What is prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is a regenerative injection treatment for injuries or chronic pain in ligaments, tendons, and joints. It uses a natural irritant—often dextrose—to trigger the body's healing response, encouraging tissue repair and pain reduction. A local anaesthetic may also be used, depending on the presenting case. It may be recommended for those who have not improved with other therapies.

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Prolotherapy works by:

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• Stimulating natural tissue repair in weakened areas.

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• Helping to strengthen ligaments and tendons by increasing collagen production.

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• Reduceing inflammation and pain as tissues heal.

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What is neural prolotherapy?

Neural prolotherapy, also referred to as perineural injection therapy, is an innovative approach aimed at alleviating nerve-related pain and inflammation. This therapy involves administering a series of small injections containing a natural glucose solution into areas where nerves have become irritated, inflamed, or compressed. It is especially useful for chronic pain conditions or injuries that have not responded to traditional treatments.

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Nerves can become inflamed as a result of injury, strain, adhesions, or repeated stress, which leads to ongoing pain. Neural prolotherapy works in the following ways:

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• Reduces nerve inflammation: The dextrose solution helps to calm irritated nerves.

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• Promotes tissue healing: It supports the repair of surrounding soft tissues, enhancing the environment around the affected nerves.

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• Interrupts pain signals: By treating nerve endings, this therapy decreases the pain signals transmitted to the brain.

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Common conditions treated by prolotherapy or neural prolotherapy:

• Chronic tendonitis (plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, posterior tibial tendonitis)

• Ligament sprains + strains (ankle sprains, knee injuries)

• Joint instability

• Osteoarthritis (knees, ankles, other)

• Heel pain

• Knee pain

• Shin splints

• Bursitis

• Mortons neuroma

• Generalised nerve pain caused by irritation or compression

 

Prolotherapy is not suitable if you have active infection, uncontrolled diabetes, blood disorders, severe immunosuppression, allergies to injection components, are pregnant, or have unstable psychiatric conditions.

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What to expect during + after treatment

• Initial consultation: Your podiatrist will assess your condition and determine whether prolotherapy or neural prolotherapy is appropriate for you.

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• Procedure: Small injections of the dextrose solution are given in and around the areas that are painful or inflamed. The process is quick and typically causes only minimal discomfort.

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• Post-treatment: There is no significant downtime following the procedure, however a tolerable flare of inflammation the day or two following treatment may be expected. Mild tenderness at the injection site may also occur but generally resolves quickly.

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How Many Treatments Are Needed?

The number of sessions needed depends on the severity and duration of your condition, and your podiatrist will customise a treatment plan to meet your individual needs.

 

For prolotherapy - clients typically need three to six sessions spaced three to four weeks apart to achieve optimal results.

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For neural prolotherapy - clients typically notice improvement after three to six sessions, which are usually spaced one to two weeks apart.

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Find out if prolotherapy or neural prolotherapy is right for you

If you are considering treatment options and want to explore whether prolotherapy or neural prolotherapy could be suitable for your needs, we encourage you to book an appointment today. Our team can help assess your individual situation and guide you toward the most appropriate therapy for your condition.​​