Prolotherapy and the Use of Sugars in Orthopedics
Prolotherapy has been a part of modern orthopedic practices since the 1940s. It is growing in popularity not just in the U.S., but globally as well. Also known as “regenerative injection therapy” (RIT), prolotherapy is a procedure used to treat musculoskeletal conditions including tendinopathies, osteoarthritis, and chronic pain of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, and pelvis (Sit et al. 2017). The procedure involves the administration of a therapeutic solution injected into the tendons, ligaments, and joint space (Houser et al. 2016). There are typically several injection sessions, which take place every 2 to 6 weeks. It is currently one of the leading nonsurgical interventions used for treating musculoskeletal conditions that result in chronic pain.