PainCare Florida Physicians

Prolotherapy

Pain Treatment Procedure

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy, also known as proliferation therapy or regeneration injection therapy, is a non-surgical treatment designed to alleviate pain and encourage your body’s natural healing response.[1] It involves injecting sugar water into affected soft tissues to treat musculoskeletal conditions. It has been around since the 1950s and is recommended for use on joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and low back pain.[2]

Let’s explore how something as simple as sugar water could be the catalyst to helping your body jumpstart the healing of connective tissue and joints.

How Proliferation Therapy Works

The procedure begins with injecting a natural irritant, usually dextrose (a type of sugar) or saline, into the targeted area.[3] The concentrated solution acts as an irritant, triggering a mild inflammatory response.[2] This response “tricks” the body into focusing its natural healing abilities on the affected area, promoting tissue repair and strengthening. Over time, as the tissues become more robust, pain diminishes, and stability improves.[2]

Conditions Treated with Prolotherapy or Regeneration Injection Therapy

This alternative therapy aims to strengthen weakened connective tissues, such as ligaments and tendons, making it a common choice for musculoskeletal conditions.

Proliferation therapy boosts the regeneration of cells to heal the following:

  • Tendinopathy [2]
  • Arthritis [2]
  • Lower back pain [2
  • Fibromyalgia [2]
  • Degenerative disk disease [2]
  • Sports injuries [2]
  • Osgood-Schlatter disease [2]
  • Sprains and strains [3]
  • Plantar fasciitis [4]
  • Tennis elbow
  • Golfer’s elbow
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
  • Achilles tendonitis
  • Shoulder tendinitis
  • Whiplash injuries

Benefits of Prolotherapy Injections

The benefits of proliferation therapy are promising, but individual results may vary.

Proponents of prolotherapy suggest several potential benefits:

  • Natural Healing: Jumpstarting the body’s own repair process promotes natural tissue regeneration. [2]
  • Non-Surgical Approach: As a minimally invasive procedure, it offers an alternative to surgery for those seeking less invasive options.[2]
  • Improved Stability: Strengthening ligaments and tendons increases joint stability, potentially reducing the risk of future injuries.[5]
  • Cost-Effectiveness: It’s a cost-effective treatment option for chronic musculoskeletal pain, eliminating the need for more expensive interventions, such as surgery or long-term medication use.[6]
  • Potential for Tissue Regeneration: Dextrose prolotherapy may aid in tissue regeneration and the restoration of joint function, particularly in cases of osteoarthritis. [7]
  • Improved Range of Motion: Patients report significant improvements in range of motion.[8]
  • Minimal Side Effect Risk: Low-risk alternative procedure not typically associated with serious side effects.[2]

Prolotherapy Specialists and Pain Management Clinics

Prolotherapy is ideal for patients looking to regenerate healthy tissue in joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. It’s especially beneficial for athletes and those who want to avoid long recovery times.

Combining prolotherapy with other interventional treatments and complementary therapies provides a comprehensive approach to musculoskeletal pain. Lifestyle modifications, such as regular exercise, can enhance the benefits of dextrose injections. Consult with your pain specialist to determine if prolotherapy is a suitable addition to your long-term treatment plan for connective tissue health.

Resources:

  1. Prolotherapy. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Accessed January 31, 2025. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22426-prolotherapy
  2. WedMd Editorial Contributors. What to Know About Prolotherapy. WebMD [Internet]. Reviewed September 13, 2023. Accessed January 31, 2025. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/what-to-know-about-prolotherapy
  3. Gotter A. How Does Prolotherapy Work? Healthline [Internet]. Updated October 15, 2024. Accessed January 31, 2025. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/prolotherapy
  4. Rabago D, Yelland M, Patterson J, Zgierska A. Prolotherapy for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain. American Family Physician [Internet]. Accessed January 31, 2025. Available from: https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2011/1201/p1208.html
  5. Fletcher J. What is prolotherapy, and what is it used to treat? Medical News Today [Internet]. Accessed January 31, 2025. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320330
  6. Bae G, Kim S, Lee S, Lee WY, Lim Y. Prolotherapy for the patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. Anesth Pain Med (Seoul) [Internet]. 2021;16(1):81-95. doi:10.17085/apm.20078. Accessed January 31, 2025. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7861898/
  7. Waluyo Y, Artika SR, Wahyuni IN, Gunawan AMAK, Zainal ATF. Efficacy of Prolotherapy for Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine [Internet]. 2023;55:jrm00372-jrm00372. doi:Doips://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v55.2572. Accessed January 31, 2025. Available from: https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm/article/view/2572
  8. Hassan F, Trebinjac S, Murrell WD, Maffulli N. The effectiveness of prolotherapy in treating knee osteoarthritis in adults: a systematic review. British Medical Bulletin [Internet]. Volume 122, Issue 1, March 04, 2017, Pages 91–108. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldx006Accessed January 31, 2025. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/bmb/article/122/1/91/3061873
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