Kristen Tomlinson, MSPT

Physical Therapy found Kristen after she sustained her first ACL injury playing flag football senior year of undergraduate college. It was a painful love at first sight.

Graduating summa cum laude from Long Island University’s Master of Science in Physical Therapy Program in 1995, Kristen also earned the Distinguished Researcher Award for her thesis on measuring the A angle.

She began her career at a leading sports physical therapy practice, where she specialized in orthopedic injuries affecting both professional and amateur athletes. A lifelong athlete herself, Kristen understands the physical and mental commitment required to perform and recover at a high level.

Throughout her life, Kristen has played and coached a wide range of sports—including softball, swimming, soccer, basketball, tennis, and golf. After college, she played competitive rugby for more than ten years, an experience that deepened her understanding of sports-related injuries both on and off the field. Having undergone multiple sports-related surgeries—including knee, shoulder, elbow, hand, and toe procedures—she brings firsthand insight and empathy into the recovery process.

Kristen has experienced the physical and emotional challenges of recovery firsthand, and as such she can genuinely relate to her patients’ pain, frustration and determination during rehabilitation. This personal insight allows her to guide them not only with 30 years of clinical expertise, but with compassion and encouragement, helping patients motivated and confident throughout their healing journey.

Kristen’s greatest strength as a therapist is making her patients feel understood, safe, optimistic and motivated to achieve their goals. Earning a patient’s trust is crucial for a positive outcome. Kristen always focuses on identifying the underlying cause of the patient’s dysfunction to allow them to return to living their life without fear of re-injury.
Kristen stays current with the ever-evolving world of orthopedics through advance education covering topics such as joint replacements, sports specific injuries, current surgical/rehabilitation approaches to joint injuries and the growing use of biologics.

Today, she stays active through tennis, swimming, hiking, cross country skiing, and just about any activity that gets her outdoors, including spending as much time as possible on the beach.