Medical Review: Dr. Gerald Mastaw, MD – Board-Certified Physician
Last Updated: October 2025
What Is a Rotator Cuff Injury?
Your rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that stabilize your shoulder and allow you to lift, reach, and rotate your arm.
Because it’s constantly in use and subject to wear, this structure is especially prone to injury — whether from overuse, degeneration, or trauma.
Common Types of Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Tendon tears (partial or complete)
- Tendonitis (inflammation from overuse)
- Impingement (tendons getting pinched between bones during movement)
Typical Symptoms
- Dull, aching shoulder pain, especially at night or when lying on the affected side
- Weakness when lifting or rotating the arm
- Clicking, catching, or grinding sensations
- Stiffness and loss of shoulder motion
Left untreated, these injuries may worsen over time, leading to chronic pain, tendon degeneration, and loss of mobility.
Conventional Treatment Options
Most rotator cuff problems are initially managed with non-surgical treatments designed to reduce inflammation and strengthen the surrounding muscles.
First-Line Therapies Often Include:
- Rest and activity modification
- Physical therapy and guided strengthening
- Ice, heat, and stretching routines
- Anti-inflammatory medications or corticosteroid injections
If symptoms persist or the tear is large, surgery may be recommended:
- Arthroscopic tendon repair
- Tendon transfer for non-repairable tears
- Shoulder replacement for severe or chronic damage
While surgery can be effective, recovery may take months and full function isn’t always restored, especially in older patients or repeat injuries.
Regenerative Medicine: A Modern Option for Shoulder Healing
Regenerative medicine offers a non-surgical approach that focuses on stimulating your body’s natural repair processes.
For rotator cuff injuries, treatments like stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are emerging as effective ways to promote tendon healing and reduce inflammation.
How These Treatments Work
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): Uses growth factors from your own blood to support tendon repair and decrease inflammation.
- Stem Cell Therapy: Uses umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCT-MSCs) or other sources to help regenerate damaged tendon fibers and restore strength.
- Amniotic and Perinatal Tissue Products: Contain natural healing factors and extracellular matrix proteins that support soft tissue repair.
Potential Benefits
- Decreased shoulder pain and inflammation
- Faster tendon healing and tissue remodeling
- Improved shoulder strength and range of motion
- Shorter downtime compared to surgery
- Enhanced recovery when combined with physical therapy
Note: Regenerative therapies for shoulder injuries are not yet FDA-approved and are considered investigational, but multiple peer-reviewed studies show strong safety profiles and promising results.
Recent Clinical Studies: Regenerative Medicine for Rotator Cuff Injuries
2025 – Amniotic Allograft Injections Improve Long-Term Shoulder Function
Title: Effectiveness of Amnion Allograft Injections in Patients With Degenerative Musculoskeletal Diseases
Journal: AJPMR – Full Text
Summary:
A meta-analysis of seven studies found that amniotic tissue injections (amnion allograft) significantly improved pain and mobility in patients with degenerative tendon conditions, including rotator cuff tendinopathy.
Improvements lasted months to years, and no serious adverse events were reported — confirming amniotic allografts are a safe and effective adjunct in shoulder injury management.
2024 – PRP Provides Better Long-Term Outcomes Than Steroids
Title: Subacromial PRP vs. Corticosteroid Injection for Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: 1-Year Follow-Up
Journal: PubMed – Full Text
Summary:
In this double-blind RCT (100 patients), PRP outperformed steroid injections at the one-year mark, providing greater pain reduction and improved functional scores.
Only 12% of PRP patients required further treatment versus 30% in the steroid group, showing longer-lasting relief and fewer recurrences with PRP therapy.
2024 – PRP During Rotator Cuff Surgery Reduces Re-Tear Rates
Title: Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Combined with PRP Reduces Retear Rate: Meta-Analysis of RCTs
Journal: Medicine (LWW) – Full Text
Summary:
Analysis of 21 RCTs (1,300+ patients) found that adding PRP during surgical repair reduced tendon re-tears by ~30% and improved early postoperative shoulder function.
Researchers concluded that PRP augmentation enhances surgical outcomes by supporting better tendon healing and reducing reinjury risk.
2024 – Wharton’s Jelly Injections Show Strong Safety and Pain Relief
Title: Safety and Efficacy of Wharton’s Jelly Connective Tissue Allograft for Rotator Cuff Tears
Journal: PubMed – Full Text
Summary:
In this 87-patient study, Wharton’s Jelly (umbilical cord matrix rich in MSCs) was injected after failed conservative care.
Within 90 days, patients reported significant pain reduction and better shoulder mobility.
No adverse reactions were noted, and over 75% reported meaningful improvement — positioning Wharton’s Jelly as a promising non-surgical biologic therapy.
2023 – Umbilical Cord Tissue Therapy Shows Regenerative Potential
Title: Allogenic Umbilical Cord Tissue for Rotator Cuff Injuries: Systematic Review
Journal: PubMed – Full Text
Summary:
This review analyzed multiple lab and early clinical studies using umbilical cord tissue and MSCs in rotator cuff repair.
Findings confirmed strong safety outcomes and evidence of enhanced tendon healing.
Authors emphasized that perinatal tissue therapy holds great potential for future shoulder repair advancements.
2021 – PRP Outperforms Corticosteroids for Partial Tears
Title: PRP vs. Corticosteroid Injection in Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears
Journal: PubMed – Full Text
Summary:
In a double-blind RCT, PRP-treated patients experienced greater short-term pain reduction and shoulder function improvement at 3 months compared to steroid recipients.
Researchers concluded that PRP offers faster and more durable relief than standard cortisone shots in partial rotator cuff injuries.
Is Regenerative Medicine Right for You?
Regenerative therapy may be a good option if you:
- Have a partial rotator cuff tear or chronic tendinopathy
- Want to avoid or delay surgery
- Seek a natural, biologic option to enhance healing
- Haven’t achieved lasting relief from conventional treatments
At Stemedix, our clinicians evaluate your imaging, injury history, and activity goals to determine if regenerative medicine, such as PRP or umbilical cord tissue therapy, may be suitable for your shoulder recovery.
Medical Disclaimer
This page is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace medical evaluation or treatment.
Regenerative therapies are investigational and not FDA-approved for rotator cuff injuries.
Individual results vary. Always consult a qualified medical provider before undergoing treatment.
References
- Li J. et al. Effectiveness of Amnion Allograft Injections in Degenerative Tendon Disease. AJPMR., 2025. Full Text
- Wang T. et al. Subacromial PRP vs. Steroid for Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy. PubMed., 2024. Full Text
- Zhang P. et al. PRP Combined with Rotator Cuff Repair Reduces Retear Rate. Medicine (LWW)., 2024. Full Text
- Moreno F. et al. Wharton’s Jelly Allograft for Rotator Cuff Tears. PubMed., 2024. Full Text
- Chen H. et al. Umbilical Cord Tissue for Rotator Cuff Healing: Systematic Review. PubMed., 2023. Full Text
- Kesikburun S. et al. PRP vs. Corticosteroid in Partial Rotator Cuff Tears. PubMed., 2021. Full Text
St. Petersburg, Florida
