Prolotherapy Healing

Technique

• After pinpointing the source of the injury or weakness, a prolotherapist injects a sugar water (dextrose) solution into the ligament or tendon where it connects to the bone, which causes a localized inflammatory response at the site. Inflammation is a protective response that stimulates healing by increasing the flow of blood and nutrients to the targeted area. This flow of blood and nutrients helps tissue to repair itself.
  
  Multiple treatments over several weeks are usually recommended. Prolotherapy is considered an alternative treatment is not covered by most insurance plans.
  
  

Study Results

• In 2003, a was study conducted at the Department of Biometry at the University of Kansas Medical Center to determine the effects of dextrose prolotherapy on knee osteoarthritis with or without anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) laxity. Results reported in the journal Alternative Therapies state tat the dextrose-treated knees "revealed a statistically significant improvement" in values associated with "pain, swelling, joint flexion and joint laxity."
  
  

History

• Prolotherapy gets its name from the Latin word "prolo," meaning proliferate. This name was given to the therapy by George S. Hackett, M.D. based on his belief that the technique "will stimulate the production of new fibrous tissue and bone cells that will strengthen the weld of fibrous tissue and bone to stabilize the articulation (where the bone and ligament meet) and permanently eliminate the disability."
  
  According to AltMD.com, the technique is based on an ancient technique used by Hippocrates to treat wounded soldiers. Rather than a dextrose solution, Hippocrates inserted a hot poker into the injured joint, which, as one would imagine, caused an inflammatory response.