Prolotherapy

What is Prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is a therapeutic treatment for pain and joint instability and is simply the application of the basic science of healing and repair. This natural, cost effective, and safe procedure often works when nothing else does. Ligaments, tendons, cartilage and bone have a slow healing potential because of the diminished blood flow to these structures. Therefore, injuries to these areas often become chronic. For example, when injury occurs to a joint, it becomes unstable; the body's defense mechanisms protect it by sending extra calcium which is deposited and can create arthritic spurs. This cause increased friction, pain, weakness and some loss in joint mobility.

What is the procedure?

Prolotherapy is the injection of an irritating substance, i.e. 50% dextrose and/or diluted sodium morrhuate (a purified derivitive of cod liver oil) and an anesthetic agent into the attachment point of the tendon or ligament on the bone. A healing inflammatory process is started and tendon or ligament cells multiply as if they had just been injured. Each new fiber weaves itself across the bridge of the existing tendon or ligament and patches the hole or weak spot in the structure. The result is a larger, thicker tendon or ligament, the elimination of the pain and better joint stability.

How does prolotherapy work?

According to Dr. William Faber, D.O., Director of the Milwaukee Pain Clinic and a leading authority in the field of prolotherapy, "Mild irritating reconstructive solutions cause dilation of blood vessels and a migration of fibroblastic cells (healing cells) to the injured areas. These healing cells lay down collagen (a structural protein) to repair the area."

Is this a new therapy?

Actually, prolotherapy has almost 50 years of research behind it. In the 1950's, Dr. George Hackett used prolotherapy to treat 1,600 patients with severe sacroiliac sprains. When the patients were examined by independent physicians two to 12 years later, 82% had remained free of pain or recurrences. The same experiments were repeated in 1983 and 1985 by the University of Iowa's Department of Orthopedic Research. In both studies the patient's tendons became more firmly attached to the bone and increased in strength and structure.

What conditions benefit from prolotherapy?

  • Degenerative arthritis
  • Back and neck pain
  • Torn ligaments and cartilage
  • Degenerated discs
  • Bursitis
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Achilles tendon tears
  • Tennis elbow
  • Rotator cuff tears
  • And a wide range of musculoskeletal problems caused by failed surgery, compression and rib fractures, scoliosis, and hypermobile joint conditions.