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MISSION IS TO EDUCATE THE WORLD ON THE LIFE-CHANGING EFFECTS
OF PROLOTHERAPY |
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Fantastic Findings
A Retrospective Study on Dextrose
Prolotherapy for Unresolved Knee
Pain at an Outpatient Charity Clinic
in Rural Illinois
Ross A. Hauser, MD
& Marion A. Hauser, MS, RD
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abstract
The optimal long-term, symptomatic therapy for unresolved
knee pain has not been established. Accordingly, we
investigated the outcomes of patients undergoing Hackett-Hemwall
dextrose Prolotherapy treatment for unresolved knee
pain at a charity clinic in rural Illinois. We studied
a sample of 80 patients, representing a total of 119
knees, that were treated quarterly with Prolotherapy.
On average, 15 months following their last Prolotherapy
session, patients were contacted and asked numerous
questions in regard to their levels of pain and a variety
of physical and psychological symptoms, as well as
activities of daily living, before and after their
last Prolotherapy treatment. The results of this study
showed that patients had a statistically significant
decline in their level of pain, stiffness, crunching
sensation, and improvement in their range of motion
with Prolotherapy. More than 82% showed improvements
in walking ability, medication usage, athletic ability,
anxiety, depression, and overall disability with Prolotherapy.
Ninety-six percent of patients felt Prolotherapy improved
their life overall. Conclusion: In this study, patients
with unresolved knee pain, treated with dextrose Prolotherapy,
showed improvements in many clinically relevant parameters
and overall quality of life.
Journal of Prolotherapy. 2009;1:11-21.
KEYWORDS: anxiety, crunching, depression, knee
pain, medication, Prolotherapy, range of motion,
retrospective study, stiffness. |
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introduction
The optimal long-term, symptomatic therapy for
unresolved knee pain has not been established. Accordingly,
we investigated the outcomes
of patients undergoing Hackett-Hemwall dextrose Prolotherapy
treatment for unresolved knee pain at a charity clinic
in rural Illinois. Knee pain is a common
problem facing many patients, presenting in up to 20%
of
the adult population.1 Currently in the U.S., osteoarthritis
of the knee results in chronic knee pain in approximately
17 million people.2 According to the American Academy
of Orthopaedic Surgeons, between the years 1998
and 2005, the number of knee replacements doubled,
resulting in an estimated 533,808 procedures done in
the
year 2005.3 By the year 2030, this number is projected
to
be 3.48 million.4 With this one form of surgery already
accruing over $17 billion in hospitalization charges
in
2005, and 90% of these needing to be repeated in 10
years, we suggest that the Hackett-Hemwall dextrose
Prolotherapy technique for treating the injured knee
is a
safe, effective, and less expensive solution to a portion
of
this rising trend.5,6
Prolotherapy is becoming a widespread
form of pain
management in both complementary and allopathic medicine.7,8,9,10 Its primary use is in pain management
associated with tendinopathies and ligament sprains
in
peripheral joints.11,12,13 Prolotherapy is also being
used in
the treatment of spine and joint degenerative arthritis.14,15 In double-blinded human studies, the evidence on the
effectiveness of Prolotherapy has been considered promising,
but mixed.16,17,18 Prolotherapy treatments are now
done at some major medical centers and universities.19,20
George
S. Hackett, MD, Prolotherapy pioneer, coined the term
Prolotherapy in the 1930s.21 As he described it, “The
treatment consists of the injection of a solution within
the relaxed ligament and tendon which will stimulate
the production of new fibrous tissue and bone
cells that will strengthen the ‘weld’ of fibrous tissue
and bone to stabilize the articulation and permanently
eliminate the disability.”22 Animal studies have shown
that Prolotherapy induces the production of new collagen
by stimulating the normal inflammatory reaction.23,24 In
addition, animal studies have shown improvements in
ligament and tendon diameter and strength.25,26 Human
studies have shown improvements in pain symptoms.27,28 |
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