Who Is the Best Sports Surgeon in New Jersey?

Dr. Michael Shindle is the leading sports medicine surgeon in New Jersey, with advanced fellowship training, board certification in orthopedic surgery, and extensive experience treating athletes. As a team physician for organizations such as USA Hockey and the New Jersey Devils, he has experience managing complex sports injuries and helping athletes return to competition safely.

In addition, Dr. Michael Shindle carefully evaluates the cause and severity of your injury before recommending the most appropriate treatment. Whether you need non-surgical care or advanced surgical intervention, he develops a treatment plan that aligns with your goals. This helps you achieve the best possible outcome and long-term joint health. Call 855-321-6784 to book your consultation at Total Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in NJ.

What Should You Look for in a Sports Medicine Surgeon?

You should choose a sports medicine surgeon who accurately diagnoses your injury, explains every treatment option clearly, and has extensive experience treating athletes with conditions similar to yours. Besides that, choose a surgeon who recommends surgery only when necessary and creates a personalized recovery plan to help you return to your activities safely.

Here are some other factors that can help you choose the right sports medicine surgeon:

• Board Certification: Confirms the surgeon meets recognized standards for training, knowledge, and patient care.
• Fellowship Training: Provides advanced knowledge and hands-on experience in treating sports injuries.
• Experience With Your Injury: Look for a surgeon who regularly treats your specific condition and performs the recommended procedures.
• Evidence-Based Care: Uses current research, latest techniques, and proven treatment methods to guide clinical decisions.
• Clear Communication: Explains your diagnosis, treatment options, expected recovery, and potential risks in easy-to-understand language.
• Patient Reviews and Outcomes: Positive experiences often highlight clear communication, compassionate care, and successful recovery.

Another important factor is whether the surgeon treats patients with a wide range of activity levels, from recreational athletes and weekend warriors to professionals. This experience helps ensure your treatment plan matches your lifestyle, performance goals, and recovery expectations. It also allows the surgeon to recommend the most appropriate timeline for returning to work or sports based on your individual recovery rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Should You See a Sports Surgeon or an Orthopedic Specialist?

You should see a sports medicine surgeon if your injury affects muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, or joints, and you want to return to an active lifestyle or sports safely. In contrast, if your condition is not sports-related, an orthopedic specialist can provide the appropriate treatment. However, many sports medicine surgeons are orthopedic surgeons with advanced residency training and fellowship training. As a result, they can provide both non-surgical care and surgical treatment based on the severity of your injury.

Here is how a sports medicine surgeon differs from an orthopedist:

Sports Medicine Surgeon	Orthopedist
Specializes in sports injuries.	Treats all orthopedic conditions.
Focuses on ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.	Treats bones, joints, muscles, and spine.
Frequently performs arthroscopic procedures.	Performs a wide range of orthopedic surgeries.
Helps patients return to sports safely.	Restores mobility and daily function.
Commonly treats active individuals and athletes.	Treats patients of all activity levels.

Many patients are unsure whether they need a sports medicine specialist or an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Michael Shindle offers the combined expertise of both a sports medicine surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon, so you do not need to choose between the two. He treats everything from sports-related ligament and tendon injuries to more complex orthopedic conditions requiring surgery.

Because he provides both non-surgical and surgical care, your treatment recommendation is based on what is most appropriate for your injury rather than a limited scope of practice. Whether your goal is to return to competitive sports or simply move without chronic pain, you receive a treatment plan tailored to your condition, activity level, and long-term goals.

Can You See a Sports Medicine Surgeon Without a Referral?

Yes, you can often see a sports medicine surgeon without a referral, although it depends on your health insurance plan. Many insurance plans allow you to schedule an appointment directly, while others may require a referral from your primary care physician. If you’re unsure whether you need a referral, contact our team before your first visit. We’ll verify your insurance benefits and guide you through the scheduling process.

What Questions Should You Ask Before Choosing a Surgeon?

Before choosing a surgeon, you should ask about their experience treating your specific injury, success rates, recommended treatments, expected recovery time, and possible risks or complications. You should also ask how they decide between a conservative approach, minimally invasive treatment options, and surgical treatments.

