Explore Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is short for proliferative therapy, also known as reconstructive therapy or a type of regenerative injection therapy. It is a nonsurgical treatment that works by strengthening worn ligaments and tendons that no longer support their skeletal structures properly, either because they’ve been injured or because they’ve been misused, which will lead to injury over time. Prolotherapy involves a series of injections of nonpharmacological solutions (often dextrose, a sugar solution) that restore cartilage and strengthen ligaments and tendons. The solutions do this by irritating the tissues in the area, stimulating the body’s natural response to injury, and causing the body to begin the natural steps toward healing.

Our bodies typically repair connective tissue through inflammation, which increases blood flow and the production of growth factors in an injured area to promote healing. But cartilage, tendons, and ligaments have poor blood supplies. Consequently, they often do not heal completely after an injury, even though the body sends more blood to injured areas just for this purpose. Incomplete healing leads to pain because the structures can no longer adequately hold up their end of the bargain— keeping bones aligned and muscles functioning properly. The more you become injured and the longer your injuries go untreated, the weaker and more stretched your ligaments and tendons become. This results in a poor support system and discomfort. The ligaments and tendons of knees, elbows, wrists, shoulders, and other major joints are subject to wear and tear from overuse and injury. Think of a ligament as a rubber band; now, imagine one that is stretched out, thin—in other words, a useless item. But if you could restore its thickness and strength, your ligament could once again hold up the structures it was designed to support, protecting you from unnecessary injury and pain.

That’s what prolotherapy does: The injections restore weakened ligaments and tendons because they cause inflammation in areas that don’t typically get a sufficient blood supply to heal completely on their own. Prolotherapy is most effective when it is used in combination with other therapies, such as physical therapy, that help relieve associated physiological problems. But using those therapies without addressing the injured, weak connective tissues will only result in repeated injury and recurrent pain.

Should You Consider Prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy can be used to treat a wide range of problems. It has been found to be most effective in treating connective tissue injuries of the knee, hip, wrist, shoulder, and lower back. But I have also had much success using it to treat a host of other physical ailments, including whiplash injuries, weakened ankles, and others.

Prolotherapy does have its drawbacks. It involves multiple injections, which makes some patients uncomfortable. It may not be covered by your insurance plan. It can cause temporary pain at the injection site. And it is not appropriate for every type of soft tissue injury. However, prolotherapy may be the very best treatment for you.