At the Centeno-Schultz Clinic stability is a central theme. The importance of stability is discussed in Ortho 2.0. The integrity of a joint is directly related to its stability. Joint instability predisposes to additional injury and acceleration of the degenerative process.
Stability is the foundation or structural support of a joint. A crumbling or weak foundation can not support a tall structure. Instability can not support an active, healthy joint.
At the Centeno-Schultz Clinic prolotherapy is an effective treatment for joint instability. Prolotherapy is regenerative injection procedure where a chemical irritant is used to cause a chemical micro-injury. The irritant stimulates the body’s healing mechanism to repair and strengthen the degenerative and weakened tissues. Prolotherapy initiates a three stage healing process:
Inflammatory: occurs within the first week characterized by increased blood flow and swelling.
Fibroblastic: 1-6 weeks with fbroblasts creating new collagen and repairing injured tissue.
Maturation: after 6 weeks characterized by stronger, more organized tissue.
Clinical examples where prolotherapy can be used to create stability include:
Supra and interspinous ligaments in lumbar spine.
Tendinosis & tendonitis of rotator cuff.
Lateral and medial epicondylitis.
Antibiotic induced tendon damage.
ACL laxity or small tears. Autologous stem cell therapy has been successfully used in full thickness tears in the ACL.
Stability is critical and prolotherapy is an effective therapy to stabilize a joint.
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