Dextrose prolotherapy is effective treatment for some spinal pain

Dextrose prolotherapy is an effective treatment for some forms of chronic musculoskeletal pain, according to a new review of the evidence published in Clinical Medicine Insights.

Dextrose prolotherapy is when sugar water is injected into a damaged area as an irritant to stimulate mild inflammation, which tricks the body into thinking the area is injured and to begin healing again.

A total of 14 trials, one case-control study and 18 case reports were reviewed by experts. Use of dextrose prolotherapy was supported for the treatment of:

• Spinal and pelvic pain due to ligament dysfunction;
• Tendinopathies;
• Knee and finger joint osteoarthritis.

But its success in acute pain and in myofascial pain (a chronic pain disorder) cannot be determined from the literature.

Click here to read the original research.  

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