Prolozone® Therapy
Prolozone® therapy is an alternative, nonsurgical treatment that may be used for all forms of musculoskeletal and joint pain. It involves injection therapy of collagen-producing substances and ozone gas into the patient's connective tissue. Such injections have been shown to result in the reconstruction of damaged tissue. Prolozone therapy is an improvement over traditional prolotherapy because of its use of ozone, a substance that stimulates the body's ability to repair joints. Prolozone is used more commonly in Europe than in the United States.
Reasons for Using Prolozone Therapy
Prolozone is used as a homeopathic remedy for chronic musculoskeletal pain resulting from injury or disease. It is a desirable alternative to more invasive treatment for:
- Degenerated spinal discs
- Chronic back pain due to other causes
- Rotator cuff injury
- Osteoarthritis of the hips and knees
- Shoulder or elbow pain
Prolozone has been shown to have a very high rate of success in permanently relieving chronic pain. It is also sometimes used as an alternative treatment for a wide variety of conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, macular degeneration, cancer, and even dental problems.
How Prolozone Therapy Works
Ligaments, the bands that attach bones to other bones in the joints, have a great many nerve endings, so ligament injury results in intense pain. Once ligaments have been injured, they cannot regain elasticity on their own because they have a limited blood supply. Prolozone permits increased blood flow to the affected area, interrupting the cycle of pain and inflammation. This increased blood flow provides the damaged tissue with improved nutrition and hydration, both of which promote healing. In this way, partially torn connective tissue and ligaments are repaired, increasing range of motion and lessening pain.
In its use for non-musculoskeletal disease conditions, prolozone is believed to increase the antioxidants in the body, helping to fight off invasions by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and even protozoa.
Prolozone Therapy Procedure
There are three simple steps to the prolozone therapy procedure. First, the patient is injected with a local anesthetic combined with a tiny dose of an anti-inflammatory. Sometimes, a drop of corticosteroid is included in this injection. The doctor moves the needle around the injection site to make sure the solution reaches the entire area.
Next, medical ozone is introduced to promote healing. After the injections have been administered, the site is treated with a low level laser beam to strengthen the repair.
Advantages of Prolozone Injection Therapy
There are several advantages to prolozone over conventional prolotherapy, including
- Fewer treatment sessions
- Fewer needle insertions per session
- Increased growth of cartilage
- Less pain at the injection site
Prolozone therapy is also much less costly than traditional prolotherapy.