By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 6, 2025 · 5 min read Watch the Full Video Myofascial pain syndrome and trigger points are among the most common causes of chronic musculoskeletal pain, affecting an estimated 85% of patients who visit chronic pain clinics. Despite how widespread this condition is, effective treatment remains a challenge for many patients and clinicians alike. Traditional management typically involves soft tissue modalities such as massage, acupunctur

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 6, 2025 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video If you have been diagnosed with a degenerative meniscus tear, you have likely heard conflicting advice about treatment. Some physicians recommend arthroscopic surgery to remove the damaged tissue, while others advocate for physical therapy and structured exercise. The disagreement often depends on whether you see an orthopedic surgeon or a nonoperative sports medicine specialist. So which app

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, 2025 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video Meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries, and for patients with degenerative tears, the standard recommendation from many orthopedic surgeons remains arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that surgery should be seen as a last resort for degenerative meniscus tears, not a first-line treatment. In fact, a comprehensive non-surgical treatm

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

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video If you take a statin medication for cholesterol management, you may have experienced tendon pain and wondered whether the two are connected. For years, patients have reported tendon problems while on statins, but the scientific evidence has been mixed. A large nationwide cohort study now provides some of the strongest evidence to date confirming that statin use is associated with a significa

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 6 min read Watch the Full Video Most people know that regular exercise can help manage high blood pressure. But not all exercise is created equal when it comes to cardiovascular benefits. A growing body of evidence suggests that one specific type of exercise — isometric training — may be the single most effective modality for lowering both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In this post, we will explore the clinical dat

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 If you have been dealing with persistent tendon pain — whether in the Achilles, patellar tendon, elbow, or rotator cuff — you have probably been told you have "tendonitis" and that the problem is inflammation. But here is the truth: most chronic tendon pain has very little to do with inflammation. The real culprit is tendon degeneration , and the underlying cause is often as much metabolic as

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, 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

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 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Maintaining muscle mass and strength becomes increasingly difficult with every passing decade. In clinical practice, I see the consequences of age-related muscle loss — known as sarcopenia — on a regular basis. Sarcopenia is not merely a cosmetic concern. It is associated with higher rates of falls, loss of independence, difficulty performing dai

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Creatine monohydrate is one of the most extensively studied and effective supplements in the health and fitness world. As a sports medicine physician, I have seen firsthand how powerful creatine can be — not just for young athletes, but also for weekend warriors, senior athletes, and anyone looking to lead a healthier lifestyle. What makes creati

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 If you have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, you are likely wondering what you can do to keep it from getting worse — and whether surgery is inevitable. In my practice as a sports medicine physician, I meet patients every day who are anxious about their diagnosis and overwhelmed by conflicting advice. The good news is that there are three

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Push-ups are one of the most basic exercises in fitness, but they may reveal far more about your health than you realize. In my practice as a sports medicine physician, I frequently see how muscular strength — or the lack of it — directly impacts long-term health outcomes. A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Associat

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 1, 2025 | Last Updated: March 1, 2025 Maintaining strength, mobility, and independence as you age is not only possible — it is well within reach for most people. Whether you are in your 60s, 70s, or beyond, the same foundational principles apply: move consistently, train with intention, and prioritize recovery. In my practice, I work with patients every day who are proving that age i