Prolotherapy is a treatment for chronic pain and is also known as nonsurgical ligament reconstruction. The treatment is useful for many different types of musculoskeletal pain, including arthritis, back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, unresolved whiplash injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, partially torn tendons, ligaments and cartilage, degenerated or herniated discs, TMJ and sciatica.
"Prolo" is short for proliferation, because the treatment causes the proliferation (growth, formation) of new ligament tissue in areas where it has become weak.
Ligaments are the structural "rubber bands" that hold bones to bones in joints. Ligaments that become weak or injured may not heal back to their original strength. This is because they lack a good blood supply making healing slow and incomplete. Ligaments also have many nerve endings which can cause pain in the areas where the ligaments are damaged or loose.
Tendons are tissue which connects muscles to bones and may also become injured in the same manner and can cause pain.
Prolotherapy uses a dextrose (sugar water) solution, which is injected into the ligament or tendon where it attaches to the bone. This causes a localized inflammation in these weak areas which then increases the blood supply and flow of the nutrients and stimulates the tissue to repair itself. Prolotherapy is based on the principle hypotheses that: (1) interstitial rupture of collagen fibers within the substance of ligaments produces elongation and thus dysfunction;(2) repeated provocation of the inflammatory reaction within the ligament will induce fibroblastic hyperplasia and then laying down of new collagen; hence (3) ligament healing may be achieved in the presence of normal active movement. Basically, the body is induces to try to heal itself. Cool, huh?
Response to treatment varies form individual to individual and depends upon one's healing ability. Some people may only need a few treatments while others may need 10 or more. The average number of treatments is 4-6 for a treated area.
John Platero is the founder and owner of Future Fit, Inc. a successful multi-faceted fitness company that manages personal trainers, provides fitness products, services and educational services for the consumer. He is also the Director of the N.C.C.P.T. (The National Council of Certified Personal Trainers) which has certified thousands of personal trainers at its intensive, two-day workshops held throughout the country. For more information please visit http://www.nccpt.com
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