By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 6, 2026 · 6 min read Watch the Full Video Both hyaluronic acid (HA) injections and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are well-established treatments for knee osteoarthritis. When used individually, head-to-head trials consistently show that PRP tends to produce more favorable outcomes than HA alone. But a growing body of research is now exploring whether combining the two injections could produce a synergistic effect — offerin

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 6, 2026 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video Stem cell therapy continues to generate excitement as a potential treatment for chronic joint pain. Among the various sources of stem cells being studied, umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells have emerged as a particularly interesting option. Unlike bone marrow or adipose-derived stem cells — which are harvested from the patient's own body — umbilical cord stem cells come from donate

Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 6, 2025 · 5 min read Watch the Full Video Amniotic fluid injections have generated significant interest as a potential treatment for knee osteoarthritis. One of the most compelling use cases is for patients who continue to experience pain despite standard treatments such as hyaluronic acid and corticosteroid injections. But does this treatment actually work? A recent clinical trial offers some encouraging — though nuanced — answers. Wh

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 6, 2026 · 6 min read Watch the Full Video Platelet rich plasma injections and stem cell injections are two of the most talked-about orthobiologic treatments for knee osteoarthritis. Both have demonstrated clinically significant pain relief and functional improvement in clinical trials. However, stem cell therapy is often marketed as a superior treatment and comes with a much higher price tag. But does the evidence actually support th

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 6, 2025 · 5 min read Watch the Full Video Hyaluronic acid injections and PRP therapy are two of the most effective non-surgical treatments for hip osteoarthritis. Both have been shown to reduce pain and improve function — but is one better than the other? And if both work, does combining them into a single injection produce even better results? A recently published randomized clinical trial directly compared PRP alone, hyaluronic ac

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 6, 2025 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video If you are considering a platelet rich plasma injection , one of the most important questions you can ask your provider is: how many platelets will be in my PRP? Research increasingly shows that platelet count is one of the strongest predictors of treatment success — and not all PRP preparations deliver an adequate dose. A growing body of evidence suggests that achieving at least 5 to 10 bill

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Platelet rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell injections are among the most promising nonsurgical treatments available for joint pain and musculoskeletal conditions. However, because most insurance plans do not cover these procedures, cost is one of the most common questions patients ask before pursuing treatment. Understanding the typical price range, the factors that influence pricing, and — mos

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video Muscle pain is one of the most overlooked contributors to knee osteoarthritis symptoms. When patients visit their doctor for knee pain, the evaluation typically focuses on the joint itself — the bones, cartilage, ligaments, and meniscus . But the muscles surrounding the knee are rarely examined, and research suggests they may be responsible for a substantial portion of the pain that patients

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2025 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video Meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries, and for patients with degenerative tears, the standard recommendation from many orthopedic surgeons remains arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that surgery should be seen as a last resort for degenerative meniscus tears, not a first-line treatment. In fact, a comprehensive non-surgical treatm

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 10 min read Watch the Full Video One of the most common questions patients ask at their first consultation is whether their health insurance will cover platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections . It is an understandable concern — PRP is one of the most effective nonsurgical treatments available for conditions like knee osteoarthritis and chronic tendon injuries, yet the vast majority of insurance companies in the United States

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2025 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video If you have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis and are exploring injection options, two of the most common treatments you will encounter are platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) injections. Both are well-established, evidence-based treatments that can reduce pain and improve function, but they work through different mechanisms and come with different cost and insurance co

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 30 min read Watch the Full Video Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have generated significant attention for their ability to treat joint pain, tendon injuries, and accelerate recovery using your body’s own healing mechanisms. But with growing interest comes a flood of questions: Does PRP actually work? How does it compare to cortisone or stem cells? Is the cost justified when insurance does not cover it? In this compreh

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Cortisone injections have been a staple of musculoskeletal medicine for decades. They are fast, relatively inexpensive, and can deliver meaningful short-term pain relief for conditions ranging from arthritis to tendinitis and bursitis. But what does the clinical evidence actually say about the long-term consequences of cortisone shots on your tendons and joints? In my practice as a sports me

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 10 min read Watch the Full Video Living with knee osteoarthritis often means navigating a confusing landscape of treatment options, especially when it comes to injections. If cortisone shots have given you little to no lasting improvement, you are far from alone. The good news is that there are several alternatives worth considering, and the clinical evidence behind them continues to grow. In this guide, we will compare the

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2025 · 20 min read Watch the Full Video What Is Knee Osteoarthritis and Why Is It So Complex? Knee osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is defined by the progressive loss of cartilage within the joint. Despite its prevalence, most patients have a limited understanding of the condition and the full range of treatment options available. In my practice, I frequently encounter patients who have received incomplete o

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 12 min read Watch the Full Video Meniscus tears are among the most common knee injuries, affecting athletes and older adults alike. They can cause significant pain and disability in some people, yet in others they produce no symptoms at all. This disconnect is one of the main reasons there is so much confusion surrounding meniscus tear treatment — patients often receive conflicting advice from different providers. In this a

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video Platelet-rich plasma ( PRP ) injections have become one of the most effective nonsurgical treatments for knee osteoarthritis. However, what many patients and even physicians do not realize is that not all PRP injections are created equal. The number of platelets delivered during treatment — known as platelet dosing — plays a critical role in determining whether PRP will actually work. In this

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 2, 2026 | Last Updated: March 2, 2026 If you are considering a PRP injection for knee arthritis, you may have come across the option to add hyaluronic acid (HA) to the treatment. It is a reasonable question: does combining PRP and hyaluronic acid actually produce better outcomes, or is it simply an expensive add-on with no meaningful benefit? The answer could influence your treatment

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 2, 2026 | Last Updated: March 2, 2026 Thumb arthritis at the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint is one of the most common and debilitating forms of hand osteoarthritis. This small but critical joint at the base of the thumb enables grasping, pinching, and fine motor tasks — and when arthritis sets in, it can significantly diminish quality of life. Many patients find that traditional treatme

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 1, 2026 | Last Updated: March 1, 2026 A cortisone injection for knee arthritis can feel like a miracle. The pain fades, movement returns, and for a brief moment, life feels normal again. But beneath that relief, there is a growing concern — one now backed by real evidence. What helps today may quietly be harming your knee for tomorrow. In my practice as a sports medicine physician, I