One of the mechanisms of how prolotherapy work is based on the idea that chronic pain is often caused by loose ligaments or tendons. Ligaments connect bone to bone and tendons connect muscles to bone. When ligaments or tendons are lax, the muscles must work extra hard to stabilize the joint. Consequently, muscle pain and muscle spasm occur.

Prolotherapy treatment involves injections of a dextrose (a simple sugar) solution near such areas to promote growth and thickening of the ligaments. Human and animal studies have found that prolotherapy injections increase strength and thicken ligaments and tendons. The injections inflame the area causing the blood supply to increase and allowing nutrients to stimulate the tissue.

Prolotherapy is used to treat back pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, plantar fasciitis, sciatica, sports injuries, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), tendinitis and tension headaches. Currently, the best evidence for its use is for osteoarthritis. The results of double-blind human trials suggest that prolotherapy may effectively treat osteoarthritis. Usually a series of injections every few weeks is required to maximize results.

No serious side effects have been reported in clinical trials. However, patients usually experience tenderness or stiffness near the injection site for a few minutes to a few days after treatment.

Randomized, Prospective, Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Study of Dextrose Prolotherapy for Osteoarthritic Thumb and Finger (DIP, PIP, and Trapeziometacarpal) Joints: Evidence of Clinical Efficacy

ABSTRACT OF ARTICLE:

OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical benefit of dextrose prolotherapy (injection of growth factors or growth factor stimulators) in osteoarthritic finger joints. DESIGN: Prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. SETTINGS/LOCATION: Outpatient physical medicine clinic. SUBJECTS: Six months of pain history was required in each joint studied as well as one of the following: grade 2 or 3 osteophyte, grade 2 or 3 joint narrowing, or grade 1 osteophyte plus grade 1 joint narrowing. Distal interphalangeal (DIP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), and trapeziometacarpal (thumb CMC) joints were eligible. Thirteen patients (with seventy-four symptomatic osteoarthitic joints) received active treatment, and fourteen patients (with seventy-six symptomatic osteoarthritic joints) served as controls. INTERVENTION: One half milliliter (0.5 mL) of either 10% dextrose and 0.075% xylocaine in bacteriostatic water (active solution) or 0.075% xylocaine in bacteriostatic water (control solution) was injected on medial and lateral aspects of each affected joint. This was done at 0, 2, and 4 months with assessment at 6 months after first injection. OUTCOME MEASURES: One-hundred millimeter (100 mm) Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain at rest, pain with joint movement and pain with grip, and goniometrically-measured joint flexion. RESULTS: Pain at rest and with grip improved more in the dextrose group but not significantly. Improvement in pain with movement of fingers improved significantly more in the dextrose group (42% versus 15% with a p value of .027). Flexion range of motion improved more in the dextrose group (p = .003). Side effects were minimal. CONCLUSION: Dextrose prolotherapy was clinically effective and safe in the treatment of pain with joint movement and range limitation in osteoarthritic finger joints.

References

Reeves KD, Hassanein K. Randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled double-blind study of dextrose prolotherapy for osteoarthritic thumb and finger (DIP, PIP, and trapeziometacarpal) joints: evidence of clinical efficacy. J Altern Complement Med. 2000 Aug;6(4):311-20.

For more information about prolotherapy, you may contact Dr. Lee at 206-319-5322 or via email at info@seattlenaturopathiccenter.com