Recovering from Injury with NYC Footy x NY Orthopedics

Part of living an active life and playing sports is the risk of injury.

Considering the founders of NYC Footy have had their fair share of gnarly setbacks (broken foot, broken ankle, torn hamstring, torn meniscus, torn groin, muscle contusion, dislocated AC joint, torn ankle ligaments, and more) they know just how important referrals and guidance are when it comes to injury recovery.

This is why we’ve worked hard to establish a long-standing, integrated partnership with New York Orthopedics, a leader in injury recovery for New York City’s community.

NY Orthopedics has numerous locations around NYC, welcoming patients of all ages and helping them get back to a fully active lifestyle.

NYC Footy players receive priority scheduling and on-demand attention following a concerning soccer injury. If you are a player in need of attention or playing alongside an injured player, simply check the description in your captain’s chat or request to see the referee’s yellow or red caution cards, which contain emergency contact information to quickly see a NYO specialist.

Learn more about New York Orthopedics by meeting the very people spearheading recovery for professional athletes and weekend warriors alike.

Meet The Doctors Taking Care of NYC Footy’s Players

One of New York Orthopedics’ most experienced, sports medicine fellowship trained physicians is Dr. Teo Mendez-Zfass, who is himself an NYC Footy player and has over 15 years of experience treating athletes from the New York Jets, New York Islanders, Manhattanville College, Hunter College, and, of course, NYC Footy (including founders Tarek Pertew and Gerardo Cueva).

Dr. Teo Mendez-Zfass

Founder and current director of NY Orthopedics and is a recognized authority in the field of sports medicine. Dr. Nicholas has dedicated a great deal of time to treating professional, collegiate and amateur athletes. He has served as the orthopedic team physician for the New York Jets, New York Islanders, and the athletes at Hofstra University.

He also served as a member of the mayor’s New York City Sports Commission.

Dr. Stephen Nicholas

Fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the treatment of all sports-related injuries as well as arthroscopic and open treatment of knee, ankle, shoulder and elbow injuries. Dr. Bedford currently performs clinical research at the Nicholas Institute for Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma (NISMAT) and maintains a special interest in the treatment of throwing athletes, including ligament injuries and cartilage defects.

Dr. Benjamin Bedford

Sergai N. DeLaMora, M.D. focuses on sports-related injuries to athletes of all ages and levels.

He is the team physician for several area schools including Mercy College, Sarah Lawrence College and New Rochelle High School. Dr. DeLaMora is an avid athlete who has completed several Ironman triathlons and numerous marathons.

Dr. DeLaMora

Sameh Elguizaoui, M.D. is a fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine arthroscopic surgery. Dr. Elguizaoui completed a sports medicine fellowship at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City where he participated in the care of athletes from the New York Jets, New York Islanders, Manhattanville and Hunter College.

Dr. Elguizaoui

Gregory Galano, M.D. is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in sports

medicine and arthroscopic surgery. Dr. Galano completed his fellowship in Sports Medicine at

the Hospital for Special Surgery, where he served as an assistant team physician to the New York Knicks and St. Johns University.

Dr. Galano

Matthew Gotlin, M.D. is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. His clinical focus is the treatment of athletes of all ages and skill levels. He is currently serving as the team physician for the Harlem Wizards men’s professional basketball team and has served as the assistant team physician for the NFL’s New York Jets, the NFL scouting combine, and the National Women’s Hockey League’s Metropolitan Riveters.

Dr. Gotlin

Steven Lee, M.D.is a board certified, double fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in the treatment of the most complex disorders of the hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, knee and foot/ankle. Dr. Lee has served as the team physician for the New Jersey Red Dogs and Gladiators Professional Arena Football teams, and for Hofstra University Athletic teams.

Dr. Lee

Nicholas A. Wessling, M.D. is a fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine and foot and ankle surgery. Dr. Wessling has a special interest in total ankle replacement, sports injuries of the foot and ankle and bunion correction. During his training, Dr. Wessling participated in the care of athletes from the New York Jets, New York Islanders, Miami Dolphins, Manhattanville College and Hunter College.

Dr. Wessling

John L. Xethalis, M.D., specializes in sports medicine, trauma and total joint replacement of the

hip and knee. Dr. Xethalis was the team physician of the New York Cosmos, the professional

soccer team which included Edson Arantes do Nascimento (known as Pele), Franz Beckenbauer, and Giorgio Chinaglia.

Dr. Xethalis

Firas M. Chamas, M.D., Ph.D. is a fellowship trained spine surgeon who studied under experts

in the treatment of complex spine disorders. Dr. Chamas is a strong believer in listening to the

patient, examining the patient and working together with the patient to decide on the best

treatment option for each individual.

Dr. Chamas

Christopher F.X. Riegler, M.D., specializes in the field of regional anesthesia as applied to the

field of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. Additionally Dr. Riegler sub-specializes in the

field of interventional pain medicine for the treatment of acute and chronic spinal pain, as well

as complex regional pain syndromes.