Why You Still Don’t Need Surgery for Most Rotator Cuff Tears Some of the most common questions patients ask in clinic are: Do I actually need surgery for my rotator cuff tendon tear? Will the tear get worse over time? Am I at higher risk of developing shoulder arthritis if I don’t have surgery? Many surgeons still recommend surgery quickly for partial rotator cuff tears. The data, however, increasingly show that most of these tears do not require an operation. Rotator Cuff Te

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published May 16, 2026 · 9 min read Watch the Full Video There is no shortage of recommendations for rotator cuff and shoulder pain — rest the shoulder, get a cortisone injection, try stem cells, get surgery, do physical therapy. But not all of these interventions are created equal, and some of the most popular options have very little evidence behind them. As a sports medicine physician practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area, I've helped thousands

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published April 1, 2026 · 10 min read Watch the Full Video Can PRP actually heal a torn rotator cuff? A brand new 2026 randomized controlled trial has provided some of the clearest evidence we have ever had. Researchers used MRI to measure actual tear volumes before and after treatment, and the group that received platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on top of physical therapy showed significantly greater structural healing than the group that received physi

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 6, 2025 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video Rotator cuff disease is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain, accounting for up to 70% of all shoulder complaints. The condition spans a wide spectrum — from tendinopathy and subacromial impingement to partial and full-thickness tears — and the vast majority of cases can be managed without surgery. But when pain is severe enough to prevent participation in physical therapy , injecti

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 6, 2026 · 5 min read Watch the Full Video Tennis elbow — clinically known as lateral epicondylitis or lateral elbow tendinopathy — is one of the most common causes of elbow pain. It develops when the common extensor tendon in the forearm is subjected to repetitive overuse or overloading, leading to microtears that weaken the tendon over time. The result is chronic pain, reduced grip strength, and difficulty performing everyday tasks.

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 6, 2025 · 7 min read Watch the Full Video Rotator cuff disorders are among the most common causes of shoulder pain, contributing significantly to lost function and decreased quality of life. When conservative measures such as physical therapy and activity modification fall short, many patients are offered cortisone injections. While cortisone provides strong short-term pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects, growing evidence sugge

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 · 5 min read Watch the Full Video Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common causes of hand pain and numbness, affecting millions of people each year. Injections are frequently used to provide symptom relief, but which type of injection delivers the best results? A systematic review and network meta-analysis compared three injection options — platelet-rich plasma (PRP) , dextrose prolotherapy, and corticosteroids — to

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2025 · 6 min read Watch the Full Video If you are dealing with persistent shoulder pain — whether from a rotator cuff tear, tendinopathy, or impingement — your doctor may have recommended a cortisone injection. Cortisone is a well-established treatment that can provide quick symptom relief. But recent clinical evidence suggests that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may offer superior long-term results for many shoulder conditions. In t

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

A large nationwide study found statin users have a 43.5% higher risk of tendinopathy. Here’s which statins carry the most risk — and how to protect your tendons.

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 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 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

Red light therapy is used for arthritis, tendons, and nerve pain. Here’s what the clinical trials show — and how professional lasers compare to home devices.

Recent trials show heel lifts can provide immediate pain relief for Achilles tendonitis and may outperform eccentric exercises. Here’s the evidence.

Not all PRP is the same. Higher platelet doses consistently outperform low-dose preparations for knee arthritis — here’s the evidence.

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 2, 2026 | Last Updated: March 2, 2026 Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have become one of the most widely discussed treatments in regenerative medicine, and many patients with Achilles tendon problems wonder whether PRP could help them avoid surgery and get back on their feet. PRP is frequently promoted as a cutting-edge option that can relieve pain and improve function, but doe

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 1, 2025 | Last Updated: March 1, 2025 If you have been dealing with persistent pain along the thumb side of your wrist — pain that flares up when you grip, lift, or twist — you may be struggling with De Quervain's tenosynovitis. It is one of the most common tendon conditions I treat in my sports medicine practice, and it is also one of the most frustrating for patients. Many people h