Elbow Pain, Golfer's and Tennis Elbow Respond Well to Prolotherapy Treatments

The elbow is a strong hinge joint that allows flexion and rotation of the forearm. It also is the origin for most of the muscle of the wrist and hand, so is important for function of the arm. Three bones (humerus, radius and ulna) come together at the elbow joint, and where all three bones connect is called the “condyle”. The areas around this connection is called the “epicondyle” (“epi” is Greek for “over” or near”) . A common type of elbow diagnosis is “epicondylitis” (“itis” meaning inflammation), with the portion facing the inside of the body “medial”, or the outside of the body “lateral”. Attached at the condyles are tendons of muscles which connect to the wrist and either flex or extend it. Therefore another common diagnosis is “flexor” or “extensor” Tendinitis depending on which side of the elbow the problem is on (flexor tendons are medial, extensor tendons are lateral). Typically when there is an issue with inflammation of these tendons and the tendon does not heal, it will flip over into “tendonosis”, which is a non-healing condition of the tendon. It is not inflamed anymore but is also not trying to heal, rather the collagen fibers are not repairing faster than they are breaking down so it is considered a degenerative condition. Dextrose Prolotherapy, PRP Prolotherapy and Biocellular Prolotherapy can help with: medial or lateral epicondylitis (golfers or tennis elbow), extensor or flexor tendinitis/tendonosis or tears, and ulnar collateral or radial collateral ligament tears. Other ligaments around the elbow joint are the annular ligament and the distal biceps and these can also be treated.

An x-ray image of elbow antatomy superimposed on a male model
Several areas around the elbow cause the symptoms of Tennis and Golfer's Elbow. The ligaments connecting the bones can also be affected.

Dextrose

The effect of dextrose prolotherapy on pain in chronic lateral epicondylitis (2021)
This study showed a significant improvement in patients with elbow pain treated with dextrose prolotherapy, and concluded that prolotherapy is a highly successful and dependable treatment technique.


Platelet-Rich Plasma

Can use of PRP in chronic elbow tendinitis avoid surgery (2018)
PRP treatment to patients with chronic elbow tendinitis allowed 95% of them to avoid surgery in this small clinical study.


Biocellular (Stem Cell-Rich) Prolotherapy

Promising improvement of chronic lateral elbow tendinopathy by using adipose derived mesenchymal stromal cells (2021)
Tennis players with chronic elbow pain showed significant clinical improvement and structural repair after injection of autologous adipose stem cells.


For additional scientific papers and resources on prolotherapy for elbow conditions visit the Learning Hub

Patient Success Stories 

“By my third treatment I had regained 85% mobility/strength and by April I was up to 95% which was when I received my last treatment.”

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“I almost feel 100% better thanks to Prolotherapy.”

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“Now the pain is completely gone”

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“I didn’t think it would ever get better but Prolotherapy helped tremendously”

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“By getting Prolotherapy I don’t have any pain in my elbow or shoulder and when I do it is very weak”

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“Prior to Prolotherapy, I was seen by two orthopedic surgeons; had two MRIs done; got a cortisone shot; and underwent a month of physical therapy. When none of these treatments improved my elbow pain, I thought that I would have to live with the disabled elbow the rest of my life… Now it is at 95% and getting better every day.”

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“The therapy worked great. Nothing else I tried worked.”

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“After four sessions I am able to use my elbow as much as I want”

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“My Prolotherapy experience was wonderful!”

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“After being in pain for so long and fearing I might have to leave a career I love, I was ready to begin!”

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“I was told by workers comp that the only solution was surgery, thankfully though I found Prolotherapy and now I can continue on with my life.”

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