Education only · provider review required
Prolotherapy · Dextrose injections for ligaments and tendons
An old technique with modest evidence and a lot of enthusiasm.
Medically reviewed by Bernard Garcia, MD
What it is
Prolotherapy injects an irritant solution — usually dextrose — into ligaments, tendons or joints to provoke a healing response. It is not an FDA-regulated drug (dextrose is approved for other uses); it is a procedure with a long history and mixed evidence.
How it works
The irritant is proposed to trigger inflammation and repair. Small trials suggest benefit for knee osteoarthritis and some chronic tendon and back-pain conditions; larger, better-controlled evidence is lacking.
Research status
| Research area | Status |
|---|---|
| Knee osteoarthritis | Small positive trials |
| Chronic low-back pain | Mixed |
| Tendinopathy | Small studies |
| Comparison with PRP / steroid | Cheaper; evidence weaker than steroid, comparable to PRP in some studies |
Status reflects published research context only and is not a statement of safety, efficacy, or suitability for any person.
Is it legal?
Prolotherapy is a procedure using approved solutions off-label; it is not itself FDA-reviewed. This is a general note, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is it the same as PRP?
No. PRP uses your own platelets; prolotherapy uses a dextrose solution. Both aim to provoke repair.
Does Vitrex provide it?
No.
Why include it?
It appears in recovery conversations next to research peptides, and it has more human evidence than most of them.
Next step
Next step: a 3-minute confidential intake, reviewed by a licensed provider. No treatment is promised or implied.
Free · about 10 minutes · reviewed by a licensed physician
General education · Not medical advice · Provider approval required