Treatments > Prolotherapy

Embracing the Journey to Muscular Wellbeing

Prolotherapy, short for “proliferation therapy,” is a regenerative medical treatment designed to address musculoskeletal pain and promote natural healing. It involves the targeted injection of a solution into damaged or weakened ligaments, tendons, and joints. This minimally invasive procedure aims to stimulate the body’s innate healing mechanisms, triggering a controlled inflammatory response that promotes tissue repair and regeneration.

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is an injection treatment used to relieve pain. A small amount of an irritant is injected into your body.

Dextrose (sugar) solution is the most commonly injected irritant.

Proponents of prolotherapy claim it relieves pain by jumpstarting your body’s natural healing abilities. Prolotherapy is used to help people that have musculoskeletal conditions (issues with your bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissues).

Experts have found that prolotherapy can benefit some people in certain situations, but it is still not universally accepted because research has found inconclusive results. Some studies have found that prolotherapy does reduce people’s pain.

Treatment for Chronic Musculoskeletal Conditions

The purpose of prolotherapy is to stimulate the body's natural healing processes and promote the repair of damaged tissues, particularly ligaments and tendons.

1/3

Chronic Pain

Prolotherapy is often employed to treat chronic musculoskeletal pain, especially in areas where ligaments or tendons have been injured or weakened.

2/3

Joint Instability

It may be used to address joint instability caused by ligament laxity, where the ligaments supporting a joint are loose or weakened.

3/3

Osteoarthritis

Prolotherapy may be considered as a treatment for osteoarthritis, particularly in joints such as the knee.

Benefits of Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy suggests several potential benefits for chronic musculoskeletal conditions.

Stimulation of Tissue Repair

Prolotherapy aims to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes by creating a controlled inflammatory response at the injection site. This may promote the repair and regeneration of damaged ligaments and tendons.

Reduced Pain

Some patients report a reduction in chronic pain after undergoing prolotherapy, especially in cases of musculoskeletal conditions, joint instability, or osteoarthritis.

Minimally Invasive

Prolotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed in an outpatient setting. This may be appealing to individuals seeking alternatives to more invasive treatments or surgery.

Become a member

Your Journey to Holistic Health Begins Within.

Rapid access to appointments within days.
Personalized medical screenings to meet the unique needs of each patient.
Fast access to diagnostic testing for early detection of potential health issues.
Emphasis on preventative medicine and prophylactic screening.
Accurate diagnoses and effective treatment with state of the art technology.

How Prolotherapy Works

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

Preparation of the Injection Site

Before the procedure, the healthcare provider conducts a thorough evaluation of the patient's medical history, current symptoms, and any relevant diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays or MRI scans.

The skin over the targeted area is cleaned and prepared to reduce the risk of infection.

Injection of Prolotherapy Solution

The healthcare provider uses a thin needle to inject a solution into the injured or painful area. The solution typically contains an irritant such as dextrose (a type of sugar), saline, or other substances.

The irritant is chosen to induce a controlled inflammatory response at the injection site, stimulating the body's natural healing processes.

Number of Injections

The number of injections and the frequency of prolotherapy sessions can vary depending on the patient's condition. Some patients may undergo a series of injections over several sessions, spaced weeks apart.

Reasons to Get Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy may be considered as a treatment option for individuals experiencing certain musculoskeletal conditions or injuries.

Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Prolotherapy is often sought by individuals experiencing persistent pain in areas such as the back, knees, shoulders, or other joints where ligaments or tendons may be involved.

Sports Injuries

Athletes who have sustained ligament or tendon injuries, such as sprains or strains, might opt for prolotherapy to promote healing and facilitate a quicker return to physical activity.

Back Pain

Prolotherapy is sometimes used to address chronic back pain, especially when ligaments or other connective tissues are implicated.

FAQ

Are there any risks or complications of prolotherapy?

Fortunately, prolotherapy has no serious side effects. You may experience some pain at your injection site, and bruising is rare. There is a very low risk the injections damage nerves, joints or other tissue near the injection site, but prolotherapy is not riskier than any other injection.

However, experts have not proven the success rate of prolotherapy in a scientifically significant way, and it might not reduce your pain at all. Additionally, the reduction in your pain after prolotherapy may only be temporary. Many of the studies that find it benefits people do not follow up with them beyond a few months, so there is no way to know how long your improvement will last.

Why is prolotherapy used?

Prolotherapy is used to treat pain. It is usually an elective treatment, meaning people choose to receive it rather than needing it because their healthcare provider prescribed it.

How common is prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is not very common - it is a relatively new technique. Prolotherapy is becoming more widely used, but experts are still conducting studies on whether or not it works.

How should I prepare for prolotherapy?

Talk to your healthcare provider before starting prolotherapy. They will tell you if any medications you are on or other pain-management techniques you are using could cause complications during or after prolotherapy injections.

What is the recovery time after prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy sessions have little to no recovery time. You should be able to resume all your usual activities right away. You might be a bit sore at your injection site, but you should be able to resume all your normal activities with no interruptions.

Talk to your provider before resuming intense physical activities like strenuous workouts or playing sports after an injection.