Natasha Trentacosta, MD

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Natasha Trentacosta, MD Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine

Main Office:
2020 Santa Monica Blvd #400
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Phone: 310.829.2663
Fax: 310.315.0175

Dr. Natasha Trentacosta is a pediatric and adult sports medicine trained orthopaedic surgeon based in the Los Angeles area. Her unique training allows her to care for athletes of all ages and levels of competition in the prevention and treatment of sports-related and traumatic injuries, utilizing non-operative treatment options such as physical therapy and regenerative medicine techniques as well as operative interventions when indicated. Her surgical skills and individualized attention aim to help each patient return to the highest possible level of function in sports and life. After growing up in New York City, she attended Brown University with a concentration in Neuroscience. Returning to New York, the summer before entering medical school was spent at an internship at the Women’s Sports Medicine Center of the Hospital of Special Surgery. She went on to medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed her residency in orthopaedic surgery at Montefiore Medical Center. She completed specialized training in adult sports medicine at Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group, providing sideline and training room medical coverage for local high schools and colleges, and assisting in the care of the LA Galaxy as well as Men’s and Women’s US National Soccer teams. With a strong passion for keeping children active and safe in sports and life, she went on to further training with international leaders in pediatric sports medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital, practicing surgical techniques that are unique to the treatment of the pediatric patient. Not only did she continue caring for local high school athletes, but also had the opportunity to cover the Boston Athletic Association road races, including the Finish line at the Boston Marathon. Returning to Los Angeles, she brings a passion for keeping children and adults active and returning them back to their full potential when injury strikes. Her research interests continue in the pediatric and female athlete, focusing on injuries of shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee.

The part of meetings I have to travel for that doesn’t make it onto the highlight reel. ⁠⁠As much as I love the opportun...
10/28/2026

The part of meetings I have to travel for that doesn’t make it onto the highlight reel. ⁠
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As much as I love the opportunity to travel, learn, connect with inspiring people, and bring new ideas back to my work, there’s always a part of me that feels a little torn.⁠
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Because while I’m away being a surgeon, a colleague, and a lifelong learner, there’s another part of my life that doesn’t exactly pause when I board a plane or drive up the coast.⁠
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There are school assignments, bedtime routines, books that need to be read, lunches to pack, and two little humans who don’t particularly care how inspiring the keynote speaker was. They just want Mom.⁠
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And then there’s FaceTime. Equal parts heartfelt family reunion and remote household management. ⁠
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One minute I’m telling the kids how much I miss them, and the next I’m reminding Dad which books need to be read for school. (Because apparently my maternal responsibilities have excellent Wi-Fi coverage.)⁠
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But between the homework reminders and bedtime negotiations are the little moments that matter most. Seeing their faces, hearing about their days, and feeling connected even when we’re miles apart.⁠
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Being a working mom means sometimes being exactly where you want to be professionally while wishing you could simultaneously be somewhere else personally.⁠
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I’m grateful for a husband who holds down the fort, for technology that makes the distance feel a little smaller, and for children who remind me what all of this is ultimately about.⁠
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I want my kids to see a mother who loves her work, pursues her passions, and continues to grow. But I also want them to know that no matter how far I travel, they’re always my favorite people to come home to and their homemade signs.⁠
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Because the hardest part of going away isn’t the travel. It’s leaving pieces of your heart at home. ⁠
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Got an injury that can’t wait until Monday? I’ll be in the office Saturday morning. 🦴⁠⁠I’m holding a Saturday orthopedic...
10/27/2026

Got an injury that can’t wait until Monday? I’ll be in the office Saturday morning. 🦴⁠
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I’m holding a Saturday orthopedic injury clinic at my Santa Monica office this Saturday, October 31, from 8 AM to noon. Whether it’s a weekend sports injury or something that’s been bothering you for a while, you can schedule an appointment ahead of time, or walk in that morning if you’ve just been injured.⁠
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📍 2020 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 400⁠
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Call the office at (310)829-2663 to schedule. See you Saturday!⁠
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A masterclass in leadership, with a side of gracefully dismantling misogyny.⁠⁠Hearing NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman (...
10/26/2026

A masterclass in leadership, with a side of gracefully dismantling misogyny.⁠
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Hearing NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman (a.k.a. my boss’s boss) speak at the espnW Summit was one of those moments that left me simultaneously inspired, impressed, and taking mental notes.⁠
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One of her most powerful leadership lessons? Never underestimate the importance of asking questions.⁠
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Great leaders don’t need to walk into every room with all the answers. They need the curiosity to ask the right questions, the humility to listen, and the confidence to challenge assumptions.⁠
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And then there was the moment we heard about how days earlier she had fielded a misogynistic question with something far more powerful than outrage: truth, facts, and absolute composure.⁠
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No defensiveness. No need to match the tone. Just an intelligent, measured response that spoke volumes.⁠
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As a woman in orthopedic surgery, another historically male-dominated field, I know how tempting it can be to respond emotionally when confronted with outdated assumptions about women and their capabilities.⁠
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But there is something incredibly powerful about a woman who knows her worth, knows her facts, and refuses to let someone else’s ignorance dictate her response.⁠
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You don’t always need to raise your voice to command a room. Sometimes the most powerful response is simply being the most prepared person in it.⁠
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And that, to me, is badass leadership.⁠
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Thank you, Jessica, for the reminder that curiosity is a strength, composure is a superpower, and the best way to challenge the status quo is often to let the facts do the talking.⁠
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Proud to be part of the NWSL family. ⁠
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The underlying problem isn’t always the injury itself. It’s that prevention often starts after the injury has already ha...
10/23/2026

