Prolotherapy (a.k.a. regenerative injection therapy or RIT) is known as ligament reconstructive therapy or sclerotherapy and is a recognized orthopedic procedure that stimulates the body’s natural healing processes to strengthen joints weakened by trauma or arthritis.
by Dr. Fred G. Arnold —
An incredible discovery in the evolutionary study of human origins — a 47-million-year-old fossil found in Germany in 2009 — may be a critical missing-link species in primate evolution. According to paleontologist Philip Gingerich, “The fossil bridges the evolutionary split between higher primates such as monkeys, apes and humans, and their more distant relatives such as lemurs.”
In orthopedics, pain management and rehabilitation, prolotherapy is the “missing link” when it comes to the treatment of musculoskeletal painful conditions. It bridges the gap between the patient’s symptoms and the cause of his condition.
Very few people, including doctors, are familiar with the healing properties of prolotherapy treatment and the numerous benefits it offers to patients in pain. Yet for over 50 years, prolotherapy has been a proven pain treatment alternative. Numerous scientific studies and articles have been written about the effectiveness of prolotherapy.
So, what is prolotherapy? Prolotherapy (a.k.a. regenerative injection therapy or RIT) is known as ligament reconstructive therapy or sclerotherapy and is a recognized orthopedic procedure that stimulates the body’s natural healing processes to strengthen joints weakened by trauma or arthritis.
Joints weakened when ligaments and tendons are stretched, torn or fragmented, become hypermobile and painful. The traditional approaches of anti-inflammatory drugs and surgery often fail to stabilize the joint and relieve pain permanently.
Prolotherapy has the unique ability to directly address the cause of instability and repair the weakened sites, resulting in permanent stabilization of the joint. When specialized substances are precisely injected into the site of pain or injury, prolotherapy creates a mild, controlled inflammation which stimulates the body to lay down new tendon or ligament fibers, resulting in a strengthening of the weakened structure. When the joint becomes strong, pain will be relieved.
Conditions responsive to prolotherapy include: TMJ pain, shoulder pain, rotator cuff, elbow pain, tennis elbow, wrist pain, arthritis of the hand, knee pain, cartilage injury, ACL strain, headaches, neck pain, upper and low back pain, sacroiliac pain, sciatica, ankle sprains and foot pain.
Prolotherapy is an extremely safe procedure that has been practiced for more than five decades. The number of treatments required depends upon the severity of the condition and the area treated. The average person usually requires four to six treatments, given at two week intervals. More than one painful area can be treated during an office visit, and many patients report partial or complete relief of their pain after one or two treatments.
Prolotherapy can provide the relief that is not found with other forms of pain management, such as acupuncture, chiropractic, physical therapy and pharmaceuticals (drugs), since it treats the cause of many painful conditions such as weakened ligaments and tendon attachments. Prolotherapy should always be considered for chronic pain conditions that involve tendons, cartilage and ligaments or when surgery is recommended. An excellent source of reference materials for the public can be found at www.getprolo.com.
Reference: Hauser, Ross A., M.D., and Hauser, Marion A., M.S., R.D., Prolo Your Pain Away, Beulah Land Press, Ill, 2004.
Dr. Fred G. Arnold is a chiropractor and naturopathic medical doctor who specializes in prolotherapy/pain rehabilitation services. With more than 20 years of clinical experience, he is a diplomate of the American Academy Health Care Providers. 602-292-2978.
Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 29, Number 5, Oct/Nov 2010.
February 25, 2012
Back pain, Joint pain, Natural therapies, Pain, Prolotherapy