Thomas Atwood

Thomas Richardson Atwood, Sr., PT, specializes in what he calls “geriatric sports medicine.” As a licensed physical therapist, he believes that rehabilitation of older adults should go beyond functional goals to maintain the highest functional level and lifestyle possible. Tom is an outpatient therapist who worked in assisted living services, home care settings, and outpatient therapy offices. He is a skilled manual therapist with expertise in neurological and orthopedic conditions. Tom received his bachelor’s degree from Clark University and graduated from the University of Hartford’s physical therapy program in 2000.

Tom founded Better Balance Physical Therapy in 2016 to provide wellness and therapy services to clients in their homes or in community centers. He holds several certifications, including Certified Dementia Practitioner; Ageless Grace Brain Health fitness class instructor; clinical certification in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSTV); BIG program for treatment of Parkinson’s and related disorders; Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) for golf rehabilitation and movement enhancement; and certified instructor in the Tai Ji Quan: Moving for a Better Balance approach.

Tom’s speciality is balance and fall prevention. Since 2002, he has worked with the Connecticut Collaboration for Fall Prevention, a consortium of clinicians and researchers from Yale University and other colleges, hospitals, and health organizations. Tom presents lectures of fall prevention techniques for professionals in organizations and health centers that provide care for older adults, and he enjoys helping older adults overcome their fear of falling in order to minimize their risks.

Being superdad is his favorite activity. His late mother, Dorothy (a talented architect from Boston), made sure he had great talents for cooking and clearing/organizing (thanks, Dorothy!). Between kids’ activities and work, Tom enjoys tai chi, bike riding, woodworking, solving puzzles, and trying to beat Pam at cribbage.