The underlying problem isn’t always the injury itself. It’s that prevention often starts after the injury has already happened.⁠
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By the time you’re sitting in my office, we’re usually talking about treatment and recovery. But there was often a window before that—months, sometimes years—when better strength, mobility, training habits, and awareness of individual risk factors may have reduced the chance of injury or limited its severity.⁠
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Not every injury is preventable. And not every injury needs surgery. But nearly everyone can be better prepared for one.⁠
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Build strength. Maintain mobility. Pay attention to training load. Know your risk factors.⁠
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Prevention works best before pain forces the conversation.⁠
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Save this as your reminder to start before you have to.⁠
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The problem isn't the injury. It's that most people only show up after it happens.⁠⁠By the time you're sitting in my off...
10/23/2026

The problem isn't the injury. It's that most people only show up after it happens.⁠
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By the time you're sitting in my office, the injury has already happened. What's missing is the window before, the months (or years) when the right prevention work could have changed the outcome entirely.⁠
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Not every injury needs surgery, but every injury could have been better prepared for. Strength work, mobility work, and knowing your own risk factors are all things you can start before an injury forces the conversation.⁠
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Save this for later.⁠
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Decked out in Adidas swag from head to toe, only to have Jess Sims remind us that cute workout clothes do not make HIIT ...
10/22/2026

Decked out in Adidas swag from head to toe, only to have Jess Sims remind us that cute workout clothes do not make HIIT any easier. ⁠
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Nothing like starting the morning at the espnW Women + Sports Summit with Jess Sims absolutely kicking our butts in a HIIT class, followed by Dr. Vonda Wright reminding us exactly WHY we willingly put ourselves through that.⁠
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As an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon, I spend much of my time preaching the importance of movement, strength training, and building a body that will serve us for decades. But there’s something particularly satisfying about getting a healthy dose of my own medicine.⁠
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Because exercise isn’t just about burning calories or looking good in our Adidas swag (Thank you adidas for the cute outfit).⁠
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It’s about building muscle, preserving bone health, maintaining power, and protecting our independence as we age.⁠
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And the best part? It’s never too early or too late to start investing in your future self.⁠
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Thank you, Jess, for the sweat, and Dr. Wright, for the science. A perfect reminder that strong isn’t just how we look. It’s how we live.⁠
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Tech neck isn't just a phone habit. 📱⁠⁠The posture I correct on the field with teen athletes is the same one I see every...
10/21/2026

Tech neck isn't just a phone habit. 📱⁠
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The posture I correct on the field with teen athletes is the same one I see every time a kid looks down at a phone or screen. It starts as a small tilt and can grow into lasting strain as muscle imbalances develop. The lower the head tilts, the more weight the neck carries, and hours of that add up over time.⁠ ⁠
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Proper technique on the field and limited screen time both matter for growing and teen athletes.⁠
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Schedule a consultation to build a posture plan before neck pain impacts their play.⁠
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Have you listened in yet? 🎙️⁠⁠Longevity is often measured in years. But more years only matter if you can actually enjoy...
10/20/2026

Have you listened in yet? 🎙️⁠
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Longevity is often measured in years. But more years only matter if you can actually enjoy them: moving freely, staying strong, and keeping up with the things you love.⁠
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I sat down with Dr. Karen Litzy, Physical Therapist + Biz Coach + Podcast Host on the Healthy, Wealthy & Smart podcast to talk about building a body that lasts at every stage. We covered strength training, bone health, keeping young athletes healthy, ACL injury prevention, why more research on female athletes matters, and whether running really is bad for your knees.⁠
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Click the link in my bio to listen to the full episode and tell me what you think!⁠
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Access to sports should not be a luxury for children. It is an important part of healthy development.⁠⁠When children par...
10/19/2026

Access to sports should not be a luxury for children. It is an important part of healthy development.⁠
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When children participate in organized sports, they build strength, coordination, and physical literacy. They also learn how to communicate, manage frustration, work toward a goal, and develop confidence in their own abilities.⁠
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A sports team also provides structure, mentorship, and belonging. A coach may become a trusted adult. A practice field may become one of the first places a child feels capable and connected to a community.⁠
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But access is not equal. Registration fees, equipment costs, transportation, and the rising expense of competitive youth sports can exclude talented, motivated children before they ever get the chance to discover what they can do.⁠
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That is why programs like LA City United FC matter. As part of the PLAYLA initiative, it helps create more equitable access to quality soccer training for young athletes across Los Angeles.⁠
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Talent exists in every neighborhood. Opportunity does not.⁠
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Every child deserves the chance to play, not only because sports can produce great athletes, but because they help build healthier, more confident, more resilient young people.⁠
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P.S. That’s me working with some of the girls teams on warm ups down in Wilmington and Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex last week!⁠
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10/18/2026

Remember when stairs were just… stairs?⁠
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Now your knees have a comment. Your hips have feedback. And getting up off the floor suddenly feels like a full-body assessment. ⁠
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For World Menopause Day, let’s talk about something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: perimenopause can affect your joints too.⁠
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Hormonal shifts—particularly changes in estrogen—may influence inflammation, connective tissue, muscle, and how achy or stiff your joints feel. So if your body suddenly feels a little less forgiving in your 40s or 50s, it isn’t automatically “just getting older.”⁠
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And no, the answer isn’t to stop moving.⁠
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Strength training, regular activity, good recovery, and addressing persistent pain early can make a meaningful difference.⁠
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Your joints may be getting louder. That doesn’t mean they get the final say.⁠
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Save this for the next time your knees start narrating the staircase. ⁠
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Carlsbad, CA
92008, 92009, 92010, 92011, 92018

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310.829.2663

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