Prolotherapy: An effective treatment for low back pain?

Is prolotherapy an effective treatment for chronic low back pain?

- Dorothy / Michigan

Mayo Clinic neurologist Jerry Swanson, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

Prolotherapy (also called sclerotherapy) involves injecting painful ligaments and tendons with sugar solutions that are intended to stimulate production of connective tissue. The theory is that prolotherapy can strengthen these ligaments and tendons, and reduce pain. Studies of prolotherapy have reported conflicting evidence regarding its effectiveness in treating chronic back pain.

A review of five well-designed studies involving 366 participants concluded that prolotherapy alone was ineffective in treating chronic low back pain. However, when combined with other treatments — such as spinal manipulation and exercise — prolotherapy may improve chronic low back pain.

A typical course of prolotherapy treatment is six to 10 sessions, sometimes with multiple injections at each session. Prolotherapy is known to cause some pain at the injection site, but this is typically mild and temporary. As with any injection, there is a risk of infection, bruising, bleeding or tissue damage.

More research is needed to clarify what role, if any, prolotherapy plays in the treatment of chronic low back pain.