Medically reviewed by Dr James Bristol, MD, PhD · Updated 2026-11-14
Stem cell treatment for tendons is promising but early. In rotator cuff repair, adding bone-marrow stem cells improved healing and reduced re-tears in a study of 90 patients followed for 10 years (Hernigou, 2014). Small studies of cell injections for tennis elbow and other tendinopathies report less pain and improved tendon structure on ultrasound. Larger trials are needed.
Who may be a candidate
- Tendon pain lasting more than 6 months despite good rehab
- Partial tears or degenerative tendons
- People who want to avoid or support surgery
Complete ruptures usually need surgical repair. A doctor reviews your ultrasound or MRI first: scan review.
Tendon pain for more than 3 months? Get the free guide and a doctor review of your scan.
Recent research from Asia and beyond
| Country, year | Study | What it found |
|---|---|---|
| Korea, 2018 | First-in-human trial, *Stem Cells* (PMID 29790618) | Stem cells injected into partial rotator cuff tears improved shoulder function and pain; tear volume shrank by 83 to 90% in the higher-dose groups |
| Korea, 2020 | 2-year follow-up, *Arthroscopy* (PMID 31805388) | Benefits for partial rotator cuff tears continued over 2 years through regeneration of tendon defects |
| Korea, 2015 | Pilot study, *Stem Cells* (PMID 26202898) | Donor fat-derived stem cells for chronic tennis elbow improved pain and performance, and tendon defects shrank over 52 weeks |
| Spain, 2023 | Clinical study, *Orthop J Sports Med* (PMID 37711505) | Bone marrow stem cells for chronic jumper's knee with tendon gaps gave highly significant improvement at 12 months, with no side effects |
| Brazil, 2024 | Clinical study, *Cell Tissue Bank* (PMID 38904737) | Fat-derived stem cells after acute Achilles rupture supported tissue regeneration and recovery of function |