Total Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

04/14/2026

What goes on before you’re even in the room.

Quiet focus. Clean setup. No shortcuts.

Team in the background, routine dialed in.

This is orthopedic surgery.

04/13/2026

Elbow pain in Little League is no longer rare.

Dr. Nicholas Montemurro, orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician at Total Orthopedics, is seeing more teenage and young adult baseball players with Little League elbow than ever before.

This overuse injury targets the growth plate on the inside of the elbow. It often begins as mild soreness, then builds into sharp pain with every throw.

Watch for these early signs:
• Pain on the inner elbow during or after throwing
• Drop in velocity or control
• Arm fatigue earlier in games
• Tenderness along the elbow

Why the spike? Many athletes now play year-round. Pitch counts climb. Rest days disappear.

Can this be prevented? Yes, and early action matters. Rest, proper throwing mechanics, and a structured rehab plan can protect the elbow and avoid long-term damage.

If your athlete feels elbow pain, stop throwing and get it evaluated.

📍Total Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
🏥 Same-day and next-day appointments available

04/11/2026

“How long did it take to become an orthopedic joint replacement surgeon?”

POV: You’re watching the years it takes to get here.

4 years college
4 years medical school
5 years orthopedic residency
1 year joint replacement fellowship

That’s 14+ years of training to replace hips and knees and get patients moving again.

Dr. Eric Lepkowsky
Joint Replacement Surgeon
Total Orthopedics

Every step matters when your goal is pain-free movement 🙏

04/08/2026

How can women soccer players avoid ACL tears before they happen?

Dr. Charles Ruotolo of Total Orthopedics and Sports Medicine says prevention starts with the right training habits.

Programs like FIFA’s 11+ focus on plyometrics and balance training. This combination teaches better movement, stronger control, and safer landing patterns. Female athletes who follow these routines show lower ACL injury rates.

Dr. Ruotolo highlights:
• Jump training with controlled, soft landings
• Single-leg balance work to improve stability
• Hip and core strength to support the knees

Stronger movement leads to safer play and fewer injuries on the field.

04/06/2026

04/03/2026

This time of year hits different when you get to do what you love, with people who truly care.

At our Syosset location, Dr. Charles Ruotolo isn’t just walking between buildings. He’s walking past something bigger. A team that shows up every day to help patients take their lives back after serious orthopedic injuries.

From the office to our ambulatory surgery center, every step represents progress. For our patients. For our community. For the standard of care we believe in.

We see the struggles. The pain. The long road back. And we stay committed to getting people moving again.

Grateful for our physicians.
Grateful for our staff.
Grateful for every patient who trusts us with their care this holiday season.

If pain is holding you back, you don’t have to wait.

Start your recovery today.

📍 Syosset, Long Island
📲 Book your visit now

04/02/2026

Most people think joint replacement works because the joint gets replaced.

That’s only part of it.

What really makes the difference is precision.

Dr. Eric Lepkowsky focuses on restoring how your joint moves, not just removing pain. Alignment. Balance. Stability. Every detail matters.

That’s why patients notice:
• Smoother movement
• Stronger support
• Real relief that lasts

A successful joint replacement isn’t just surgery. It’s planning, technique, and the right surgeon behind it.

Dealing with joint pain every day? There’s a reason some outcomes are better than others.

Call Total Orthopedics any time to book an appointment with one of our joint replacement experts like Dr. Lepkowsky ☎️ 855-321-6784

📍15+ Locations Across Long Island, NYC & New Jersey

04/01/2026

Maybe… this is what excellence looks like.

A proud moment for Total Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.

Dr. Charles Ruotolo and Dr. Champ Dengenis presented a $1,000 scholarship to Devin Downes of Plainedge High School at the Nassau County High School Wrestling Awards Dinner.

Devin’s career speaks for itself:
• 260–51 record
• 2026 Eastern States Champion
• 3× Nassau County Champion
• 3× New York State Champion (2024, 2025, 2026)
• 90 GPA + Physical Education Award

This year marks Dr. Ruotolo’s 25th year presenting scholarships at this event. A tradition built on supporting hard work, discipline, and future leaders.

We’re proud to stand behind athletes like Devin.

03/31/2026

Common injuries we see every week in the office 🦴

Dr. Richard McCormack, Senior Joint Replacement & Sports Medicine Surgeon at Total Orthopedics, breaks it down:

• Knee pain from meniscus tears and arthritis
• Shoulder injuries like rotator cuff tears
• Hip pain that limits walking and sleep
• Sports injuries that never fully healed

These don’t just affect athletes. Most patients are active adults who want to stay mobile, work, and live without constant pain.

The pattern is clear. Many people wait too long. Small issues turn into bigger problems that need more complex care.

Early evaluation can change that.

If pain has lasted more than a few weeks, or keeps coming back, it’s time to get it checked.

📍Same-week appointments available
📍Advanced imaging and treatment under one roof

Book your visit with Dr. McCormack and get back to moving with confidence.

03/23/2026

Top 10 workouts I would NOT recommend as an orthopedic surgeon 🚫

I see the same injuries every week. Many come from popular workouts that push joints past safe limits.

Here are 10 I tell patients to rethink:

1. Behind-the-neck shoulder press
Puts your shoulder in a risky position and strains the rotator cuff

2. Deep barbell squats with poor form
Adds heavy stress to knees and lower back

3. Upright rows
Pinches the shoulder and can lead to impingement

4. Sit-ups with feet anchored
Pulls on your spine and overloads your lower back

5. Heavy leg extensions
Places high pressure on the kneecap

6. Box jumps with bad landing mechanics
A common cause of ACL tears.

7. Russian twists with heavy weight
Rotates the spine under load, which raises injury risk

8. Skull crushers with poor control
Elbow pain shows up fast with this one

9. Kipping pull-ups
Momentum replaces control and strains shoulders

10. Running through joint pain
Pain is a warning, not a challenge

What should you do instead?

Focus on controlled movement, joint alignment, and strength that supports daily life. Your workouts should build you up, not break you down.

If a movement causes sharp pain, stop and get it checked.

Your joints need to last decades, not just your next workout.

📍Dr. Mike Shindle, Total Orthopedics New Jersey
📞 Same-day orthopedic care available

03/22/2026

Total Orthopedics & Sports Medicine was proud to be at the Nassau County COBA Retirement & Installation Dinner, celebrating the retirees and welcoming the newly installed officers.

Congratulations to all on these milestones.

Wishing everyone the best in their next chapters.

03/19/2026

The No. 1 myth about ankle sprains?

That it’s ‘just a sprain.’

We hear this every day.

Patients walk it off, tape it up, and hope it heals. Weeks later, they still feel pain, swelling, or instability.

Here’s the truth:
A sprain means ligament damage. That damage can range from mild stretching to a full tear.

And if it doesn’t heal the right way, it can lead to:
• Chronic ankle instability
• Repeated sprains
• Cartilage damage
• Long-term joint pain

So what should you do?

If your ankle is swollen, bruised, or hard to walk on, get it checked early. A proper exam and imaging can prevent months or years of problems.

Don’t ignore it. Don’t “push through.”

Your future mobility depends on how you treat it today.

– Dr. Amos Dai
Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Specialist