Further Evidence For Prolotherapy and Tennis Elbow
Further Evidence For Prolotherapy, PRP Prolotherapy and Tennis Elbow
NSAIDs and Cortisone Ineffective for Tennis Elbow
From a Prolotherapy standpoint, NSAIDS, cortisone shots and rest are the worst treatments for tennis elbow. This tendinopathy involves degenerative changes and disorganized collagen fibers. In other words the connective tissue in the elbow joint is damaged and needs regeneration. NSAIDs and cortisone block all blood flow to the injured area making it difficult for the connective tissue to heal. In contrast, Prolotherapy induces inflammation to bring blood flow with healing factors to the injured site. Prolotherapy for tennis elbow has been proven again and again as a successful treatment.
Alternative Therapies for Tennis Elbow
We recently ran across an article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine that showed even more evidence for Prolotherapy treatment for tennis elbow. This specific article performed a review of numerous studies on various injection studies for tennis elbow. The four injection therapies reviewed were Prolotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), autologous whole blood and polidocanol injection therapies. Dextrose Prolotherapy and PRP Prolotherapy are two injection therapies that we use here at Caring Medical so we were most interested in these findings.
Evidence for Prolotherapy and PRP for Tennis Elbow
Of the studies reviewed, the participants were aged 19-66 and had tennis elbow for as little as two months up to as long as eight years! These participants were non-elite athletes and were injured from work or recreation. The findings for Prolotherapy were positive. When compared to a normal saline solution, Prolotherapy produced a 94% decrease in pain two years after the treatments ceased. The control group only reached 22% pain reduction. Other studies showed an increase in strength and a decrease in the structural defects of the connective tissue. Most of the Prolotherapy studies had the participants undergo three Prolotherapy treatments. PRP Prolotherapy also showed positive results. After just one treatment 81% of participants had improvement in pain one month after treatment and two years after treatment there was a 93% reduction in pain. The control group had only 17% reduction in pain.
Once again, research is backing up what Caring Medical has known for years – Prolotherapy is an effective treatment for tennis elbow. If you are plagued with this injury, don’t waste your time on traditional treatments. Contact us today to find out more on Prolotherapy for your specific injury.
References:
1. Creaney L, Wallace A, Curtis M, Connell D. Growth factor-based therapies provide additional benefit beyond physical therapy in resistant elbow tendinopathy: a prospective, single-blind, randomised trial of autologous blood injections versus platelet-rich plasma injections. Br J Sports Med. 2011 Sep;45(12):966-71. Epub 2011 Mar 15.
