Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is the injection of ligaments and tendons at the junction where they attach to the bone. Proliferant solution (dextrose water and local anesthetic) is injected to repair damaged tissues. It encourages production and growth of new fibrous tissue cells. Studies have shown that Prolotherapy can increase the thickness and strength of ligaments and tendons. Prolotherapy induces the normal healing cascade, which is usually about 6 weeks. During that time, it has been observed that the tendon or ligament circumference will increase an average of 20 to 25%.
Since ligaments are the structures that stabilize the various joints of the body, it makes sense that if these become stretched and injured, the body will compensate to stabilize the joints by inducing muscle spasm. Therefore, physicians who use Prolotherapy believe that chronic muscle spasm not resolved with exercise and appropriate physical medicine modalities is a sign of probable ligament laxity. If ligament laxity is not addressed, not only will the muscle spasms continue but chronic pain will set it. Prolotherapy, by strengthening the ligament itself and increasing ligament diameter, can often eliminate the chronic muscle spasms and pain.
Prolotherapy induces the normal healing cascade, which is usually about 6 weeks. For this reason, Prolotherapy sessions are usually done at 4- to 6-week intervals. The average person with chronic pain and ligament or tendon laxity usually requires 4 to 8 treatments.
Our physiatrists at Physicians Center of Physical Medicine have been doing Prolotherapy since 1994 when Dr.Guerrero first introduced the injection technique to Southwest Michigan. We offer this injection treatment to patients who have not responded to more conventional and conservative methods of treating joint pain and who are not surgical candidates.
If you think you are a candidate for Prolotherapy or have been advised by your physician to have one, please contact Physicians Center at
269/372-7200 or Click here for an appointment.
