Medically reviewed by Vernon F. Williams, MD. Last reviewed September 2026.
Ankle sprains, rotator cuff tendinopathy and ACL tears are the top three most common tendon and ligament injuries in sports, with ankle sprains topping the list. Ligament damage, primarily due to the frequency of ankle sprains, is more common in sports overall, though both ligament and tendon issues represent a massive share of the injuries sustained by athletes.
Damage to tendon and ligaments is a unique concern in sports injuries because these types of tissue have poor blood supply, making healing difficult and slower. Especially as compared to muscle damage, long recovery timelines are common when ligaments or tendons are involved. They struggle to heal on their own and often form weaker scar tissue instead.
Stem Cell Therapy can be quite effective in addressing tendon and ligament damage in sports injuries – and may bring the superior healing athletes require to return to their sport with proper function. Stem cells can differentiate or transform into specialized cells like tendon or ligament cells, enabling true tissue regeneration instead of simply forming inferior scar tissue.
Both ligament and tendon damage are quite common in sports, but they can also occur as part of everyday life due to aging, overuse or accidents.
Trusted by thousands of local patients in the San Antonio metropolitan area, Dr. Vernon H. Williams is a functional medicine doctor who specializes in innovative approaches for optimal healing. Advanced Regenerative Medicine treatments like Stem Cell Therapy are not just for athletes, but for everyone who needs them.
If you are ready to see what Stem Cell Treatments can do to relieve the symptoms and slow recovery of injuries involving damaged tendons or ligaments, call and speak with one of our specialists at (210) 985-1700 or contact us online today!
Ligaments connect bone to bone to stabilize joints, while tendons connect muscle to bone and transmit the force needed for movement. Tendons are often damaged due to repetitive overuse or sudden contractions, as occurs with an Achilles tendon rupture. Ligaments tend to suffer acute trauma from sudden twisting, blunt force or unnatural joint angles, as with ACL tears.
Sports injuries to ligaments involve either sprains or tears. The ankle sprain is the number one type of ligament injury among athletes. It occurs frequently in soccer, running and basketball.
ACL tears are also common, especially in sports like soccer and basketball, but skiing as well. The ACL stabilizes the knee joint, and tears often happen during bad landings, sudden stops or pivoting. Another ligament in the knee, the MCL, sits on the inner knee. Hard twisting movements or hard blows to the outer knee can cause MCL sprains or tears.
In the elbow, a stabilizing ligament known as the UCL is commonly injured in throwing sports like baseball.
When it comes to tendon injuries, the Achilles tendon is the most frequently injured tendon in sports. The Achilles tendon is the thickest tendon in the human body. It connects the heel to the calf. Jumping, sprinting or overuse can inflame or even snap this thick tendon.
Other common tendon Injuries – either strains or tendinitis – include:
Tendinitis and Tears: Overhead motions in swimming, tennis, and baseball can wear these shoulder tendons down over time.Jumper's Knee: Especially in volleyball and basketball, tiny tears can inflame the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shin.
Tennis Elbow: Common in racket sports like tennis, repetitive arm and wrist motions inflame the outer elbow tendons.
Golfer’s Elbow: Involving the inner side of your elbow, the flexor tendons that control wrist bending and grip are often damaged in golf, weightlifting and throwing sports.
What is at the root of the slower recovery timelines that come with tendon and ligament damage in sports injuries?
Stem Cell Treatment for sports injuries with tendon or ligament damage provides a non-invasive alternative for patients seeking to address pain, inflammation and loss of function that accompany these types of injuries. It uses the body’s natural repair mechanisms and growth factors to ease pain, relieving symptoms and slowing any worsening of the damage.
When left untreated, long-term damage to the tendons and ligaments involved in sports injuries can lead to chronic pain and stiffness, permanent joint instability, altered movement patterns and early-onset osteoarthritis.
By injecting stem cells into damaged tendons and ligaments, these stem cells stimulate repair and regeneration as well as relieve pain and inflammation. Injured cells in your tendons and ligaments send out signals, and stem cells then respond by migrating to the injured tissue and releasing proteins (exosomes) that nourish and stimulate tendon and ligament cells to begin regenerating.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can assist with the regeneration of various damaged tissues, and they have the capacity to differentiate into actual ligament and tendon cells, not scar tissue. MSCs are adult stem cells that are most often harvested from:
These MSCs are referred to as "adult" stem cells because they are harvested from sources other than embryos, reducing the ethical concerns with embryonic stem cells.
