Prolozone^TM Therapy

Prolozone^TM is derived from the word ozone and the Latin word “proli”which means to regenerate or rebuild. It literally means rebuilding tissues with ozone. It is important to understand what the word Prolozone^TM actually means. “Prolo” is short for proliferation, because the treatment causes the proliferation (growth, formation) of new ligament tissue in areas where it has become weak.

Ligaments are the structural “rubber bands” that hold bones to bones in joints – acting like the body's shock absorbers. Ligaments can become weak or injured and may not heal back to their original strength or endurance. Ligaments also will not tighten on their own to their original length once injured. This is largely because the blood supply to ligaments is limited, and therefore healing is slow and not always complete. To further complicate this, ligaments also have many nerve endings, and therefore the person will feel pain at the areas where the ligaments are damaged or loose.

Prolozone^TM therapy involves the injection of ozone into soft tissues, ligaments, and tendons. This causes a localized inflammation in these weak areas, which then increases the blood supply and flow of nutrients, the blastic stimulation of anabolic cells such as fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and chondroblasts. These effects stimulate the tissue to repair itself, strengthening and tightening and thereby stabilizing the area.

Another largely unrecognized phenomenon that all painful areas of the body have in common is that because of trauma and/or inflammation, the energy producing mechanisms of the cells of the affected area have become blunted to the point that they are no longer able to generate enough energy to maintain an adequate cell membrane potential. Because of their decreased ability to produce adequate amounts of energy, they are constantly producing excessive amounts of lactic acid which results in chronic pain.

These cells are not dead, but they are in a state of shock, and they may well stay in this state for years before they recover. Indeed, they may never recover! Prolozone^TM is an injection technique that targets the soft tissues of the body, and supplies the oxidative stimulus that is needed to bring them back into a positive state of energy production adequate to re-establish a healthy membrane potential and thereby eliminate lactic acidosis. The response to treatment varies from individual to individual, and depends upon one's healing ability. Some people may only need one treatment while others may need as many as ten.

Conditions That Can Be Treated With Prolozone^TM Therapy

Chronic pain resulting from injuries to ligaments and tendons of the appendicular skeleton has long been well recognized. However, because they cannot be visualized on x-rays, injuries to ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues of the body have been largely ignored as a potential source of chronic pain. The treatment is equally excellent for many different types of musculo-skeletal pain, including neck pain, unresolved whiplash, degenerated or herniated discs, carpal tunnel syndrome, torn tendons, TMJ syndrome, sciatica, heel spurs, neuromas, tennis elbow, rotator cuff tears, knee injuries, and virtually any other sports injury.

How Did Prolozone^TM Develop?

Historical review shows that a version of this technique was first used by Hippocrates on soldiers with dislocated, torn shoulder joints. He would stick a hot poker into the front of the joint, and it would then miraculously heal normally. Of course, hot pokers are not in use today, but the principle is essentially the same – stimulate the body to repair itself through the use of controlled irritation. The injection of “proliferating” agents first began in the 1830's, when potent chemical irritants were used to treat hernias non-surgically. Prolozone^TM in one form or another has been used in Europe for over 40 years, and over the past ten years has been studied and improved to its current level by Dr. Shallenberger.

How Does It Work?

A mixture of ozone, procaine, vitamin B12 and other homeopathic preparations are injected into soft tissues and/or ligaments or tendons where they attach to the bone. This causes a localized inflammation and anabolic effect in these weak areas, which then increases the blood supply, and stimulates the deposition of fibroblasts, the cells which the body uses to repair damaged connective tissue. The high level of reactivity found in the unstable third atom of oxygen present in ozone, seems to initiate just the right level of inflammation, which when combined with the innate safety of ozone, makes it the ideal proliferating agent.

Although other proliferating agents can and have been used, ozone has three distinct advantages over these agents. First, it is more gentle and causes less pain. Secondly, since it is a gas, it diffuses into the treated area more effectively, and is more likely to “find” the area of laxity. Hence, it will greatly improve the batting average of even the most proficient therapist. Lastly, there are no side effects with ozone, making it much more user friendly than other sclerosing substances.

Once injected, ozone causes a local reaction or inflammation. The fibroblasts which are attracted to the irritated area then begin to lay down the collagen which will form new ligament or tendon tissue. Following the injection, the patient may be a little sore for a few days, although this is usually uncommon. Because the inflammation produced is very important for the healing process, it is important that the patient does not use any anti-inflammatory medications during the 48 hours after the injection. For the same reason, areas that have been previously treated with steroid or cortisone injections cannot be treated with Prolozone^TM until these injections have worn off.

The injection process is repeated every 1 – 2 weeks. Patients should expect significant results after the first or second treatments. This is in distinction from classical sclerosing agents which often require from 5 – 10 painful treatments in order to see substantial results. The good thing about Prolozone^TM therapy is that the results actually represent a permanent fix. However, the patient may need a “booster” injection every year or so after the initial series. When Prolozone^TM therapy is administered correctly, there is a 85% chance for the chronic pain sufferer to becoming completely pain free.

For more information, please visit www.antiagingmedicine.com/procedures.htm