By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 6, 2025 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video Achilles tendon ruptures are among the most devastating injuries an active person can experience, leading to significant pain, disability, and time away from work and sport. While surgical repair was once considered the default treatment, a growing body of evidence now supports nonsurgical management for many patients. This raises an important question: if we can treat Achilles tendon tears w

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 6 min read Watch the Full Video Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain, affecting both athletes and non-athletes alike. While most cases respond well to conservative treatments such as stretching, arch support, and physical therapy , some patients continue to experience persistent pain despite months of standard care. For these individuals, newer treatment options like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) inj

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 For decades, surgery was considered the only reliable option for repairing torn tendons. Partial tears of the rotator cuff, in particular, present a clinical challenge because they rarely heal on their own and tend to worsen over time. However, emerging research suggests that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections may offer a compelling nonsurgical alternative — one that not only reduces pain

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video CBD products have rapidly expanded from specialty clinics to mainstream health stores, with consumers turning to them for pain relief, anxiety management, and sleep support. But does topical CBD — in the form of creams, lotions, and oils — actually deliver on its promises? As a sports medicine physician , I frequently encounter patients asking whether CBD is worth trying for conditions like 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

Medically reviewed by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Last updated: February 28, 2026 Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common and frustrating conditions I see in my sports medicine practice. Many of my patients have already tried stretching, orthotics, night splints, and even steroid injections — only to have their heel pain return weeks or months later. The question I hear most often is whether there is a treatment that can actually heal

People with plantar fasciitis often worry about long-term effects like decreased mobility and chronic foot pain. That’s why new treatments for plantar fasciitis have been developed and these include platelet rich plasma injections as well as extracorporeal shockwave therapy. The purpose of these treatments are to not only reduce pain and symptoms, but to potentially fix the problem and prevent plantar fasciitis from getting worse. But which of these two treatments is better?

What if I told you that doing just two very easy exercises will help treat your plantar fasciitis? A recent randomized controlled trial compared a simple daily stretching regimen, again just 2 exercises, to 6 weeks of in-office physical therapy and found that the home stretching routine was just as good at minimizing pain, improving function, and restoring quality of life. I’m going to show you what these two exercises are and how you can use them to treat plantar fasciitis.

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that supports the foot. Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of foot pain.