Dr. Robert E. Woods, DVM, CVA
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Prolotherapy works by raising growth factor
levels to promote tissue repair or growth.
Prolotherapy works to repair weak and painful
joint areas, it can be a long term solution
rather than a palliative measure. It can be
considered prior to the use of long term drugs
or surgery in appropriate patients.
Ligaments are structural "rubber bands" that
hold bones to bones in joints. Ligaments can
become weak or injured and may not heal
back to their original strength. This is largely
because the blood supply to ligaments is
limited, therefore healing is slow, and not
always complete. Ligaments also have many
nerve endings and therefore there is pain at
the areas where the ligaments are damaged
or loose.
Tendons are the name given to tissue which
connect muscles to bones. These tendons may
also become injured and cause pain.
Prolotherapy uses a local anesthetic, along
with a hypertonic dextrose solution, which is
injected into the ligament or tendon where it
attaches to the bone. This causes a localized
inflammation in these weak areas, which then
increases the blood supply , flow of nutrients,
and stimulates the tissue to repair itself.
Prolotherapy works by "tricking" the body into
initializing a healing cascade.
Historically, the use of prolotherapy dates
back to Hippocrates who treated dislocated
shoulders of soldiers with red-hot needle
cautery to stabilize the joint. Since the
1930's, studies have clearly indicated the
effectiveness of prolotherapy in the treatment
of chronic musculoskeletal pain arising from
post-traumatic and degenerative changes.
This includes connective tissue such as
ligaments, tendons, fascia, and intervertebral
discs.
levels to promote tissue repair or growth.
Prolotherapy works to repair weak and painful
joint areas, it can be a long term solution
rather than a palliative measure. It can be
considered prior to the use of long term drugs
or surgery in appropriate patients.
Ligaments are structural "rubber bands" that
hold bones to bones in joints. Ligaments can
become weak or injured and may not heal
back to their original strength. This is largely
because the blood supply to ligaments is
limited, therefore healing is slow, and not
always complete. Ligaments also have many
nerve endings and therefore there is pain at
the areas where the ligaments are damaged
or loose.
Tendons are the name given to tissue which
connect muscles to bones. These tendons may
also become injured and cause pain.
Prolotherapy uses a local anesthetic, along
with a hypertonic dextrose solution, which is
injected into the ligament or tendon where it
attaches to the bone. This causes a localized
inflammation in these weak areas, which then
increases the blood supply , flow of nutrients,
and stimulates the tissue to repair itself.
Prolotherapy works by "tricking" the body into
initializing a healing cascade.
Historically, the use of prolotherapy dates
back to Hippocrates who treated dislocated
shoulders of soldiers with red-hot needle
cautery to stabilize the joint. Since the
1930's, studies have clearly indicated the
effectiveness of prolotherapy in the treatment
of chronic musculoskeletal pain arising from
post-traumatic and degenerative changes.
This includes connective tissue such as
ligaments, tendons, fascia, and intervertebral
discs.
Prolotherapy