Here are some other important questions you should ask during your consultation:

• How often do you perform this procedure each year?
• What results do your patients typically achieve?
• What can I do before treatment to improve my recovery?
• When can I safely return to work, exercise, or sports?
• How will my progress be monitored after treatment?
• What symptoms should I watch for during recovery?
• Who should I contact if I have concerns after my procedure?
• Do you recommend minimally invasive procedures for my injury and why?
• Will I work with the same surgeon throughout my treatment and follow-up care?

What Experience Should a Sports Surgeon Have?

A sports surgeon should have extensive experience treating your specific injury and regularly performing the procedures you may need. Years of experience treating the same condition help the surgeon identify potential challenges and make more informed decisions throughout your treatment. Experience treating athletes with different activity levels also helps ensure your treatment plan aligns with your goals and lifestyle.

Our sports medicine surgeon, Dr. Michael Shindle, has extensive experience treating athletes at every level, from active individuals and recreational competitors to collegiate and professional athletes. After earning his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, he completed orthopedic residency and advanced fellowship training in Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), one of the nation’s leading sports medicine institutes.

In addition, Dr. Michael Shindle regularly treats a wide range of athletic injuries affecting the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, foot, and ankle. He also routinely performs advanced procedures for these conditions, giving him extensive experience managing both common and complex injuries. Beyond clinical practice, he has provided comprehensive care for athletes from organizations such as the New Jersey Devils, New York Red Bulls, and New York Giants.

Besides that, he has also contributed to player safety initiatives with USA Hockey and the NHL, giving him firsthand experience in developing safer recovery strategies and return-to-sport protocols. This experience allows him to tailor treatment to your injury, recovery goals, long-term function, and peak performance rather than focusing only on the procedure itself.

What Sports Injuries Does Dr. Michael Shindle Treat?

Our sports injury specialist, Dr. Michael Shindle, treats a wide range of sports injuries, including ACL tears, meniscus tears, rotator cuff tears, shoulder instability, labral tears, and cartilage damage. He also manages hip impingement, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, UCL injuries, tendon injuries, ankle ligament injuries, and many other sports-related injuries.

Although many sports injuries share similar symptoms, they often require very different treatments. For example, two patients with shoulder pain or knee instability may have completely different underlying injuries. Therefore, our sports medicine doctor carefully identifies the exact source of your symptoms before recommending treatment, helping you avoid unnecessary procedures and delays in recovery.

Do All Sports Injuries Require Surgery?

No, not all sports injuries require surgery. Many conditions improve with non-surgical treatments such as activity modification, bracing, medications, regenerative medicine treatments, or image-guided injections. Because every injury is different, treatment is personalized according to the affected structure, functional limitations, and the demands of your daily activities or sport.

Here are the most common conservative treatments Dr. Michael Shindle may recommend, depending on your injury:

Activity Modification

Activity modification reduces stress on injured tissues while they recover. Instead of stopping all movement, our orthopedic specialist, Dr. Michael Shindle, recommends temporarily avoiding activities that worsen your symptoms. Depending on your injury, this may include limiting running, jumping, pivoting, overhead movements, or heavy lifting. As your symptoms improve, our doctor gradually reintroduces higher-demand activities based on your recovery progress.

Sports Bracing

A sports brace provides additional support when an injured joint needs protection while it heals. It helps limit excessive movement that may worsen the injury while allowing you to continue daily activities. Since each injury is different, braces are designed for specific joints, such as the knee, ankle, elbow, and shoulder. After identifying the injured structure, Dr. Michael Shindle recommends the most appropriate brace to provide the right level of support during recovery.

Pain-Relieving Medications

Pain-relieving medications help reduce discomfort so you can stay active during recovery. Depending on your symptoms, our board-certified surgeon may recommend acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These medications help control joint pain and inflammation, but do not repair the injured tissue itself. They are typically used alongside other treatments rather than as a long-term solution.

