

Phone: 631-331-3608

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Here is an image of a stretch bed used in physical therapy at our clinic in Riverhead, New York.

Riverhead

  • Michelle Scarcello OTR/L
  • Meghan Clifton OTR/L
  • Laura Raymond PT, CHT
  • Christine Adan PT

Phone: 631-369-9110

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Here is a photo of the beds used for physical therapy at our cliic in Sayville, New York.

Sayville

  • Karen Bartlett OTR, CHT

Phone: 631-589-0999

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Exterior of our Professional Physical Therapy and sports medicine clinic in Huntington, New York.

Huntington

  • Heather Mitchell MS, OTR/L, CHT

Phone: 631-351-7676

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Here is an exterior shot of our physical therapy clinic in Southampton, New York.

Southampton

  • Karen Bartlett OTR, CHT
  • Michelle Scarcello OTR
  • Elizabeth Sanchez COTA
  • Kristine Raab PT

Phone: 631-353-3600

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Hand Therapy in New York Westchester County

An image of stretch beds along a wall under the Professional Physical Therapy sign at our clinic in Hartsdale, New York.

Hartsdale

  • Joanna Spivack OTR/L, CHT

Phone: 914-946-5685

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An image of stairs and exercise balls used in physical therapy at our clinic in New Rochelle, New York.

New Rochelle

  • Karina Manzano, OTR/L, CHT

Phone: 914-636-5595

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Hand Therapy in New Jersey

Emerson, New Jersey professional physical therapy clinic stretching tables.

Emerson

  • Rachael Kim MS, OTR/L

Phone: 201-497-6752

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Here is a photo of two stretch beds at our physical therapy clinic in East Englewood, New Jersey.

Englewood

  • Mollie L. Sherman OTR, CHT

Phone: 201-408-4477

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Here is an image of the exterior to our building. The sign above the building reads Physical Therapy Hand Therapy and is above the doors to our clinic in Hackensack, New Jersey on River Street.

Hackensack / River Street

  • Deana Swanson OTR/L, CHT
  • Lacey Silvano OTR

Phone: 201-820-3730

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An image of five stretch beds and an elliptical in our training room at our physical therapy clinic in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Hoboken

  • Natalie Hrynkiewicz MS, OTR/L
  • Mollie L. Sherman OTR, CHT

Phone: 201-683-8058

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An image of the interior training room for our physical therapy clinic in Montclair, New Jersey at Greenwood.

Montclair Greenwood Ave

  • Sheena Pasricha OT, CHT

Phone: 973-746-2424

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Morristown

  • Kara Ghedina OT, CHT
  • Suet Lim OTR, CHT
  • Christin Herrington OTR, CHT

Phone: 973-993-9500

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Here is an image of five stretch beds along the wall in our training room at our physical therapy clinic in Nutley, New Jersey at Midtown.

Nutley (Midtown)

  • Ryan Wysocki OTR/L

Phone: 973-667-0429

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Here is an image of six well maintained stretch beds at our physical therapy clinic in Parsippany, New Jersey. These beds are great for increasing flexibility.

Parsippany

  • Doris Schanzer OTR, CHT

Phone: 973-331-3790

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This is an image of equipment used in physical therapy at our clinic in Somerset, New Jersey.

Somerset

  • Brian Lee OTR/L

Phone: 732-469-5680

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This is a photo of the inside of our Union, New Jersey physical therapy clinic.

Union

  • Jyoti Mehta OTR, CHT
  • Victoria Majcher OTR, CHT
  • Brian Lee OTR/L

Phone: 908-686-8766

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This is a shot of some of the equipment used at our physical therapy clinic in West Orange New Jersey.

W. Orange Northfield Ave

  • Marian Moran OTD, OTR, CHT
  • Pauline Gasparro OTR

Phone: 973-731-1950

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Insurances We Accept

Below is a condensed list of insurances we participate with throughout our network of physical therapy clinics.  Find your particular provider below based on your area.
For a complete listing of all insurance providers and individual plans by name: CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL INSURANCE PAGE.

*CLICK TO EXPAND REGIONS

Tri-State Area Insurance Providers

New York, New Jersey, Connecticut

  • Aetna (NY, NJ, CT)
  • AmeriHealth (NJ)
  • Anthem (CT)
  • Clover Health - Medicare Advantage Plan (NJ)
  • ConnectiCare (CT)
  • Department of Labor (NY, NJ, CT)
  • Empire BCBS (Individual Providers In Network – NY)
  • Empire Plan MPN (UHC – NY, NJ)
  • First MCO (NJ)
  • GHI (Emblem Health – NY, NJ, CT)
  • HIP (Emblem Health – NY)
  • Horizon BCBS (NJ)
  • Medicare (NY, NJ, CT)
  • MedRisk (Workers’ Compensation – NY, NJ, CT)
  • MultiPlan (NY, NJ, CT)
  • New Jersey Manufacturers (NJM – NJ)
  • No Fault (Various Carriers)
  • Northwell Health Clinial Integration Network IPA (NY)
  • OccuNet (NJ)
  • One Call (NY, NJ)
  • Oscar Health Plan (NY)
  • Oxford (NY, NJ, CT)
  • TRICARE (NY, NJ, CT)
  • UHC Community Plan (NY)
  • United Health Care (NY, NJ, CT)
  • Veterans Choice (NY, NJ, CT)
  • Veterans Administration (NY, NJ, CT)
  • WellCare (NJ)
  • Workers’ Compensation (Various Carriers)

New England Insurance Providers

Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire

  • Aetna (NH, MA)
  • Aetna (Orthonet – CT)
  • AllWays (formerly Neighborhood Health Plan – MA)
  • Ambetter (NH)
  • Amerihealth Caritas (effective date 4/27/2020 - NH)
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (NH)
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (CT)
  • ASH (Cigna – NH, MA, CT)
  • BCBS Massachusetts (MA)
  • BMC (Boston Medical Center – MA)
  • CeltiCare (MA)
  • Commonwealth Care Alliance (MA)
  • ConnectiCare (CT)
  • Fallon Health (MA)
  • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (NH, MA, CT)
  • Health New England (MA)
  • Martin’s Point Health Care (NH)
  • Massachusetts Health (Medicaid – MA)
  • Medicaid (NH, MA, CT)
  • Medicare (NH, MA, CT)
  • No Fault (Various Carriers)
  • Prime Health Services (CT)
  • TRICARE (NH, MA, CT)
  • Tufts Health Plan (NH, MA, CT)
  • Tufts Public (Medicaid – MA)
  • UniCare (NH, MA)
  • United Health Care (Optum – NH, MA, CT)
  • WellSense (NH)
  • Workers’ Compensation (Various Carriers)

We will work in an effective way to get you back on your feet, focused on your wellness during and after therapy.

SCHEDULE YOUR HAND APPOINTMENT TODAY
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