Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy/Regenerative Injection Therapy

When pain becomes persistent, it’s often a sign that the injured tissue hasn’t fully healed. While muscles usually recover well because they have a rich blood supply, ligaments and tendons heal much more slowly. These tissues receive less blood flow, making it more difficult for your body to repair them completely after an injury.

Prolotherapy, also known as Regenerative Injection Therapy, is designed to stimulate your body’s own healing response. Rather than simply managing symptoms, prolotherapy encourages the repair and strengthening of damaged connective tissue, helping improve stability, function, and long-term comfort.

At ProActive Health Group, prolotherapy is performed by our Naturopathic Doctor following a comprehensive assessment to determine whether it is the right treatment for your condition and goals.

What Is Prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is a regenerative injection treatment that involves injecting a carefully prepared solution of dextrose (a natural sugar solution) combined with a local anesthetic into injured or weakened ligaments, tendons, joint capsules, or other connective tissues.

The injection creates a controlled healing response that signals your body to begin repairing the treated area. As healing progresses, your body produces new collagen—the primary building block of ligaments and tendons—which helps strengthen the tissue and improve joint stability.

Over time, stronger connective tissue can lead to:

• Reduced pain
• Improved joint stability
• Better mobility
• Increased strength and function
• Greater confidence returning to everyday activities and sport

Rather than forcing healing, prolotherapy works by encouraging your body to do what it was designed to do—repair itself.

Why Do Ligaments and Tendons Matter?

When people think about pain, they often assume the problem lies within the muscles. In reality, many painful conditions involve the connective tissues that support our joints.

Ligaments connect bone to bone and provide stability.

Tendons connect muscle to bone and allow movement.

When these tissues become stretched, weakened, or injured, they may not heal completely on their own. This can result in ongoing discomfort, reduced function, repeated injuries, or a feeling that a joint is unstable or “gives out.”

By supporting the repair of these structures, prolotherapy aims to improve how the joint functions—not just how it feels.

Conditions Prolotherapy May Help Treat

Prolotherapy may be considered for a variety of acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, including:

Neck Pain

Persistent neck pain, ligament strain, whiplash injuries, and reduced stability.

Back Pain

Chronic low back pain, sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction, and ligament injuries affecting spinal stability.

Shoulder Pain

Rotator cuff injuries, shoulder instability, tendon injuries, and chronic shoulder discomfort.

Elbow Pain

Tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and chronic tendon irritation.

Wrist & Hand Pain

Ligament injuries, repetitive strain injuries, and chronic joint pain.

Hip Pain

Hip instability, tendon injuries, gluteal tendinopathy, and chronic hip discomfort.

Knee Pain

Ligament sprains, tendon injuries, osteoarthritis-related joint instability, and chronic knee pain.

Ankle & Foot Pain

Recurring ankle sprains, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, and ligament injuries.

Sports Injuries

Prolotherapy may also benefit athletes experiencing chronic or recurrent injuries that involve ligaments or tendons.

Every patient is unique, and a comprehensive assessment is necessary to determine whether prolotherapy is an appropriate treatment option.

How Does Prolotherapy Work?

When connective tissue is injured, the body naturally initiates an inflammatory healing response.

This inflammation is not something to fear—it’s an essential part of tissue repair.

Prolotherapy creates a carefully controlled version of this response by introducing a small amount of dextrose solution into the injured tissue. This encourages the body to:

• Increase blood flow to the area
• Recruit healing cells
• Stimulate collagen production
• Strengthen weakened ligaments and tendons
• Improve tissue integrity over time

As the tissue becomes stronger, the joint often becomes more stable, allowing it to move more efficiently and comfortably.

Because prolotherapy stimulates your body’s natural healing mechanisms, improvements often continue gradually between treatments.

What Are the Benefits of Prolotherapy?

Many patients choose prolotherapy because it focuses on supporting healing rather than simply masking discomfort.

Potential benefits include:

• Stimulates the body’s natural healing response
• Encourages collagen production
• Strengthens weakened ligaments and tendons
• Improves joint stability
• Helps reduce chronic pain
• Improves mobility and function
• Supports long-term recovery
• May reduce recurring injuries
• Non-surgical treatment option
• Minimal downtime
• Can complement other treatments such as physiotherapy, chiropractic care, rehabilitation exercises, and massage therapy

What Happens During Treatment?

Your first visit begins with a detailed consultation and assessment.

Your naturopathic doctor will review:

• Your medical history
• Previous injuries
• Imaging (if available)
• Current symptoms
• Functional limitations
• Your goals for recovery

If prolotherapy is appropriate, the injection is carefully placed into the injured tissue using precise anatomical landmarks.

The procedure itself typically takes only a few minutes.

Most patients tolerate treatment well, and a local anesthetic is included to improve comfort during the injection.

What Should I Expect After Treatment?

It is common to experience temporary soreness, stiffness, or mild swelling for a few days following treatment.

This is a normal part of the healing process and indicates that your body has begun responding to the injection.

Your naturopathic doctor will provide individualized aftercare instructions, which may include temporary activity modifications and guidance on when to resume exercise.

Because prolotherapy relies on your body’s own healing processes, improvements usually occur gradually over several weeks.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

Every injury heals differently.

The number of treatments depends on several factors, including:

• The location of the injury
• How long the condition has been present
• The severity of tissue damage
• Your overall health and healing capacity
• Your activity level

Many patients benefit from a series of 3 to 6 treatments, typically spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, although some conditions may require fewer or additional sessions.

Your treatment plan will be personalized based on your progress throughout your care.

Is Prolotherapy Right For You?

Prolotherapy may be a good option if you:

• Have persistent joint or tendon pain
• Experience recurring sprains or injuries
• Feel like a joint is unstable
• Want to support your body’s natural healing process
• Are looking for a non-surgical treatment option
• Want to complement your current rehabilitation program

The best way to determine whether prolotherapy is right for you is through a comprehensive assessment with our naturopathic doctor.

Why Choose ProActive Health Group?

At ProActive Health Group, we believe the best outcomes come from collaborative care.

Our naturopathic doctor works closely with our chiropractors, physiotherapists, massage therapists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure your treatment plan is tailored to your individual needs. If prolotherapy is appropriate, it can become one part of a comprehensive approach designed to help you recover, move better, and stay active.

Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing chronic pain, or hoping to improve your quality of life, our team is here to help you find the right path forward.

Interested in learning more? Book a consultation today to find out if prolotherapy is the right fit for your recovery.