Recent basic science and clinical research suggest several ways ways in which dextrose ca reduce pain, improve overall function, and more. of injury and inflammation eventually resolves. Injuries, such as a sprained liga-ment, a twisted knee, whiplash, or repetitive movements can tear or fray these cable-like structures of ligaments and tendons. The injury typically causes some local inflammation, and the repair process is initiated. If the healing process is completely success-ful, the ligaments or tendons will be restored to their normal strength and length, and you can return to your normal activities. If this healing pro-cess does not completely work, the ligaments or tendons may remain in a stretched or weakened state. This www.Cndoctor.ca “stretched out condition may cause pain and discomfort with movement or result in joint instability. Chronic ligament or tendon damage also can cause the surrounding muscles to tighten up and cause additional pain. In chronic damage, there is a dis-ruption of the normal parallel arrange-ment of the collagen fibres. iii, iv Persis-tently injured ligaments and tendons may have 30-40% fewer collagen fi-bres, and the fibres are in disarray or unorganized. Electron microscopic studies have demonstrated that degenerative liga-ments and tendons do not contain cells of inflammation. Studies have shown that sometime between 4-10 weeks after a tendon or ligament in-jury, there is no longer inflammation present. The resulting ligament or tendon is degenerated, weakened, and overstretched. Pain is still experienced, not because of inflammation, but be-cause of the degenerative process. With prolotherapy, there is no sig-nificant damage, because there is no stretching or tearing of fibres, but the body still begins a repair process, which allows the structure to become stronger and tighter rather than first becoming weaker and looser. Unlike injections of corticosteroids, which also suppress inflammation and Photo credit: © romaset / Adobe Stock March/April 2021 Chiropractic and Naturopathic Doctor 19
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor March/April 2021: Page 19
