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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Prolotherapy and
How Does it Work?
The term "Prolotherapy" is short for "proliferation therapy."
Proliferation, of course, means "rapid production." What Prolotherapy
rapidly produces is collagen and cartilage.
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein in the body that is a
necessary element for the formation of new connective tissue, the
tissues that holds our skeletal infrastructure together. These tissues
include, tendons, ligaments, muscle fascia and joint capsular tissue.
Prolotherapy helps make collagen through a series of injections, not of
collagen, but of mild chemical or natural (such as dextrose-sugar)
irritants, which stimulates the immune system's healing mechanism to
produce collagen naturally. The making of new collagen makes for
strengthened and restored joints. Restored and strengthened joints make
for permanent pain relief.
Millions of Prolotherapy injections are given each year by hundreds of
physicians. Numerous articles have been published, (some are listed
below).
Prolotherapy Research
Klein R, Dorman T, Johnson C. Proliferant injections for low back pain:
histologic changes of injected ligaments and objective measurements of
lumbar spinal mobility before and after treatment. J Neurologic and
Orthopedic Medicine and Surgery. 1989;10:123-126.
Ongley M, Klein R, Dorman T, Eek B, Hubert L. A new approach to the
treatment of chronic low back pain. Lancet 1987;2:143-146.
Reeves KD, Hassanein K. Randomized prospective placebo-controlled
double-blind study of prolotherapy for osteoarthritic thumb and finger
(DIP, PIP, and trapeziometacarpal) Joints: Evidence of Clinical
Efficacy. Altern Complement Med 2000 Aug;6(4):311-20.
Reeves KD, Hassanein K. Randomized prospective double-blind
placebo-controlled study of dextrose prolotherapy for knee
osteoarthritis with or without ACL laxity. Altern Ther Health Med 2000
Mar;6(2):68-74, 77-80.
Schwartz R. Prolotherapy: A literature review and retrospective study.
Journal of Neurology, Orthopedic Medicine, and Surgery. 1991;12:220-223.
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