Steve A. Mora, M.D. Orthopaedic Surgeon

Steve A. Mora, M.D. Orthopaedic Surgeon Joint Pain ? I have Solutions- Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon. I keep your joints young! I specialize in Sports Trauma, Arthroscopy, and Cartilage Repair.

I have a special interest in Soccer and Mixed Martial Arts. I perform Arthroscopy including the hip and elbow, cartilage transplantation, uni compartment and total knee replacement, complex fracture treatment, anatomical ACL reconstruction, and shoulder reconstruction including joint replacement.

02/08/2026

Solid insights and advice. Stay active folks.

02/06/2026

Will Lindsey be able to COPE on the slopes?
With Lindsey Vonn in the spotlight, many athletes are searching for answers about ACL tear treatment, ACL surgery vs rehab, and whether it’s possible to return to sport without ACL reconstruction.

What most people don’t realize is that ACL treatment is individualized.
Research has identified ACL “copers” and “non-copers” — athletes who may or may not function without surgery after an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

This concept originated with Dale Daniel and was later refined by Lynn Snyder-Mackler Fitzgerald, who showed that true ACL copers are identified only after a structured ACL rehabilitation program, and typically without associated meniscus tears.

Some elite athletes may return to high-level sports without surgery.
For most patients — especially in high-risk sports like downhill skiing — ACL reconstruction remains the safest option to restore knee stability and reduce the risk of further injury.

Bottom line:
There is no single best treatment for every ACL tear. The right approach depends on the athlete, the sport, knee stability, and associated injuries — not just the MRI.

📚 Key Scientific References

1️⃣ Daniel et al. — Original “Copers” Concept

Daniel DM, Stone ML, Dobson BE, Fithian DC, Rossman DJ, Kaufman KR.
Fate of the ACL-injured patient: A prospective outcome study.
The American Journal of Sports Medicine.
1994;22(5):632–644.
doi: 10.1177/036354659402200511

🔹 This landmark prospective study followed patients after ACL rupture and identified a subset who could return to sport without reconstruction, laying the foundation for the coper vs non-coper concept.

2️⃣ Fitzgerald et al. — Identifying Copers After Rehab

Fitzgerald GK, Axe MJ, Snyder-Mackler L.
A decision-making scheme for returning patients to high-level activity with nonoperative treatment after anterior cruciate ligament rupture.
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.
2000;30(4):194–203.
doi: 10.2519/jospt.2000.30.4.194

🔹 This study established functional screening criteria and emphasized that patients must complete a structured rehabilitation program before being classified as copers.

01/29/2026

🧠 Did you get a shoulder MRI… but was it the right MRI?

Most people don’t realize there are two different types of MRIs ordered for joint pain evaluation—and they do NOT show the same things.

🔹 Plain MRI
Great for big problems like full-thickness rotator cuff tears, arthritis, fractures, and major inflammation.

🔹 MRI Arthrogram
Uses contrast injected into the joint and is far better for hidden causes of pain—including partial rotator cuff tears, labral tears, and loose bodies.

Here’s the key takeaway 👇
A plain MRI can miss small or subtle injuries, especially labral pathology.
So if you’re still in pain and your MRI was “normal,” the problem may simply be that the wrong test was ordered.

✅ The right test matters—because you can’t fix what you can’t see.

💬 Drop your questions in the comments and I’ll answer them.

01/18/2026

How to recover faster after knee replacement. These tips can be applied to any big knee surgery. Drop your own tip in the comments below.
1️⃣ Go in healthy – Better nutrition + conditioning = better recovery. Get fit today.
2️⃣ Control swelling early – Swelling is your enemy. It drives pain, stiffness, and setbacks
3️⃣ Cold + compression – More effective than ice alone
4️⃣ Get extension early –Straight comes before bend. Straight =no limp
5️⃣ Choose the right surgeon –Experience matters; ask questions and get a second or third opinion.

-Full body cryo / hyperbaric oxygen therapy

-Scientifically backed Pre and post operative supplements to help you heal better and faster. Includes a carbo load.

-Scientifically backed Pre and post operative supplements to help you heal better and faster.

for all your post op cryo compression therapy in Orange County. Need the Breg Cold-compression I used ? Reach out to him.

-High quality leg compression sleeves and more. Get a couple before your surgery.

The Ideal Knee Knee Stretching device available on my Amazon shop in my bio

High quality and highly professional. One of the best physical therapy groups in OC.

Excellent chiropractic manual deep tissue work and specialized ARPwave e-stim.

Excellent personalized one on one physical therapy. Solid.

Grateful to have had Dr. Daniel Oakes take on my complex knee replacement. I will forever be grateful to him, his team and everyone who was involved in my care at Keck USC Orthopedics. Fight On!

Dr Gregory Tchejeyan my friend and Orthopedic surgeon who gave me hope, insight and resources that led to my successful surgery. He’s one of the best Orthopedic Surgeons in Southern California.

For my high quality peptides. No hassle, personalized, confidential longevity medicine.

- Wound dressing strip that protected my incision for 10 days.

👉🏼Drop questions in the comment section. I will answer.
🙏🏼Sharing is caring

12/26/2025

What would it take for you to get back into the ring after this injury?
Jaw fracture after boxing isn’t just a setback—it’s a serious injury.
A mandible fracture from a boxing punch, like the one sustained by after being hit by , requires real bone healing time—not hype timelines.

Most mandibular fractures need at least 3 months for initial bone healing and 9–12 months before a safe return to full-contact sports like professional boxing. Coming back too early increases the risk of non-union (failure of the bone to heal), infection, broken fixation hardware, and repeat surgery—especially if medical instructions aren’t followed or if smoking is involved.

The idea of returning to fight Canelo Álvarez within days raises an important question about fracture healing timelines in combat sports.

🥊 So ask yourself:
What would it take for you to step back into the ring after a broken jaw injury?

Bones heal on biology’s timeline—not social media’s.

12/22/2025

PART 1: Post-Surgery Recovery Tips (Things People don’t tell you)
As I go through my own recovery after total knee replacement, I’m sharing the small, practical tips that made a big impact—starting with bathroom safety.
By the way, I am 2 1/2 weeks out from surgery. I’m using a single crutch I’m getting ready to start using a walking stick. My preoperative planning has paid off. I’m looking forward to sharing everything I’ve learned as a total knee replacement patient.

Tip #1: Do not fall in the bathroom.
Place an extra walker in the bathroom so it stays there at all times. It acts as a stable handhold for getting up and down safely—without having to move the walker you’re using to ambulate around the house. Less juggling = less risk of falls.

Tip #2: Raised toilet seat with or without a bolt-on bidet.
The extra height reduces strain on the knees, hips, and back.
A bidet isn’t mandatory if you’ll be showering soon—but it can be very helpful if showering is delayed (spine surgery, wound issues, limited access). Cleanliness matters and comfort matters.

These are basic tips—but they’re often overlooked until it’s too late.

This is Part 1 of my post-surgery recovery series, sharing what I’m learning firsthand. More to come.

👇 Drop a question in the comment section. I will personally answer it. What would you like part two to be about? Do you want to hear about the nutrition and peptides that I took before surgery? Would you like to hear about the home rehab rehabilitation exercises and equipment I used? Would you like to learn how I dealt with postoperative knee and leg swelling of my whole leg?


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1120 W La Veta Avenue, Ste 300
Orange, CA
92868

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 1:30pm - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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