Prolotherapy
Stimulating the body’s natural healing response
Offered at Dr. Barsoom Pain & Migraine Practice
Prolotherapy is a minimally invasive injection treatment used to support healing in chronically injured ligaments, tendons, and joints.
It may be considered when pain persists despite physiotherapy, medications, or activity modification.
Book a Consultation
Appointments are available by referral from a physician or nurse practitioner.
What is Prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy is a non-surgical, regenerative injection treatment used to treat chronic joint pain, ligament laxity, and tendinopathy by stimulating the body’s natural healing mechanisms. It involves injecting a mild irritant, typically dextrose (sugar water), into weakened or injured connective tissues, such as ligaments or tendons to induce a controlled inflammatory response, strengthening damaged tissue and improving joint function.
Chronic pain in joints is often related to:
• Ligament laxity (looseness)
• Recurrent sprains
• Tendon degeneration
• Joint instability
• Post-injury weakness
Prolotherapy is designed to stimulate the body’s natural healing response in these tissues.
How Does Prolotherapy Work?
Over time, ligaments and tendons may lose strength due to repetitive strain or injury. Unlike acute inflammation, chronic tendon and ligament injuries are often degenerative.
Prolotherapy injections aim to:
• Stimulate a localized healing response
• Support collagen production
• Improve tissue strength
• Enhance joint stability
• Reduce chronic pain
Treatment is targeted to specific anatomical areas identified during examination.
Conditions That May Benefit
Prolotherapy may be considered for:
• Chronic ankle instability
• Recurrent sprains
• Knee ligament laxity
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction
• Chronic low back pain related to ligament weakness
• Tennis elbow
• Chronic tendon injuries
• Post-injury joint pain
Suitability is determined during consultation.
What to Expect
• Performed in-office
• Targeted injections at ligament or tendon attachment sites
• Minimal downtime
• Typically performed as a series of treatments
• Gradual improvement over weeks to months
Response varies depending on condition severity and duration.
Is Prolotherapy Covered by OHIP?
Prolotherapy is not covered by OHIP. Private insurance coverage varies and depends on your specific plan.
How Prolotherapy Differs from Other Injection Therapies
• Corticosteroid injections reduce inflammation.
• Hyaluronic Acid injections improve joint lubrication.
• PRP delivers concentrated growth factors from your own blood.
• Perineural Injection Therapy (PIT) targets irritated superficial nerves.
• Prolotherapy focuses on strengthening weakened ligaments and connective tissue.
Your treatment plan may include one or more of these therapies depending on diagnosis.
When Should Prolotherapy Be Considered?
You may benefit from consultation if:
• Pain recurs after repeated sprains
• Joint feels unstable or “gives way”
• Imaging does not show severe arthritis but symptoms persist
• Conservative measures have not provided sufficient relief