C.J. Allen Upper Extremity & Hand Therapy is a single-specialty practice treating hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders, serving patients from East Islip, Islip Terrace, Great River and the surrounding South Shore communities.
Arthritis of the Hand and Thumb
Hand arthritis is among the most common reasons patients come to see us, and among the most commonly accepted as simply part of getting older. Often it need not be. Thumb basal joint arthritis in particular — pain at the base of the thumb when turning a key, opening a jar or gripping a steering wheel — responds well to a combination of joint protection technique, a properly fitted orthosis, targeted strengthening of the surrounding muscles, and adapted tools.
Preserving Independence
The goal with arthritis is rarely a cure; it is keeping you able to do the things that matter without pain dictating your day. That means practical work: which jar opener actually helps, how to reorganize a kitchen so heavy items are not at shoulder height, how to hold a pen or a phone in a way that does not aggravate the joint, and when to use a splint versus when to move.
Conditions We Treat
- Arthritis of the thumb, fingers and wrist.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome and other nerve compressions.
- Trigger finger.
- Wrist, hand and finger fractures.
- Tendon injuries and repairs.
- Dupuytren's contracture, including post-procedure care.
- Post-surgical rehabilitation of all types.
- Tennis and golfer's elbow.
Custom Orthoses
We fabricate splints in the clinic, molded to your hand. For arthritis this matters more than it might seem: a thumb spica that immobilizes the painful joint while leaving the fingers and wrist free can make a genuine difference to daily comfort, but only if it fits well enough that you actually wear it. We adjust fit at each visit.
Splinting is a core specialty here, not an add-on
At many general therapy clinics, splinting is outsourced. You get a prescription, then wait for a separate appointment somewhere else, sometimes weeks out. That delay matters — the weeks immediately after an injury or operation are when protection does the most good and when stiffness sets in fastest.
We mould and fit orthoses during your appointment, and we have been making them for over twenty years, from straightforward carpal tunnel supports to dynamic splints for tendon repairs.
Splints and orthoses we make
- Thumb spica splints — De Quervain's tenosynovitis, thumb-base arthritis, ligament sprains, post-surgical protection.
- Wrist cock-up splints — carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist tendonitis, support after a fracture.
- Resting hand splints — post-surgical protection, spasticity, severe arthritis.
- Finger splints — mallet finger, trigger finger, PIP joint injuries, boutonnière and swan-neck deformities.
- Dynamic mobilisation splints — spring or elastic-assisted, to restore motion after tendon repair, fracture or joint contracture.
- Ulnar gutter, radial gutter and forearm-based splints — immobilisation or protection after a fracture.
- Elbow splints — tennis and golfer's elbow, post-surgical rehabilitation, nerve protection for cubital tunnel syndrome.
- Post-surgical protective orthoses — made to your surgeon's specific protocol.
If your protocol calls for something not on that list, we most likely still make it. It is a list of categories, not a limit.
Why custom rather than off-the-shelf
A pharmacy brace is designed to fit an average hand, and yours is not average. Slightly too tight and it causes pressure sores or irritates a nerve. Slightly too loose and it does not actually protect the tissue underneath. Held at the wrong angle, it can hold a joint in a position that makes recovery harder rather than easier.
A moulded orthosis sits at the angle your condition or your surgeon's protocol requires. It is also adjustable — as swelling settles and motion returns, we modify it at follow-up rather than leaving you in something that fitted three weeks ago.
Why a certified hand therapist makes a difference
Certified Hand Therapists are occupational or physical therapists who have logged several thousand hours treating upper extremity conditions and passed a national board examination that includes orthotic design and fabrication. It is a small minority of therapists nationally.
Splinting is not simply moulding thermoplastic to a hand. It requires knowing which tissues need protecting, which need gentle loading and which should be left free to move — and that answer changes week by week as you heal. Getting it wrong in either direction costs you either the repair or the motion.
Part of the whole programme
A splint on its own does not rehabilitate an injury. Anyone who comes to us for an orthosis also gets a full evaluation and, where appropriate, a complete therapy programme — manual therapy, graded exercise, swelling and scar management, and the functional retraining that actually returns you to what you were doing.
Strength Without Aggravation
There is a persistent belief that exercising an arthritic joint wears it out faster. In practice, the muscles supporting a joint are what protect it, and appropriate strengthening usually reduces pain rather than increasing it. The distinction lies in which exercises and how much — which is precisely what a therapist is for.
After Hand Surgery
We take referrals directly from hand surgeons across Long Island and follow their protocols precisely, reporting progress back and raising concerns early rather than at discharge.
One Therapist, Full Sessions
You work with the same Certified Hand Therapist each visit, for your whole appointment. Continuity matters when progress is measured in small increments and the plan needs adjusting week to week.
Your First Visit
A thorough evaluation of motion, strength, sensation and swelling, plus a specific account of what your hand is preventing you from doing. Those become the goals we measure against, and you will leave with a realistic timeline and a home program that fits your actual routine.
Dupuytren's Contracture
Dupuytren's causes the tissue beneath the palm to thicken and gradually pull one or more fingers toward the palm. It is common on Long Island and often progresses slowly enough to be ignored until a hand no longer lies flat. Therapy cannot reverse the underlying process, but after needle release or surgery, structured splinting and motion work are what preserve the gain that procedure achieved.
Your Home Program
Most of the progress happens between visits. We prescribe a short, specific set of exercises rather than a long handout, confirm your technique in the clinic, and adjust as you improve. For arthritis in particular, consistency matters far more than intensity.
Getting Here From East Islip
Our Hauppauge office is north via Route 111 or Sunrise Highway to Veterans Memorial Highway (Route 454) — generally fifteen to twenty minutes. There is parking directly at the building and the office is fully accessible.
Scheduling
Call (631) 761-6996 or request an appointment online. Most insurance accepted — our team will assist with insurance verification and help coordinate your care.