Prolotherapy
Stimulate natural tissue repair
Gabriel can help you find the right clinic and decide if this is a fit before you book.
During the visit
Comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment and imaging review
Injection of proliferant solution (usually dextrose) into weakened ligaments/tendons
Multiple injection sites per session to address the entire joint complex
Temporary increase in pain/stiffness for 2-7 days (healing inflammation)
Duration
30-45 minutes
Starting at
$300
Practitioner access
Ask Gabriel
Category
Regenerative Medicine
About this treatment
What this treatment is designed to do
Prolotherapy (proliferative therapy) involves injecting a mild irritant solution (typically dextrose) into damaged ligaments, tendons, or joints to trigger the body's natural healing cascade. Unlike cortisone injections that suppress inflammation, prolotherapy intentionally creates controlled micro-inflammation that stimulates collagen production, tissue strengthening, and structural repair.
The injected solution causes localized inflammation that attracts growth factors, fibroblasts, and healing cells to the area. Over weeks to months, new collagen fibers form and tighten, stabilizing loose joints and strengthening damaged connective tissue. The result is long-term structural improvement rather than temporary symptom relief.
Prolotherapy is particularly effective for chronic joint instability, ligament laxity, tendon tears, and arthritis. Developed by Dr. George Hackett in the 1950s, it has been refined over decades and is now used by integrative physicians, orthopedists, and sports medicine practitioners worldwide.
Visit flow
What happens during the session
Comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment and imaging review
Injection of proliferant solution (usually dextrose) into weakened ligaments/tendons
Multiple injection sites per session to address the entire joint complex
Temporary increase in pain/stiffness for 2-7 days (healing inflammation)
Progressive strengthening over 4-6 weeks
Series of 3-6 treatments spaced 3-6 weeks apart
Best for
Why people usually choose this
People with chronic joint instability or laxity
Those with partial ligament or tendon tears
Individuals with chronic pain from old injuries
Athletes with overuse injuries
Key outcomes
What people hope to improve
Permanent strengthening of ligaments and tendons
Reduced chronic joint pain and instability
Alternative to surgery for many conditions
Stimulates natural collagen production
Gabriel intelligence
How Gabriel makes this treatment more actionable
Treatment fit
Root-cause context before you book
Gabriel can help decide whether prolotherapy fits your symptoms, labs, and recovery goals before you spend money on a session.
Protocol pairing
Connect sessions to a real plan
Gabriel can pair this with diagnostics, supplements, peptides, and follow-up cadence so it fits into a real protocol instead of sitting in isolation.
Practitioner match
Find the right clinic, not just the nearest one
Gabriel uses trust, treatment fit, and modality overlap to surface practitioners who are more likely to be a strong match for this exact treatment path.
Evidence & safety
What to know before committing
Prolotherapy has been studied for over 70 years with research supporting its use for chronic musculoskeletal pain, particularly low back pain and osteoarthritis. Systematic reviews show positive outcomes for joint pain and function. When performed by trained physicians, it's very safe. Risks include temporary pain increase, rare infection, or nerve irritation. Much safer than surgery with comparable or better long-term outcomes for appropriate conditions.
Related treatments
Similar treatments people compare next
Use these when you want adjacent options in the same category before deciding what to book.
Not sure if this treatment is the right next move?
Tell Gabriel what you are dealing with and what you have already tried. You will get a more useful answer than a generic treatment directory can give.