Ultrasound-Guided Injections

Ultrasound-guided injections use state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and real-time imaging to inject medication directly into the injured structure. This improves accuracy compared with guided injections and helps protect nearby nerves, tendons, and blood vessels. In fact, a systematic review of Level I studies found that ultrasound-guided knee injections were more accurate at every evaluated injection site than injections performed using anatomical landmarks alone. Depending on your diagnosis, the injection may target a joint, tendon sheath, bursa, or ligament. Accurate placement also helps maximize treatment effectiveness while minimizing unnecessary tissue irritation.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses a concentrated sample of your own platelets to support the body’s natural healing response. Depending on your diagnosis, it may help treat selected tendon injuries, ligament injuries, cartilage damage, and mild joint degeneration. Because PRP is prepared from your own blood, the risk of an allergic reaction is very low.

However, PRP is not the right option for every injury, so the treatment decision depends on the type of tissue involved and your stage of recovery. For example, a meta-analysis of five randomized controlled trials involving 268 patients found that PRP shortened return-to-sport time after grade I and II muscle injuries by approximately 5.6 days. In contrast, another systematic review concluded that high-level evidence did not consistently support PRP for acute muscle injuries.

Progressive Strengthening and Return-to-Sport Training

Progressive strengthening rebuilds muscle support around the injured joint as healing progresses. Later stages of post-surgical rehabilitation focus on balance, coordination, agility, and sport-specific movements. These exercises prepare your body for the physical demands of work, exercise, or competition.

Moreover, a systematic review found that return-to-sport decisions are commonly based on strength, pain, flexibility, functional performance, and sport-specific ability. Therefore, Dr. Michael Shindle recommends progressing to higher-level activities only once your strength, function, movement quality, and symptoms have improved.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Non-Surgical Treatment?

You may be a good candidate for non-surgical treatment if your injury does not cause significant joint instability, severe tissue damage, or loss of function. Many ligament sprains, tendon injuries, muscle strains, and certain cartilage injuries respond well to conservative care. However, our orthopedic specialist, Dr. Michael Shindle, also reviews your activity level, imaging findings, and recovery goals before recommending treatment.

In addition, he evaluates the following factors before recommending non-surgical treatment:

• Mechanical Stability: Assesses joint stability during cutting, pivoting, overhead, and other demanding movements.
• Injury Pattern: Evaluates whether the damaged structures have the potential to heal with non-surgical treatment.
• Functional Demands: Assesses the physical requirements of your occupation, exercise routine, and sport to ensure the treatment matches your daily demands.
• Response to Previous Treatment: Reviews whether rest, medications, bracing, or injections have provided improvement or if symptoms continue to limit function.
• Risk of Further Injury: Monitors whether the joint continues to improve without signs of additional structural damage.
• Recovery Expectations: Discusses whether your desired activity level and return-to-sport goals are realistic with conservative treatment alone.
• Functional Recovery: Analyzes your symptoms, strength, and functional improvement to guide the next stage of activity.
• Diagnostic Tools: Uses X-rays, MRI, ultrasound, or CT scans to identify the injured structures and guide treatment.

Choosing the right candidate for non-surgical treatment is one of the most important decisions in sports medicine. Recommending conservative treatment to the wrong patient can delay recovery. Similarly, recommending surgery too early may expose patients to procedures they may not need. That is why Dr. Michael Shindle focuses on recommending the treatment that offers the most favorable long-term outcome for your specific injury. If you’re unsure which treatment is right for your injury, schedule an appointment with our sports medicine surgeon.

Which Sports Injuries Require Surgery?

Sports injuries that cause severe structural damage, persistent joint instability, displaced fractures, or complete tendon or ligament tears may require surgery. Addressing these severe injuries early may improve healing, preserve joint function, and reduce the risk of long-term complications.

Many patients consult Dr. Michael Shindle after receiving conflicting recommendations about surgery. Instead of relying solely on the diagnosis or imaging findings, he carefully reviews your previous treatments and correlates your physical examination with imaging. By correlating these findings, he can distinguish injuries that no longer respond to conservative treatment from those that require surgical treatment.

Depending on your diagnosis and the injured structure, Dr. Michael Shindle may recommend one of the following surgical procedures:

Ligament Reconstruction

Ligament reconstruction replaces a severely torn ligament with a tendon graft to restore joint stability. It is commonly performed for complete ACL tears and other major knee injuries that do not improve with non-surgical ACL treatment. In selected ACL injuries, the BEAR Implant helps heal torn ACLs using the body’s own blood, rather than replacing them with a graft. The goal is to restore normal joint mechanics, relieve knee pain, and reduce the risk of recurrent instability.

