Prolotherapy is an alternative therapy that may help repair injured tissues. It is considered a non-surgical ligament and tendon reconstruction and regenerative joint injection. Prolotherapy can repair the weakened and unstable joints and stimulate new collagen tissue, resulting in permanent stabilization of the joint. Once the joint is stabilized, pain usually resolves. The number and timing of treatment varies from 3 to 6 weeks.
It is also known as regenerative injection therapy or proliferation therapy. The goal is to stimulate the body to repair itself. The exact mechanism of how it works is not known. The theory is that it causes a mild inflammatory response that encourages growth of new, normal ligament or tendon fibers, resulting in a tightening of the weakened structure.
A sugar, salt, sarapin and procaine or lidocaine solution type of prolotherapy involves injecting these substances into a joint or other part of the body to treat a range of conditions, such as:
- Tendon, muscle, and ligament problems
- Sacro-iliac joint instability/dysfunction
- Neck and knee pain
- Knee meniscal tears
- Wrist or hand pain
- Shoulder pain including rotator cuff tears
- Elbow pain including golfers or tennis elbow
- Foot pain including plantar fasciitis
- Ankle pain or instability
- Osteitis pubis
- Piriformis syndrome
- Temporal mandibular joint syndrome (TMJ
- Arthritis of the knees, hips, and fingers
- Disc disease
- Some types of headaches
- Fibromyalgia
- Strains and sprains
- Loose or unstable joints
Prolotherapy may help:
- Reduce pain and stiffness
- Improve strength, function, and mobility of the joint
- Increase the strength of ligaments and other tissues
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and adult stem cells taken from fat in other areas of the body or bone marrow can also be used for these types of injections.