Tendon & Sports Injuries: cell-therapy evidence by therapy class
Across every stem-cell intervention, ClinicalTrials.gov holds 13 registered records for Tendon & Sports Injuries — 1 recruiting, 1 at Phase 3 or 4, in 5 countries. Snapshot 2026-08-29.
The condition, and why cells are proposed
Tendinopathy is degenerative rather than inflammatory: disorganised collagen and neovascularisation from chronic overload. This is the orthobiologics heartland, where PRP is far more commonly used than cells, and where eccentric loading programmes remain the intervention with the most consistent evidence.
Therapy classes side by side
Counts come from separate registry queries per class; a study testing two interventions can appear in more than one row, so rows do not sum to the all-interventions total.
Geography of the research
South Korea accounts for about 33% of country mentions among sampled studies; 5 countries host at least one site.
| Country | Studies with a site there |
|---|---|
| South Korea | 4 |
| United States | 4 |
| China | 2 |
| United Kingdom | 1 |
| Spain | 1 |
The largest registered studies
Sorted by planned enrolment — size is not quality, but a 300-participant trial can answer questions a 12-participant series cannot.
| Study | Phase | Status | Planned n | Lead sponsor | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT02052089 — Comparative Study for the Optimal Treatment Method of Lateral Epicondylosis | n/a | Completed | 231 | CM Chungmu Hospital | 2009-03 |
| NCT03279796 — Treatment of Tendon Disease Using Autologous Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells | Phase 2 | Unknown | 200 | Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of M | 2018-10-01 |
| NCT03390920 — Evaluation of Outcomes With Umbilical Cord Allograft for Musculoskeletal Conditions Musculoskeletal Conditions | n/a | Not Yet Recruiting | 200 | R3 Stem Cell | 2022-01-01 |
| NCT07320378 — Clinical Study on the Safety and Efficacy of Tendon Stem Progenitor Cells Therapy for Rotator Cuff Tears | Early Phase 1 | Not Yet Recruiting | 107 | Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of M | 2026-05 |
| NCT06160427 — Connective Tissue Matrix for Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy | Phase 4 | Active Not Recruiting | 92 | Allegheny Singer Research Institute (also known as Allegheny | 2023-12-04 |
| NCT07748793 — Autologous Fat Grafting for the Treatment of Chronic Tendinopathy | n/a | Not Yet Recruiting | 40 | Weill Medical College of Cornell University | 2026-08 |
Most recently registered
| Study | Phase | Status | Planned n | Lead sponsor | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07748793 — Autologous Fat Grafting for the Treatment of Chronic Tendinopathy | n/a | Not Yet Recruiting | n/a | Weill Medical College of Cornell University | 2026-08 |
| NCT07320378 — Clinical Study on the Safety and Efficacy of Tendon Stem Progenitor Cells Therapy for Rotator Cuff Tears | n/a | Not Yet Recruiting | n/a | Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of M | 2026-05 |
| NCT06846593 — The Comparison of Semiconductor Embedded Therapeutic Arm Sleeves for the Treatment of ECRB Tendinopathy | n/a | Terminated | n/a | INCREDIWEAR HOLDINGS, INC. | 2024-11-01 |
| NCT06160427 — Connective Tissue Matrix for Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy | n/a | Active Not Recruiting | n/a | Allegheny Singer Research Institute (also known as Allegheny | 2023-12-04 |
| NCT07111325 — Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of iEVs Injection in Treating Lateral Epicondylitis of Humerus | n/a | Recruiting | n/a | Shanghai 6th People's Hospital | 2023-07-01 |
Reading this honestly
These figures describe effort, not outcome. Published results, with their control arms and endpoints, are where benefit is decided. For Tendon & Sports Injuries specifically, the practical question is which registered study — if any — matches the product a provider is offering, and what its outcome measures actually are.
Frequently asked
How many stem-cell trials exist for Tendon & Sports Injuries?
13 registered records mention a stem-cell intervention for this condition (2026-08-29 snapshot), of which 1 were recruiting.
Which therapy class is furthest along for Tendon & Sports Injuries?
Ranked by Phase 3/4 records: PRP (17), MSC (0), HSCT (0), exosomes (0).
Does a recruiting trial mean I can be treated?
No. Trials have eligibility criteria, and joining one is not the same as buying a treatment. Paying a clinic for an unproven intervention outside a registered study gives you neither the protections nor the data collection of a trial.
Registry and literature counts retrieved 2026-08-29 (ClinicalTrials.gov API v2; PubMed E-utilities). Registration or publication volume measures research activity, not effectiveness or approval. Educational information — not medical advice; verify product, indication, legal pathway and evidence with an independent qualified physician. Page generated 2026-08-29. See our editorial standards.
Download the query data
Query totals are full API matches; status, phase and country counts describe the first up to 400 returned records per query. Query classes overlap and must not be summed as unique trials. Counts are not treatment outcomes. Snapshot: 2026-08-29. Methods and field definitions.