Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is a regenerative therapy that uses a concentrated dextrose (sugar) solution to enhance healing. A solution of dextrose, anesthetic and saline is injected into the injured areas and acts as an irritant to stimulate a temporary, low grade inflammation. With the mild inflammation comes increased blood flow bringing with it platelets, growth factors and other cells to restart the repair process and allow the body to heal on its own. The treatment course often requires a series of several rounds of injections for maximal effect.
The efficacy of prolotherapy has been studied or reported in the setting of:
- tendonopathies such as lateral epicondylitis and Achilles tendonitis
- general musculoskeletal conditions
- pain in and around the region of the coccyx
- osteoarthritis of the hand
- sacroiliac disorders
- various types of neck pain
- temporomandibular joint disfunction
- cervicogenic headaches, chronic headaches
- foot problems
For further reading about Prolotherapy, see:
- Providing Medical Care to the Underserved in Honduras and Mexico, Robert A. Schulman, MD, et al.
- Prolotherapy for Knee Osteoarthritis, Arthritis Foundation
- Prolotherapy for Musculoskeletal Pain and Disability, David Robago, MD, et al.
- Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, February 2013: Prolotherapy: An Effective Adjunctive Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis
- Primary Care, March 2010: Prolotherapy in Primary Care Practice
- New York Times, Aug 7, 2007: Injections to Kick-Start Tissue Repair
- Reuters, Nov 6, 2007: Achilles Tendon Treatment Shows Promise
- Hackett Hemwall Patterson Foundation
- American Association of Orthopaedic Medicine
