Prolotherapy

It is a method of injection treatment that generates healing by raising growth factor levels in tissue repair. It uses sugar water or dextrose solution, and injects it into the tendon or ligament in the area where it attaches to the bone. A localized inflammation then occurs in this area, and the blood supply is increased. The flow of nutrients stimulates the tissue to repair itself.

It is a long term solution, rather than just dealing with the symptoms of chronic pain with the use of drugs and sometimes surgery. On average it takes about four (4) to six (6) treatments, but this varies per individual.

It has been used in the United States since the 1930’s, and is endorsed by former U.S. Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop. It’s also used as an effective treatment in the sports world.

It is making itself known in mainstream medicine because of its effectiveness as a nonsurgical treatment for musculoskeletal conditions. Even physicians have reported benefits from this therapy.

Background

This therapy addresses connective tissue insufficiency, which is ligament or tendon weakness or relaxation resulting in chronic musculoskeletal pain. If this is not corrected, chronic strain is the result.

This type of treatment dates all the way back to Hippocrates (460 BC to 370 BC) who used a red hot needle cautery to treat the dislocated shoulders of soldiers during battle. In the 19th and early 20th century hernias were treated with an injection of a sclerosing type agent. In the 1930’s George Hackett, MD, observed how injections that were made, often erroneously, at the junction of the ligament and bone resulted in new tissue growth.

Dr. Hackett then spent many years developing and improving injection therapy for ligaments and tendons. Because of poor blood supply tendons and ligaments take longer to heal than other tissues. Incomplete healing often results from injury to one of these structures. Lifestyle choices, stress, and use of medications also affect the healing process.

Since the 1930’s several studies have been done that confirm the effectiveness of prolotherapy. It is almost hidden knowledge since many physicians and lay people do not know about it. For more complete information on the research and history of this therapy check out this site.

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