Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is a form of non-surgical ligament reconstruction. "Prolo" is short for proliferation, because the treatment causes the proliferation (growth, formation) of new ligament tissue in areas where it has become weak. Prolotherapy uses a dextrose (sugar water) 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 and flow of nutrients and stimulates the tissue to repair itself. Ligaments and tendons are the structural "rubber bands" that hold bones to bones in joints and connect muscles to bones. Ligaments and tendons can become weak or injured and may not heal back to their original strength or endurance. This is largely because the blood supply to these structures is limited, and therefore healing is slow and not always complete. To further complicate things, there are many nerve endings, so the person will feel pain at the areas where there is damage or loosening.
The response to prolotherapy varies from individual to individual and depends upon one's healing ability. Some people may only need a few treatments while others may need 10 or more. The average number of treatments varies from 4-6.
