Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons^™

Prolotherapy: Applications, Mechanism Of Action, Controversy And Evidence, Boris M. Davydov

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

Merriam-Webster defines prolotherapy (PROLO) as “an alternative therapy for treating musculoskeletal pain that involves injection of irritant substance (as dextrose) into a ligament or tendon to promote the growth of new tissue”. Experimental research and multiple clinical trials have generated evidence suggesting that PROLO is effective at treating a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including tendinopathies, joint instability and ligament laxity. PROLO may also hold a potential to delay or avoid joint replacement and rotator cuff surgeries. Further research is needed to demonstrate the therapeutic effect of PROLO unequivocally.