Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is a regenerative injection treatment that is designed to stimulate the body's natural healing response. It involves injecting a concentrated dextrose (sugar) solution into injured or weakened ligaments, tendons, or around joints. The solution encourages the body to begin a healing process that may strengthen connective tissues, improve joint stability, and reduce pain over time.

Unlike corticosteroid injections, which are intended to decrease inflammation, prolotherapy focuses on supporting the body's ability to repair damaged tissue.

Ligaments and tendons have a limited blood supply, which can make healing slow after injury or repetitive stress. Prolotherapy works by creating a mild, controlled inflammatory response that signals the body to begin repairing the treated tissue.

As healing occurs, new collagen is produced, helping strengthen ligaments and tendons and improve support around the affected joint. This process may lead to decreased pain, improved function, and greater stability.

Because healing takes time, improvement is typically gradual rather than immediate.

Prolotherapy is commonly used to treat chronic musculoskeletal conditions, including:

• Chronic neck and back pain
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction
• Osteoarthritis
• Ligament sprains or laxity
• Tendon injuries (tendinopathy)
• Shoulder instability and pain
• Hip pain
• Knee pain
• Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow
• Plantar fasciitis
• Ankle instability
• Sports and overuse injuries

Your provider will determine whether prolotherapy is an appropriate treatment based on your diagnosis, symptoms, and examination.

The goals of prolotherapy include:

• Stimulating the body's natural healing response
• Strengthening weakened ligaments and tendons
• Improving joint stability
• Reducing chronic pain
• Improving mobility and function
• Helping patients return to normal daily activities
• Potentially delaying or avoiding surgery in appropriate patients

While many patients experience meaningful improvement, results vary depending on the severity and duration of the condition being treated.

Prolotherapy is not intended to provide immediate pain relief. Because the treatment relies on the body's natural healing process, improvement generally occurs gradually over several weeks to months.

Many patients require a series of treatments to achieve the best results. The number of treatments depends on the condition being treated, the severity of the injury, and how the body responds to treatment.

Prolotherapy may be considered when pain has persisted despite conservative treatments such as activity modification, medications, physical therapy, or other non-surgical approaches. It is often used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may also include exercise, rehabilitation, and lifestyle modifications.

Your provider will discuss whether prolotherapy is an appropriate option based on your medical history, examination findings, and treatment goals.

Prolotherapy has been used for many years to treat chronic musculoskeletal pain and is generally considered safe when performed by an experienced physician. Because the treatment uses a simple dextrose solution rather than steroids or other medications, serious complications are uncommon. As with any injection, there is a small risk of temporary soreness, bruising, infection, bleeding, or lack of symptom improvement.

Prolotherapy is a regenerative treatment that encourages the body's natural healing process to repair injured ligaments, tendons, and other connective tissues. By promoting collagen production and improving joint stability, prolotherapy may help reduce chronic pain and improve function, allowing many patients to return to the activities they enjoy.