Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2025 | Last Updated: March 3, 2025 Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have become one of the most discussed treatments for knee osteoarthritis, yet misinformation remains widespread. Some orthopedic surgeons continue to dismiss PRP as unproven, while certain providers in regenerative medicine make exaggerated claims about regrowing an entirely new knee. The truth, as the latest

Research shows vitamin K intake may reduce knee arthritis pain and protect cartilage. Learn about the two forms of vitamin K, the best food sources, and how this nutrient fits into a comprehensive approach to managing osteoarthritis.

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Can alcohol actually worsen your arthritis symptoms and accelerate joint damage? Many patients assume that an occasional drink is harmless, but recent research reveals a clear connection between alcohol consumption and worsening arthritis—both on imaging and in daily pain levels. What may be most surprising is not simply how much you drink, but h

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Knee cracking, popping, and grinding are among the most common concerns I hear from patients in my sports medicine clinic. These sounds — collectively known as knee crepitus — can be alarming, especially when they seem to appear out of nowhere. The good news is that in most cases, noisy knees are completely harmless. However, understanding when c

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 If you are considering a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection for knee pain, arthritis, or a tendon injury, there is one critical factor that will determine whether your treatment succeeds or fails—and most clinics never mention it. The effectiveness of PRP depends heavily on platelet dosing. Research now shows that injections with too few plate

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 If you are dealing with joint pain or arthritis, chances are you have tried at least one supplement that promised relief. The supplement market is filled with options, but not all of them deliver on their claims. Some have strong clinical evidence behind them, while others fall short when put to the test in rigorous studies. In my practice as a s

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 2, 2026 | Last Updated: March 2, 2026 Shoulder cracking and popping sounds can be unsettling, especially when they seem to come out of nowhere. Many patients walk into my clinic concerned that a click or pop in their shoulder means something is seriously wrong — perhaps a rotator cuff tear or the beginning of arthritis. The good news is that in the vast majority of cases, these mecha

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 2, 2026 | Last Updated: March 2, 2026 If you have ever been told that an MRI holds the key to understanding your joint pain, you may be surprised to learn that it might not be telling you the full story. In my practice, I frequently see patients who come in with MRI reports showing tears, arthritis, or degenerative changes — fully expecting these findings to explain their pain. But i

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 If you live with arthritis, you may have been told — or simply assumed — that pain is a sign of ongoing joint damage. This belief is not only inaccurate in many cases, but it can actually make your arthritis worse. The fear of pain leads to avoidance of movement, which sets off a cycle of weakness, stiffness, and accelerated joint decline. In my

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Emerging research suggests that probiotics may play a meaningful role in managing arthritis symptoms—an area that many patients and even some physicians have yet to fully explore. While arthritis has traditionally been viewed as a condition limited to the joints, a growing body of scientific evidence now points to the gut microbiome as a signific

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 2, 2026 | Last Updated: March 2, 2026 Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy has gained significant attention in recent years as a non-invasive treatment option for chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions. Many of my patients ask about PEMF, and it is one of the most common questions I receive in my video comments. In my practice as a sports medicine physician in the San Fra

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 2, 2026 | Last Updated: March 2, 2026 If you or someone you know struggles with knee pain from arthritis, the possibility that a widely used diabetes medication could provide relief may change how you think about treatment options. Metformin, prescribed to more than 150 million people worldwide for type 2 diabetes, has recently drawn significant attention from researchers exploring i

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 2, 2026 | Last Updated: March 2, 2026 Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint osteoarthritis is one of the most common and debilitating forms of hand arthritis, affecting millions of people—particularly women over the age of 50. The CMC joint sits at the base of the thumb where it meets the wrist, and it is responsible for the wide range of motion that allows you to grip, pinch, and perfor

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 2, 2026 | Last Updated: March 2, 2026 Obesity is the single most powerful modifiable risk factor for developing knee osteoarthritis — and it could be quietly damaging your joints every single day. While many patients assume arthritis is simply an inevitable part of aging, research consistently shows that excess body weight plays a far larger role than most people realize. The good ne

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 2, 2026 | Last Updated: March 2, 2026 Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of joint pain in adults, affecting mobility, independence, and overall quality of life. Exercise remains one of the most effective non-pharmacological treatments for managing symptoms—but patients frequently ask which type of exercise is best. Strength training has long been considered the gold

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 1, 2026 | Last Updated: March 1, 2026 Knee arthritis is one of the most common conditions I treat in my sports medicine practice, and one of the most frustrating things patients experience is how unpredictable it can be. Two patients with nearly identical X-rays can have completely different levels of pain, function, and long-term outcomes. For years, we've treated osteoarthritis wit