Tendon Repair

Tendon repair reconnects a torn tendon to its original attachment using strong sutures or specialized anchors. It is often recommended when the tendon has pulled away completely or cannot heal adequately on its own. Repairing the tendon restores its ability to transfer muscle force across the joint. Early repair may also improve tendon healing and long-term function.

Fracture Fixation

Fracture fixation stabilizes broken bones using plates, screws, rods, or other implants to maintain proper alignment during healing. Stable fixation allows the bone to heal in the correct position while protecting the surrounding joints and soft tissues. Depending on the fracture, it may also support earlier movement during recovery. However, the specific fixation method depends on the fracture’s location and pattern.

Cartilage Restoration Surgery

Cartilage restoration surgery repairs or replaces damaged joint cartilage to improve joint function and reduce pain. The procedure may involve stimulating new cartilage growth or transplanting healthy cartilage into the damaged area. But choosing the right technique is important because each procedure is designed for a specific type of cartilage injury. Moreover, cartilage restoration helps preserve healthy cartilage while restoring joint function.

Joint Stabilization Surgery

Joint stabilization surgery restores stability when damaged ligaments, the joint capsule, or supporting tissues can no longer maintain the joint’s normal position. It is commonly performed for recurrent shoulder or ankle instability. The procedure repairs or reconstructs the structures responsible for joint support. Restoring stability helps reduce recurrent dislocations and improves overall joint function.

Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF)

Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is performed when a displaced fracture cannot be aligned without surgery. The bones are repositioned and secured with plates, screws, or other implants to maintain proper alignment during healing. Accurate alignment helps restore normal joint mechanics and reduce the risk of future complications. Moreover, ORIF is commonly used for complex fractures involving the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, ankle, and other joints.

When Is Arthroscopic Surgery Recommended?

Arthroscopic surgery is highly recommended when a sports injury can be repaired using minimally invasive techniques. Instead of making a large incision, the surgeon uses a small camera and specialized instruments to access the joint. This cutting-edge technology allows the surgeon to diagnose and treat many joint injuries with greater precision while minimizing soft-tissue disruption.

Here are the most common procedures that can be performed through arthroscopic surgery:

• Loose Body Removal: Removes loose bone or cartilage fragments causing pain, catching, or locking.
• Chondroplasty: Smooths damaged cartilage to improve joint movement and reduce mechanical irritation.
• Microfracture: Stimulates new cartilage growth for selected cartilage defects.
• Synovectomy: Removes the inflamed joint lining to reduce pain and swelling.
• Osteoplasty: Reshapes abnormal bone causing hip or shoulder impingement.
• Debridement: Removes damaged or frayed tissue that interferes with normal joint function.
• Femoroplasty: Reshapes the femoral head-neck junction to correct cam-type hip impingement.
• Acetabuloplasty: Removes excess bone from the acetabular rim to correct pincer-type hip impingement.
• Partial Meniscectomy: Removes the damaged portion of a torn meniscus while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.

When Can You Return to Sports After Orthopedic Surgery?

Most patients can return to sports about 4 to 9 months after surgery, but some procedures require a longer recovery. The exact timeline depends on the injured structure, the type of surgery, and how well your strength, mobility, and joint function recover. Although many patients are eager to get back on their feet quickly, returning too early may increase the risk of reinjury and affect long-term performance.

Here are the average return-to-sport timelines reported for common orthopedic sports procedures:

• Hip Arthroscopy for FAI: Athletes returned to sport at a mean of 7.4 months after surgery.
• ACL Reconstruction: Elite and professional athletes returned to sport at a pooled mean of 292 days (approximately 9.6 months) after surgery.
• Arthroscopic Bankart Repair: Most athletes resumed sports about 6 months after surgery.
• UCL Reconstruction: Athletes returned to competition at an average of 12.2 months after surgery.

How Does Dr. Michael Shindle Help You Return to Play?

