Medically reviewed by Dr James Bristol, MD, PhD · Updated 2026-11-14
Loading exercise has the strongest evidence. PRP helps tennis elbow. Cortisone gives short-term relief but can backfire. Stem cells are early but promising, especially in supporting rotator cuff repair.
| Treatment | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Loading exercise | Strong for most tendons |
| Shockwave | Moderate: plantar fasciitis, calcific shoulder |
| Cortisone | Short term; worse long term in tennis elbow |
| PRP | Positive in tennis elbow; negative main Achilles trial |
| Stem cells | Positive in rotator cuff repair study; small studies elsewhere |
| Physio vs surgery, small degenerative cuff tears | Similar results |
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