Prolotherapy is a nonsurgical regenerative injection technique that introduces small amounts of an irritant solution containing dextrose (d-glucose), a natural form of glucose normally found in the body to the site of painful and degenerated tissue. This is done over the course of several treatment sessions to promote proliferation of normal cells and tissue.
Prolotherapy works by exactly the same process that the human body naturally uses to stimulate the body’s healing system, a process called inflammation. The technique involves the injection of a mild irritant solution that causes an inflammatory response. Inflammatory responses in the body are designed to “turn on” the healing process. When injected into the joints, muscles, tendons, and/or ligaments the inflammation may then stimulate healing and the growth of new ligament and tendon tissue that is thicker and stronger.
Prolotherapy can be an ideal nonsurgical treatment for chronic pain of the musculoskeletal system. Examples of conditions treated include: osteoarthritis, muscle/tendon injury, joint instability, ligament laxity and tendinopathy. Prolotherapy may be a viable alternative to pain medications, physiotherapy, cortisone (steroid) injections, and has potential to enhance surgical outcomes. Ultimately the goal is the resolution of pain and dysfunction. Prolotherapy normalizes the physiology in injured tissues toward regeneration and renewal.