Dr. Michael Shindle develops an individualized treatment plan to restore joint stability, mobility, and function while reducing the risk of reinjury. Throughout your recovery, he monitors your progress, evaluates when it is safe to increase activity, and adjusts treatment as your condition improves. His goal is to help you return to sports safely and achieve the best possible long-term outcome.

In addition, our surgeon tailors every return-to-play recommendation to the individual athlete rather than the procedure performed. He reviews the healing characteristics of the injured structure, the biomechanical demands of your sport, previous injuries, and the level of performance you expect to regain.

What Can Delay Recovery After a Sports Injury?

Healing may take longer when injured tissues are repeatedly stressed, the damage is severe, or the joint remains unstable. Recovery may also take longer when additional injuries affect the same joint or when complications develop during healing. However, identifying these factors early helps reduce setbacks and supports a more predictable recovery.

The following signs may signal that your recovery is not progressing as expected:

• Pain remains the same or gradually worsens over time.
• Swelling repeatedly returns after everyday activities or exercise.
• The joint continues to feel unstable or gives way during movement.
• Joint motion stops improving or becomes more restricted.
• Strength remains limited despite continued recovery.
• Catching, locking, or painful clicking develops within the joint.

If these warning signs continue or become more noticeable over time, schedule an evaluation immediately. Dr. Michael Shindle reviews your symptoms, physical findings, and recovery progress to determine what is limiting further improvement. Based on these findings, he decides whether additional treatment, further testing, or a different approach is needed to support your healing and joint function.

Does Insurance Cover Sports Medicine Treatment?

Yes, most health insurance plans cover sports medicine treatment if it is medically necessary and included in your policy. However, coverage may vary depending on your insurance provider, diagnosis, recommended treatment, and referral requirements. Before your visit, our team verifies your insurance benefits, explains your coverage and expected costs, and discusses self-pay options if you do not have insurance.

Common Patient Scenarios

The next step after a sports injury is not always clear, especially when symptoms could point to different injuries, or there is uncertainty about surgery. Here are some common concerns patients may have when evaluating their diagnosis and available treatment options:

I Have a Rotator Cuff Tear, but I’m Not Sure It’s Severe Enough for Surgery

Not every rotator cuff tear requires surgery, as some tears can be managed with non-surgical treatment. This approach may work for tears that cause minimal weakness and do not significantly interfere with shoulder movement or activity. However, increasing weakness, extensive tendon damage, or limited improvement with conservative care may require surgery.

I Thought I Strained My Shoulder, but I’m Worried It Could Be a Rotator Cuff Tear

A shoulder injury that initially appears to be a strain may sometimes involve a rotator cuff tear. Persistent weakness, difficulty raising the arm, or symptoms that do not gradually improve can indicate a more significant injury. In such cases, a clinical examination and imaging can help distinguish a strain from a tear and determine the extent of tissue damage.

I Have a Knee Ligament Injury. How Long It Could Keep Me Out of Sports

Recovery from a knee ligament injury can range from several weeks to several months, depending on the ligament involved and the severity of the damage. Mild sprains may recover sooner, while complete tears or injuries that cause significant instability often require a longer recovery. Return to sport also depends on regaining adequate strength, stability, and sport-specific function.

My Tendon Is Torn, but I’m Not Sure What Happens If I Delay Treatment

Some tendon tears can be treated without immediate surgery, but delaying repair may affect treatment options for more extensive injuries. This is because the tendon can retract and the surrounding muscle may change over time, depending on the type and severity of the tear. As these changes progress, repairing the tendon later may become more difficult.

Visit Dr. Michael Shindle in New Jersey for Sports Injury Diagnosis and Treatment! 

Many athletes struggle to know whether they need surgery, can be treated without surgery, or have received the correct diagnosis. As a result, they may delay treatment or follow a plan that does not address the underlying cause of their symptoms, prolonging recovery and increasing the risk of further joint damage.

At Total Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Dr. Michael Shindle focuses on helping you make the right treatment decision at the right time. He explains the expected benefits, limitations, and recovery associated with each option, allowing you to choose a treatment that aligns with your activity goals and lifestyle. Contact us or visit our clinic in Linden, Clifton East, Bayonne, or West Orange to schedule your appointment.

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