Prolotherapy

What is Prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy, or, proliferative therapy, is a targeted injection, using hypertonic dextrose, to treat tendon, muscle, bone and joint disorders. This type of therapy acts as an irritant to restart the healing cascade in areas where healing has stopped. This procedure is typically performed using ultrasound-guidance to provide as specific a treatment as possible, and to optimize the potential benefits. Prolotherapy is a form of Regenerative Medicine, aimed at regenerating healthy tissue, decreasing pain and most importantly, improving function.

What is the Science?

Hypertonic dextrose solutions act by dehydrating cells at the injection site, leading to local tissue trauma, which in turn attracts granulocytes and macrophages and promotes healing (Hauser et al.). In addition, the hypertonic solution, leads to osmotic damage and rupture of cells within the are, stimulating local release of growth factors, which in turn, promotes the regenerative process (Rabago, et al.).

How are the injections performed?

Each injection is performed in an outpatient, office setting. Dr. Burns uses ultrasound-guidance for each injection, to ensure injection accuracy.

What conditions are treated?

Rotator cuff damage
Tennis elbow
Golfers elbow
Jumpers Knee
Joint pain
Arthritis
Knee osteoarthritis
Many others

Prolotherapy Video

Hassan, Fadi, et al. "The effectiveness of prolotherapy in treating knee osteoarthritis in adults: a systematic review." British medical bulletin 122.1 (2017): 91-108.

Hauser, Ross A., et al. "A systematic review of dextrose prolotherapy for chronic musculoskeletal pain." Clinical Medicine Insights: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disorders 9 (2016): CMAMD-S39160.

Rabago, David, Andrew Slattengren, and Aleksandra Zgierska. "Prolotherapy in primary care practice." Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice 37.1 (2010): 65-80.