Prolotherapy E-newsletter: Medical Research and Prolotherapy

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Medical Research and Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is effective because it attacks and eliminates the root cause of chronic pain: ligament and tendon relaxation. Ligament relaxation causes joints to loosen. A weak ligament will have difficulty holding a joint in place. The nerve fibers within the weakened ligament are activated and cause local pain.

They may also cause a referred pain. The muscles surrounding the loose ligament contract to help stabilize the joint-the reason why people with loose ligaments and chronic pain have tight, painful muscles. Only when the weakened ligaments are strengthened will the local and referred pain patterns, as well as the muscle pain, subside. The same is true for tendon weakness.

The Research of George Hackett, M.D.
Although chronic pain has many causes, the vast majority of chronic pain sufferers have loose joints caused by ligament weakness. This is evidenced by George S. Hackett, M.D.'s research study described in the third edition of his book, Ligament and Tendon Relaxation Treated by Prolotherapy, published in 1958. The study consisted of the following:

- sample size: 656 patients
- patient age range: 15 to 88 years old
- duration of pain prior to treatment: three months to 65 years
- average duration of pain prior to treatment: four-and-a-half years
- duration of study: 19 years
- number of Prolotherapy injections given: 18,000

Twelve years after the Prolotherapy treatment was completed, 82 percent of the patients considered themselves cured. Dr Hackett believed that the cure rate with Prolotherapy was over 90 percent due to improvements in the technique over the years.

In 1955, Dr. Hackett analyzed 146 consecutive cases of undiagnosed low back disability during a two-month period. He found that 94 percent of the patients experienced joint ligament relaxation. In 1956, a similar survey of 124 consecutive cases of undiagnosed low back disability revealed that 97 percent of patients possessed joint instability from ligament weakness. The sacroiliac ligaments were involved in 75 percent of the low back ligament laxity cases. The lumbosacral ligaments were involved in 54 percent. He also noted that approximately 50 percent had already undergone back surgery for a previous diagnosis of a disc problem.

At this time, Prolotherapy produced an 80 percent cure rate even though 50 percent of the people treated had undergone back surgery. Obviously, the surgical procedures did not relieve the patients' back pain. Rarely does a disc problem cause disabling back pain. Chronic pain in the lower back is most commonly due to ligament weakness-the reason Prolotherapy is so effective.

Dr. Hackett attributed ineffective response to Prolotherapy to:
1)     inability to clearly confirm the diagnosis by the injection of a local anesthetic solution,
2)     failure of the patient to return for completion of the treatment,
3)     treatment in the presence of another disability,
4)     a less refined technique and less experience in the earlier studies,
5)     lowered morale from years of suffering and disappointment from unsuccessful treatments and
        dependence on prescription pain medications, and,
6)     nonresponsiveness to the stimulation of proliferation.

Prolotherapy works because it causes ligament and tendon growth. Dr. Hackett used Sylnasol, a sodium salt fatty acid, as a proliferant in his original work. Animals were given between one and three injections of the proliferating solution into the tendon and the fibro-osseous junction. There was no necrosis (dead tissue) noted in any of the specimens. No destruction of nerves, blood vessels, or tendinous bands was noted. Compared to noninjected tendons, tendons treated with Prolotherapy showed a 40 percent increase in diameter. The fibro-osseous junction, where the tendon attaches to bone, increased by 30 percent, forming permanent tendon tissue.

Dr. Hackett believed the 40 percent increase in diameter of the tendon represented a doubling of the tendon strength.

The Research of Gustav A. Hemwall, M.D.
Gustav A. Hemwall, M.D., learned the technique of Prolotherapy from Dr. Hackett and then proceeded to treat more than 10,000 patients worldwide. He collected data on 8,000 of those patients. In 1974, Dr. Hemwall presented his largest survey of 2,007 Prolotherapy patients to the Prolotherapy Association.

The survey related the following:

- 1,871 patients completed treatment

- 6,000 Prolotherapy treatments were administered

- 1,399 (75.5 percent) patients reported complete recovery and cure

- 413 (24.3 percent) reported general improvement

- 25 (0.2 percent) patients showed no improvement

- 170 patients were lost to follow-up

More than 99 percent of the patients who completed treatment with Prolotherapy found relief from their chronic pain.

These results are similar to those published by Dr. Hackett, showing that Prolotherapy is completely curative in many cases and provides some pain relief in nearly all.

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Ross Hauser, M.D. Dr. Hauser received his M.D. from the University of Illinois, Chicago; completed his residency at Loyola-Hines VA-Marianjoy Hospitals in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Hauser is the Medical Director and co-founder of the physician-run, comprehensive natural medicine clinic, Caring Medical & Rehabilitation Services in Oak Park, Illinois. Dr. Hauser is one of the leading experts in the treatment of chronic pain and sports injuries with Prolotherapy. He, along with his wife Marion, have written seven books on the topic of Prolotherapy, a comprehensive book on the natural medicine approach to cancer, as well as a myriad of articles and newsletters for the general public. Read more Ask A QUESTION
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The information on this website is presented as information only and not a self-help guide NOR AS SPECIFIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS. Never alter or change your health management or begin any new health plans without first consulting your personal health care provider. Some statements on this site regarding the value of nutritional supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

As with any medical technique, Prolotherapy may not be effective for every individual and there are risks involved, these risks should be discussed with your physician. Results achieved with some may not be typical of all. Please consult a physician. Please read Prolotherapy Risks

There is no known cure for arthritis. Prolotherapy and nutritional supplements can help alleviate, reverse, or end arthritic pain by treating an underlying cause that contributes to degenerative disease, ligament laxity. Strengthening ligaments and other connective tissue can help prevent bone on bone arthritis from developing.

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