PROLOTHERAPY

How it works

The body's musculoskeletal framework is held together by ligaments and tendons. Ligaments are tough, fibrous connective tissue that connect bones to bones, while tendons connect muscles to bones. Both are composed mainly of stringy collagen fibers.

During physical exertion, these collagen fibers, like a rubber band or piece of chewing gum that is stretched too far or too often, may becomes so weak or injured that they lose their elasticity, making it difficult for them to tighten. This creates laxity, making the joint unstable. This can lead to even worse injury.

Multiple studies have shown that injuries to tendons and ligaments are often caused by a limited blood supply. Prolotherapy seeks to restore them to their previous healthy state by jump-starting the body to create a greater blood supply to the injured area, so that it can heal itself.

The Procedure

During the Prolotherapy procedure, a solution of concentrated dextrose, a stereoisomer of glucose, and Lidocaine, an anesthetic, is injected into the ligament or tendon where it attaches to the bone. This proliferant solution then causes localized inflammation, which increases the blood supply and flow of nutrients, which in turn causes the body to produce new collagen.

Due to the addition of Lidocaine to the proliferant, most patients experience almost no discomfort. However, the response to treatment varies from individual to individual, and depends upon the patient's healing ability.

Some patients experience relief after the first session, while for others this may require multiple sessions. The average number of treatments needed is 2 to 4. In order to give the body time to heal itself, sessions are usually scheduled 4-6 weeks apart. While patients are encouraged to "take it easy" at the gym for the next 2 or 3 days, they can resume full normal functioning as soon as the Lidocaine wears off, and return to work or return to play

For more information about Prolotherapy visit: Dr's of USC [PDF]

PRP - PLATELET-RICH PLASMA Therapy

How it works

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy utilizes the natural healing capabilities of autologous (from the patient) platelets in wound healing and tissue repair. Torn and degenerative tendons and ligaments are potential targets for this treatment because the growth factors released by platelets promote angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation), which helps deliver healing cells, healing proteins, and healing nutrients to the damaged tissue.

Growth factors released by platelets include isomers of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factors-β, vascular endothelial growth factor, and epithelial growth factor. By stimulating the release of these growth factors and other proteins PRP provides the optimum environment for tissue healing.

The Procedure

The patient's blood is drawn and then put into a centrifuge where the plasma-rich platelets are separted from the blood. The resulting blood that is then re-injected into the affected area is 5 times more concentrated in plasma-rich platelets than whole blood.

For maximum accuracy, ultra-sound imaging is used to guide the injection into the targeted tissue, simulating internal bleeding from an injury.

The body then reacts to this simulated injury by sending stem cells from the marrow space to the area of chronic injury, generating a strong healing repsonse.

Dr. C. Everett Koop, M.D.

"Prolotherapy, unless you have tried it and proven its worth, seems to be too easy a solution to a series of complicated problems that afflict the human body and have been notoriously difficult to treat by any other method... I have been a patient who has benefited from Prolotherapy."

- C. Everett Koop, M.D. United States Surgeon General January 21, 1982 - October 1, 1989 From the introduction to "Prolo Your Pain Away!" by Dr. Ross Hauser, M.D.

Other Services Include:

• Trigger Point Therapy
• Physical Medicine and Myofasical Release
• Botulinum Toxin Treatments
• Biopuncture
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Neuromuscular Medicine
• Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Management

Please contact us for more information on these various treatments.