Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is an injection treatment designed to stimulate healing of ligament laxity and tendon weakness or joint instability. The painful weakened areas are injected with a solution that causes an intense inflammatory reaction. This reaction then initiated a new healing phase where cells called fibroblasts deposit new collagen over the subsequent weeks. The new collagen “lines up” along the functional lines of stress of the ligament and strengthens these tissues.  Prolotherapy is helpful for pain due to ligamentous laxity or injury that has not resolved with conservative treatment such as manual therapy, trigger point injection, therapeutic exercise or medication. Benefit may be seen in as little as 2-6 injection sessions but patients with more extensive damage will require more treatment.

Benefits of Prolotherapy Treatment:

The injection contains dextrose solution, a potential irritant. Once the irritant is injected, it activates the healing reaction of the body. The benefits of this treatment are:

• It helps in reducing joint pain and toughness.
• It helps the joint to move properly and helps in developing joint strength.
• This treatment enhances strength in the ligaments.

Experts mention that the irritants help build new tissues and help stimulate the body’s natural healing reaction. These injections are typically performed in an outpatient setting and require little to no downtime, allowing patients to return to their normal activities soon after the procedure.

What is does prolotherapy treat?

Prolotherapy is used to reduce pain caused by musculoskeletal conditions. Proponents believe it can reduce people’s pain for any number of diseases or disorders that affect your bones, muscles and connective tissues. Prolotherapy is used to help people with the following conditions:

• Arthritis.
• Fibromyalgia.
• Degenerative disk disease.
• Tendinopathy.
• Lower back pain.

It’s important to remember that prolotherapy doesn’t cure any of these conditions. It shouldn’t take the place of any treatments or medications your healthcare provider prescribes you.