Total Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

Total Orthopedics & Sports Medicine We're The Experts At Getting You Back To You From your first visit to your last, we are here with you every single step of the way.
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At Total Orthopedics and Sports Medicine you will find some of the countries top doctors. You don’t have to live with pain any longer. Our talented team of surgeons, orthopedic specialists and pain management doctors can help treat your pain and provide the right physical therapy needed to get your life back. Total Orthopedics and Sports Medicine does not exclude, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate against any person based on race, color, national origin, disability, age, s*x, s*xual orientation, gender identity, religion, or creed.

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

Total Orthopedics & Sports Medicine was proud to be at the Nassau County COBA Retirement & Installation Dinner, celebrat...
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

03/15/2026

Inside the OR with spine surgeon Dr. Dante Leven.

Every movement in spine surgery matters. One careful decision can relieve pain, restore strength, and help a patient walk, work, and live without limits again. That responsibility drives everything inside this room.

This is the work. This is why we do it.

03/13/2026

People say: ‘I shattered my hip.’ But what does that actually mean?”

Let Dr. Dennis Murphy, orthopedic trauma surgeon at Total Orthopedics and Sports Medicine explain. He treats hip fractures every week, and many patients are surprised to learn that a “shattered hip” can describe several different injuries.

One common injury is a femoral neck fracture. This break occurs just below the ball of the hip joint. Blood supply to the bone can be affected, so these fractures often need urgent surgery.

Another type is an intertrochanteric fracture. This break occurs a little lower, between two bony bumps on the upper femur. These fractures often happen after a fall and are usually repaired with a metal rod or plate.

A more complex injury is a subtrochanteric fracture. This break occurs just below the trochanteric area. These fractures often involve multiple bone fragments and can require stronger fixation during surgery.

Some injuries are even more severe. In high-energy trauma, such as a car crash, the upper femur can break into several pieces. That is what many people mean when they say their hip was “shattered.”

The key point is simple. Hip fractures vary widely, but every one of them needs prompt evaluation and treatment.

If you fall and feel severe hip pain, cannot stand, or your leg looks shortened or turned outward, seek medical care right away.

Your hip joint carries your body weight with every step. Protecting it matters.

03/11/2026

Operating room music is a person choice for any surgeon 🎵🩺

But if you’ve worked with Dr. Eric Lepkowsky, one of TOSM’s premier joint replacement surgeons, you know where he got the nickname…

Doctor 305 🕶️

His training at the University of Miami shaped his surgical skills. It shaped his playlist too.

The OR music has a clear Miami influence.

Reggaeton. Hip hop. A little South Florida energy.

Staff in the room joke that you can guess where he trained just by the playlist.

Sharp focus. Precise surgery. Miami vibes all the way.

03/08/2026

Trust is what matters most when preparing for spine surgery 💙

Most people wake up to a normal morning.

One patient wakes up knowing today is spine surgery.

For that patient, the day begins with fear, uncertainty, and years of pain that led them to this moment.

At the same time, TOSM spine surgeon Dr. Dante Leven prepares for the operating room. He puts on his scrubs with one clear focus. Help that patient reclaim their life.

Spine surgery is more than a procedure. It can mean standing upright again, walking without pain, and finally sleeping through the night.

Every patient enters the operating room with a story. Dr. Leven’s role is to help them begin the next chapter.

Today may be their most difficult day. His goal is to make it the day healing begins.

Dr. Dante Leven
Spine Surgeon | TOSM

03/05/2026

Dr. Richard McCormack, M.D. of Total Orthopedics & Sports Medicine explains how he performs hip replacement with the posterior approach and robotic guidance.

It’s all about protecting key muscles and working through a precise pathway behind the hip. A method that limits tissue disruption and supports faster recovery.

Robotic technology maps the joint before the first incision. The system guides implant placement with exact measurements for alignment and stability.

Dr. McCormack has performed thousands of joint procedures across decades of practice. Experience and precision matter in every step of surgery.

The goal is simple. Less trauma to the body and a hip that feels natural again.

If hip pain limits your life, expert care is close to home.

Book a consultation today at any of our TOSM Long Island, Brooklyn, New Jersey or NYC locations [LINK IN BIO]

03/01/2026

Dr. Montemurro and Dr. Lepkowsky have treated thousands of shoulder, knee, hip, and spine injuries across New York and New Jersey. Many of those injuries trace back to the gym.

Here are 5 workouts we stopped doing after becoming orthopedic surgeons:

1. Behind-the-neck shoulder presses
This move forces the shoulder into extreme rotation. We see labral tears and rotator cuff damage from this position. We switched to presses in front of the body with controlled weight.

2. Deep barbell back squats with heavy load
Heavy squats place high compressive force on the knees and lower back. We now focus on controlled squats, split squats, and leg presses that protect the joints.

3. Upright rows
This exercise crowds the shoulder joint. It often leads to impingement pain. We replaced it with lateral raises using lighter weights and strict form.

4. Sit-ups with weighted spinal flexion
Repeated loaded flexion strains the lumbar discs. We see disc herniations tied to this pattern. We train core stability with planks and anti-rotation work instead.

5. Box jumps past fatigue
Plyometrics demand precision. Fatigue breaks form and stresses the ACL and Achilles tendon. We limit jump volume and prioritize landing mechanics.

We are not anti-gym. We lift. We train. We stay active.

We just respect joint mechanics and long-term tissue health.

Train hard. Train smart. Protect your future mobility.

If pain is limiting your workouts, our team at Total Orthopedics and Sports Medicine can help you get back safely

Today, the team at Total Orthopedics & Sports Medicine proudly stood with our community for LI Pizza Strong🍕We supported...
02/25/2026

Today, the team at Total Orthopedics & Sports Medicine proudly stood with our community for LI Pizza Strong🍕

We supported local pizzerias taking part in the fundraiser to honor the memory of Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa. A huge thank you to:

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Across our locations, we ordered 40 pies in support of this meaningful cause. With $5 from every pie sold going directly to the Espinosa family, we’re honored to play a small part in giving back.

Long Island always shows up for its own🍕💙

02/25/2026

Say hi 👋🏻 to Dr. Richard McCormack, Director of Surgery at our Syosset ambulatory surgery center 🏆

Dr. McCormack has built his career in sports medicine and joint replacement after incredible training at some of the nation’s top Universities (including Harvard).

He treats torn ligaments, worn cartilage, arthritic hips, and painful knees every day, helps athletes get back on the field, and gets people back to work without constant pain.

Patients choose him for precise surgical skill and clear, direct guidance. He focuses on restoring strength, stability, and range of motion. Many procedures take place in our state-of-the-art outpatient center in Syosset, where patients go home the same day.

Knee pain that will not quit? Shoulder injuries that limit sleep? Hip arthritis that slows every step? 👇

Dr. McCormack treats them with proven minimally invasive techniques and modern joint replacement methods.

Ready to move without pain again? Schedule a consultation and take the first step toward lasting relief.

02/23/2026

🚨Snow day got us feeling like ❄️🤕

We’re closed for the snow day but back open Tuesday and ready to fix what the ice tried to break.

Walk slow. We’re here to help 💪💙

Address

115 Eileen Way
Syosset, NY
11758

Telephone

+18553216784

Website

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