The exciting aspect to recognizing that stretched or loosened connective tissue is often the root cause of back, neck or joint pain is that these problems are eminently treatable with a simple and safe technique called Prolotherapy. This technique stimulates the body to heal damaged ligaments and tendons and thereby permanently cure the most common cause of chronic pain. Prolotherapy, also known as Non-Surgical Ligament Reconstruction, is a safe, effective, minimally invasive injection technique that has been around for over 50 years. Dr. George Hackett M.D., a pioneer in the field, first coined the term “Prolotherapy” in the 50′s. The word derives from the Latin “proles” which refers to the stimulation of growth.
Prolotherapy involves the injection of weakened and/or stretched ligaments with a sugar solution or other natural “proliferant” substance. The solution, which is injected with a very thin needle at the precise points of tissue damage, sets up a local proliferative reaction that increases the blood flow to damaged ligaments. Immune cells can then clean up the debris and fibroblasts can move in and rebuild healthy fibroelastic tissue and restore damaged connective tissue to its original strength.
