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 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Platelet-rich plasma ( PRP ) injections have become a widely studied treatment option for tendon conditions such as tennis elbow, fascial problems such as plantar fasciitis, and joint conditions such as osteoarthritis. PRP is increasingly used as a first-line therapy because it is both safe and effective. However, one often-overlooked factor that can significantly influence your outcomes is t

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, 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 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have become one of the most effective non-surgical treatments for reducing pain and improving function in patients with knee osteoarthritis . But an important question remains: can PRP actually slow down the progression of arthritis itself? A landmark randomized controlled trial by Chu et al. (2022) set out to answer that question — and the results were

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 5 min read Watch the Full Video Myofascial pain syndrome is one of the most common and frustrating musculoskeletal conditions encountered in clinical practice. Characterized by painful trigger points within taut bands of skeletal muscle, it can significantly diminish quality of life and prove remarkably difficult to manage. Clinicians have long relied on a multimodal approach — combining heat therapy, cardiovascular and res

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, 2026 · 6 min read Watch the Full Video Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and naproxen are among the most commonly recommended medications for knee osteoarthritis . They can take the edge off a painful flare, but they come with a long list of potential side effects — gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney damage, elevated blood pressure, and cardiovascular complications — risks that climb steeply in the older adults who

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video Glucosamine and chondroitin are among the most widely used dietary supplements for joint pain and arthritis. Walk into any pharmacy, and you will find shelves stocked with combination formulas promising relief. But despite decades of use, significant debate remains over whether these supplements actually deliver meaningful clinical benefits. A large 2018 systematic review published in the Br

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Turmeric and curcumin have been used in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years. Only recently has Western medicine begun to explore the surprisingly wide range of beneficial properties attributed to curcumin, including its ability to reduce pain and inflammation. But does the evidence support these claims? In this article, we review the results of several re

Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2025 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video Omega-3 fatty acids and fish oil supplements are among the most popular over-the-counter options people reach for when dealing with arthritis and joint pain. With their well-established role in cardiovascular and kidney health, many patients ask whether these same anti-inflammatory benefits extend to symptomatic knee osteoarthritis . The short answer? The evidence is mixed — and the clinical ef

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2025 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video Collagen supplements are widely marketed for reducing joint pain, improving stiffness, and slowing the progression of arthritis. Collagen is a naturally occurring protein and a major structural component of cartilage — the tissue that cushions and protects our joints. Osteoarthritis is fundamentally a disease of cartilage loss, so the idea behind collagen supplementation is straightforward:

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Arthritis affects millions of people worldwide, and while there is no cure, there are evidence-based strategies that can meaningfully reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Two of the most powerful — and often underappreciated — pillars of arthritis management are weight loss and an anti-inflammatory diet . In this guide, I review what the research says about how much weight loss is ne

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Thumb arthritis is one of the most common — and underappreciated — causes of hand pain and disability. The carpometacarpal (CMC) joint at the base of the thumb bears tremendous load throughout the day: opening jars, turning keys, gripping a pen, pinching small objects. When osteoarthritis develops at this joint, even routine tasks become painful and limiting. Traditional treatments such as sp

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Boswellia serrata is a remarkable herb derived from the Frankincense tree with a rich history spanning thousands of years in both Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. Its active compounds, known as boswellic acids, possess potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that have attracted increasing scientific interest in recent decades. Beyond its traditional uses, modern clinical

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video Vitamin D is widely recognized for its role in bone health, but could it also help with arthritis symptoms? As a sports medicine physician, I frequently field questions from patients with knee osteoarthritis about which supplements are worth trying. Vitamin D is one of the most popular — and the research behind it is worth understanding before you start supplementing. In this article, I revi

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video The foods you eat can have a significant impact on how you experience arthritis symptoms. Recent research has shown that diet plays a vital role in managing arthritis and its associated pain, stiffness, and inflammation. Certain foods can trigger inflammatory responses and accelerate joint damage, while others can help reduce symptoms and support long-term joint health. In this article, I wi

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 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. For decades, it was widely understood as a simple wear-and-tear condition — the gradual breakdown of cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in a joint. But recent research has fundamentally changed that view. We now know that osteoarthritis is a complex, multifactorial disease driven in lar