Benefits of Stem Cell Treatments for Sports injuries with Tendon or Ligament Damage
is a leading-edge Regenerative Medicine treatment that triggers your body’s intrinsic self-healing abilities. This therapy offers the most benefits to patients with mild to moderate damage who wish to avoid surgery. Stem Cell Treatments offer a range of benefits, including:With our premium interventions, you may benefit from innovative therapies like Stem Cell Treatment, but also Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for joints, EmSculpt Neo body sculpting, AO scans – and more!
Our first step will be to conduct an initial consultation and review your medical and family history. We may require testing or imaging, but we will discuss with you why it may be necessary before we proceed. We offer advanced diagnostics. With precision testing, we are able to customize your care down to your unique biology.
Once we determine you are a suitable candidate for Stem Cell Treatments for your tendon or ligament damage, we will develop a comprehensive treatment plan. Frequently, lifestyle modifications are encouraged during the healing process, most often involving your diet, physical activity and supplementation with certain nutrients.
Once your Stem Cell Treatment sessions begin, it typically takes two to three months for injured tissue to begin to regenerate. However, results may vary depending on your pain levels, your overall health condition and how your body responds to the treatments.
We can use Stem Cell Therapy not simply for your sports injuries with tendon or ligament damage, but for muscle pain, arthritis and any pain in the hip, knee, shoulder, back or neck as well.
Our expertise speaks for itself. Dr. Williams has a BA in Biology from Harvard University. He received his MD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He serves as a Member of the Anti-Aging Group (AAG) Advisory Board. He also completed Physician Training and Certification in Age Management Medicine, jointly sponsored by The Cenegenics Education and Research Foundation (CERF) and the Foundation for Care Management (FCM).
Dr. Williams has extensive training in Lasers and Medical Spa procedures, and he is also a Fellow of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) and a Diplomat & Fellow of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Regenerative, & Functional Medicine (A4M), as well as an A4M Fellow of:
As well as training and expertise, Dr. Williams has over 30 years of experience and a record of successful patient outcomes.
At the Texas Institute of Longevity, Aesthetics & Sexual Health in San Antonio, TX, we offer the most up-to-date evaluation and treatment methods to help you turn back time and rejuvenate your body, your skin, your health and your life. Whatever your particular health challenges – and at any age – we can help you change the course of how aging and conditions that come with aging impact your future.
At the Texas Institute of Longevity, Aesthetics & Sexual Health, we strive to customize a program to fit your needs. We offer an array of health solutions and can customize your treatment regimen to include any one of them or use them in combination.
Dr. Vernon F. Williams is an expert in the field of functional medicine, longevity medicine and aesthetics. A board-certified provider, he brings over 30 years of experience and is trusted by the thousands of patients he’s treated in San Antonio with personalized treatment plans and successful outcomes. Learn more about his training and expertise in the latest age-defying and total health treatments, including emerging Regenerative Medicine treatments like Stem Cell Therapy.
Texas Institute of Longevity, Aesthetics & Sexual Health, located in the Stone Oak neighborhood, nestled in the Hollywood Park enclave of North San Antonio, is the place to find options you might not find anywhere else in San Antonio. Call (210) 985-1700 or complete the form below.
Dr. Williams and his Angels—Vanity, Rhonda, and Larissa—are nothing short of miracle workers. Their expertise is simply unmatched, blending the most advanced techniques with an artistic touch that creates a perfect harmony between science and beauty.
Lisa
Dr. Williams is truly a master at his craft. He takes a personalized & multi-pronged approach to total transformation. I can honestly say Dr. Williams has done wonders for my wife and I.
Ryan
I had a great time at The Wellness and Aesthetics Medical Center and Spa. The entire staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. They provide excellent customer service. I am very thankful for the excellent care Dr. Williams provides and the unique gift he is to all his patients.
Blanca
Texas Institute of Longevity, Aesthetics & Sexual Health
540 Oak Centre Dr, Suite 114
San Antonio, TX 78258
Phone:
(210) 985-1700
