What Is Prolotherapy? Invented in the 1950s by George Hackett,
prolotherapy is based on the theory that chronic pain is often
caused by laxness of the ligaments that are responsible for
keeping a joint stable. When ligaments and associated tendons
are loose, the body is said to compensate by using muscles to
stabilize the joint. The net result, according to prolotherapy
theory, is muscle spasms and pain. Prolotherapy treatment
involves injections of chemical irritant solutions into the area
around such ligaments. These solutions are believed to cause
tissue to proliferate (grow), increasing the strength and
thickness of ligaments. In turn, this presumably serves to
tighten up the joint and relieve the burden on associated
muscles, stopping muscle spasms. In the case of arthritic
joints, increased ligament strength would allow the joint to
function more efficiently, thus reducing pain. Prolotherapy has
not been widely accepted in conventional medicine. The technique
is used by prolotherapy practitioners to tre