PROLOTHERAPY

Proliferation Therapy

A method of injection
treatment designed to

Quick Anatomy Lesson

Main structures for supporting
the body

Bones
Muscles
Tendons
Ligaments
Cartilage

Ankle

Sprained Ankle

Result

What do most people do

first

What else?

Anti-inflammatory

 Short term inflammation is how the body

heals itself, by controlling what gets in and
out of the area
blood flow to the area
permeability (fluids and blood proteins can
move in and out easier)
white blood cells in the tissues

The Healing Process

Inflammation Phase (0 to 6 days)

Initially decreased permeability, as to
increase blood clotting
Followed by increased permeability to
deliver healing cells that are essential
for healing
White blood cells eat damaged tissue
Growth factors are released into the
wound

The Healing Process

Proliferation Phase (3 to 21 days)

Formation of new blood vessels
Collagen is deposited (keeps your skin tight)
New tissues begin to form that will
eventually become scar tissue
Damaged tissues begin to contract
such as stretched or torn ligaments

The Healing Process

Maturation Phase (Up to 1 year)
Also known as the remodelling phase
Collagen is realigned to form lines of tension
known as scar tissue
Any cells no longer needed are removed by
programmed cell death

Life after wound healing

Incomplete healing is common after an
injury to tendons and ligaments, which is
often a result of;
Interfering with the inflammatory phase
Repeated injuries to the same tendons and
ligaments
Lifestyle choices: Smoking, stress, medications,
lack of sleep and poor nutrition

It has been estimated that these

tissues only regain about 50% to
60% of their pre-injury tensile
strength!!!

Back to Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is short for proliferative therapy
Injection of a solution into the tendons and
ligaments that triggers the inflammation
phase
Dextrose, Procaine (anesthetic), Vitamin B12
Dextrose triggers an injury response
Procaine reduces pain as a local anesthetic
Vitamin B12 improves local cell communication

Followed by the proliferative

phase and maturation phase!

Prolotherapy vs No Prolotherapy

30-40% increase in diameter, which is

estimated to double the strength of the tendon

Who needs this?

Repetitive injuries that persist despite treatment

History of sprains, strains, dislocations, surgeries
Tendonitis, Tennis and Golfers elbow
Chronic whiplash, and other long term pain
problems that just wont go away

Prolotherapy repairs weak tendons

and ligaments and is a long term
solution!

Is it painful?
We use the same size needle as a vaccine
But we do use a local anesthetic to reduce
the pain of the procedure
The entire process lasts about 30 45
minutes
Youll be sore for a few days after the
procedure while the inflammation phase is
under way
You can take Tylenol if you need it, but no
Advil

Cost

A typical prolotherapy treatment will

be about $120 for the initial treatment,
and $100 for follow up.
The average cost in lower mainland is
double that ($225 - $250)
Falls under Acupuncture, and can be
claimed under extended health

Number of Treatments
Needed
Minor injuries: 1-3 treatments ($100 - $300)
Moderate injuries: 3-5 treatments ($300 - $500)
Severe injuries: 6-12 treatments or surgery
($600 - $1000)
In some cases prolotherapy can prevent surgery