Prolotherapy is also known as “proliferation therapy,” “regenerative injection therapy,” or “proliferative injection therapy”. It involves injecting an otherwise non-pharmacological and non-active irritant solution into the body, generally in the region of tendons or ligaments for the purpose of strengthening weakened connective tissue and alleviating musculoskeletal pain.

Prolotherapy treatments most often use a dextrose (sugar water) solution or Lignocaine, which is injected into the stretched or damaged ligament or tendon where it attaches to the bone. This initiates a mild localized inflammation in these weakened areas. The blood supply to the area is increased, bringing an increased flow of nutrients triggering an immune response and wound healing, resulting in the release growth factors and fibroblasts (cells from which connective tissue is developed). The fibroblasts produce new collagen deposits, the primary protein within ligaments and tendons. Since new collagen shrinks as it matures, the shrinking collagen tightens the ligament or tendon that was injected making it stronger. As the weakened connective tissue grows stronger, pain is eliminated. The ligament and tendon tissue which forms as a result of Prolotherapy is thicker and stronger than normal tissue, up to 40% stronger in some cases! Prolotherapy is used to rejuvenate specific parts of our aging body and produces successful healing on injuries regardless of their age. Very old injuries respond as readily to Prolotherapy as more recent injuries.