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 · 6 min read Watch the Full Video Knee replacement surgery — formally known as total knee arthroplasty (TKA) — is one of the most common elective orthopedic procedures performed worldwide. It is generally considered the last resort for patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis who have exhausted conservative treatments. While many patients experience significant improvement after surgery, the reality is that not everyone w

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 5, 2025 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video If you have knee osteoarthritis , you may have been told to try a knee brace or support sleeve. But which type is right for you? With so many options on the market, choosing the correct knee brace can feel overwhelming — and a recent study suggests that the most commonly recommended option may actually interfere with your quality of life. As a sports medicine physician , I frequently discuss

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 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 · 6 min read Watch the Full Video A Baker's cyst — also called a popliteal cyst — is a fluid-filled swelling that develops in the back of the knee. Named after the British surgeon Dr. William Baker, who first described the condition, it can range from a painless incidental finding on an MRI to a significant source of discomfort that limits everyday activities like bending, squatting, and walking. In my practice, Baker's cysts

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 · 6 min read Watch the Full Video Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common conditions I treat in my sports medicine practice . It is characterized by the progressive deterioration and loss of cartilage inside the knee joint. While many patients assume that arthritis means the end of an active lifestyle, understanding the warning signs early can help you take the right steps to manage symptoms and preserve joint function.

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Knee pain is not random. Where you feel the pain can serve as a powerful diagnostic clue to the underlying problem. By understanding the source of your symptoms, you can take the appropriate first steps toward recovery. As a board-certified sports medicine physician , I evaluate knee pain every day in my clinic. In this guide, I walk through 15 of the most common causes of knee pain, organize

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Magnesium deficiency has been linked to worse arthritis symptoms and accelerated radiographic progression of joint disease. What makes this particularly concerning is that nearly half of Americans consume less than the recommended daily amount of magnesium from food — and this shortfall tends to worsen with age. In this post, I will review the current evidence on how magnesium affects joint h

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic (semaglutide), Wegovy, and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) have transformed the landscape of medical weight loss. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes management, these medications are now generating excitement for an entirely different reason: their potential role in treating arthritis . Emerging clinical evidence suggests that GLP-1 agonists may not only r

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 5 min read Watch the Full Video If you have knee osteoarthritis and conventional treatments like over-the-counter pain medications or cortisone injections have not provided adequate relief, genicular nerve blocks may be a treatment worth considering. This ultrasound-guided procedure targets the specific nerves responsible for transmitting knee pain to the brain, offering meaningful short-term relief that can help you get mo

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

Medically reviewed by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common conditions I treat in my sports medicine practice, and it is also one of the most misunderstood. Patients frequently arrive with beliefs about their diagnosis that are not only inaccurate but are actively preventing them from getting better. Misinformation about osteoarthritis can lead to unnecessary fear of movement, delayed treatment, and a l

Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 In my practice, one of the most common questions I hear from patients with knee arthritis is whether exercise is safe — and more specifically, whether strength training will make their joints worse. The evidence is clear: not only is strength training safe for most people with knee osteoarthritis, it is among the most effective interventions we have for red

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 4, 2026 | Last Updated: March 4, 2026 Knee cartilage lesions — including chondromalacia and osteochondral defects — have long been considered irreversible. Once cartilage wears down or detaches, the conventional wisdom has been that it simply cannot regenerate on its own. However, emerging evidence suggests that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections may not only reduce pain and impr

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 4, 2026 | Last Updated: March 4, 2026 Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common conditions I treat in my sports medicine practice, and one of the most important conversations I have with patients is about exercise. Many people with knee pain assume they should avoid physical activity altogether, but the evidence tells a very different story. Among all forms of aerobic exercise, c