By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 08, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video A landmark randomized controlled trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine challenged one of the most common assumptions in orthopedic surgery: that patients with bone-on-bone knee arthritis inevitably need a knee replacement. The researchers took 100 patients who had been evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon and deemed eligible for total knee replacement, then randomly assigned

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 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 · 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 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video If you have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis , one of the first questions you may ask is whether it is safe to keep walking. Many patients worry that physical activity will accelerate cartilage breakdown and make their condition worse. Some have even been told by well-meaning providers to stop exercising altogether. However, current evidence tells a very different story: walking is not

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 6 min read Watch the Full Video If you have been told you have knee arthritis, your doctor likely used an X-ray to assess the severity of your condition. The most widely used classification tool for this purpose is the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading system , which rates knee osteoarthritis on a scale from 0 to 4. A grade of 0 indicates no signs of osteoarthritis, while a grade of 4 represents severe, bone-on-bone arthritis

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 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 Stem cell therapy has become one of the most talked-about treatments in the world of joint pain and arthritis. The promise is alluring: a single injection that could repair damaged cartilage, eliminate chronic pain, and restore mobility without surgery. But does the science actually support the hype? As a sports medicine physician who specializes in orthobiologic treatments , I want to walk

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

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Patients with severe knee osteoarthritis often face a difficult crossroads: exhausted conservative options, reluctance to pursue surgery, and uncertainty about whether emerging treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can still offer meaningful relief at an advanced stage of disease. In my sports medicine practice, I frequently see patients wit

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

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 1, 2026 | Last Updated: March 1, 2026 If you've recently had a hyaluronic acid injection for knee arthritis—or you're considering one—you're probably wondering what comes next. Questions like "Is this soreness normal?" and "When will I start feeling better?" are among the most common things I hear from patients in my clinic. In this guide, I'll walk you through everything you need to

Board-certified sports medicine physician Dr. Jeffrey Peng ranks knee arthritis injections — PRP, hyaluronic acid, cortisone, and stem cells — based on the latest 2025 clinical evidence, safety data, and real-world outcomes.

A brand new study out of the Cleveland Clinic just tracked nearly 1,800 athletes through their knee replacement and recovery — and the results challenge a lot of what patients are being told. Only 53% made it back to sports within a year. But the ones who did? Most were back in just 12 weeks. So what separates the people who return from the ones who don't? As a sports medicine doctor in the San Francisco Bay Area, I treat patients with knee arthritis every week. And this que