Prolozone Therapy

What is Prolozone Therapy?

Prolozone therapy is a non-surgical treatment for joint and musculoskeletal pain. Treatment involves injecting a medical-grade ozone-oxygen mixture into areas of pain and injury to stimulate the accelerated healing of damaged muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons. Areas of chronic pain tend to be hypoxic (low in oxygen) thus injecting 100% oxygen is a natural way to heal damaged tissue and reduce both inflammation and pain. Growth factors are natural peptides that the body produces to help heal injuries. The ozone in Prolozone injections stimulates an influx of growth factors to accelerate the healing process. Injected into the targeted area, the ozone and oxygen stimulate the body's natural healing mechanisms to:

• Increase blood flow to the injured tissue
• Trigger the production of growth factors that promote tissue repair
• Reduce hypoxia in damaged tissue

Our providers are Prolozone therapy specialists trained directly by Dr. Frank Shallenberger, the preeminent authority on Prolozone in the United States.

Prolozone Injections vs. Cortisone Shots or Pain Medications 

We offer Prolozone therapy for patients who are looking for an alternative to pain medications, invasive therapies, cortisone or steroid shots, and surgery. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, potential side effects of cortisone shots can include:

• Cartilage and bone damage
• Joint infection
• Nerve damage
• Tendon weakening or rupture
• Thinning of nearby bone (osteoporosis)
• Thinning of skin and soft tissue around the injection site

Due to the degeneration and bone and cartilage, the use of cortisone injections can increase the likelihood of needing joint replacement and other invasive surgeries.

It’s understandable to reach for pain medication when you’re in constant pain—but it’s not a sustainable treatment. Consistent use of NSAIDs (like aspirin or ibuprofen) for pain can cause numerous issues including increased risk of heart attacks, ulcers, and kidney damage. Opiate based medications for chronic pain increases risk of bone fractures, cardiovascular disease, and addiction.

Whereas the common potential side effects from a Prolozone injections are:

• Temporary soreness
• Temporary pain
• Temporary sense of fullness at injection area

Conditions Treated with Prolozone Therapy

Prolozone therapy can be effective in treating chronic pain caused by various musculoskeletal conditions, including:

• Arthritis (Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis)
• Ligament sprains and tears
• Tendonitis
• Meniscus tears
• Lower back pain
• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Knee pain
• Sciatica
• Plantar fasciitis
• Rotator cuff partial tears
• Degenerative disc disease
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

If you have any of these conditions or experience musculoskeletal symptoms like pain, inflammation, swelling, or a limited range of joint motion, we can help. Our providers carefully evaluate your symptoms and may order diagnostic imaging tests to confirm your diagnosis. They might prescribe Prolozone therapy by itself or in combination with other pain-relieving and healing strategies. 

Benefits of Prolozone Therapy

Compared to traditional treatments for chronic pain, Prolozone therapy offers several advantages:

• Minimally invasive: No surgery or general anesthesia required.
• Targets the root cause: Addresses underlying tissue damage and hypoxia, not just pain symptoms.
• Promotes natural healing: Encourages the body to repair itself by stimulating growth factor production.
• Long-lasting results: Can provide sustained pain relief.
• Fewer side effects: Generally well-tolerated with minimal risk of complications.

What Can I Expect During a Prolozone Therapy Treatment? 

During your Prolozone therapy appointment at our clinic, you’ll sit comfortably on an exam table. Our provider will first inject a local anesthetic into the injured tissue or joint to reduce pain from the treatment. The next step involves an ozone-oxygen injection to stimulate your body’s natural healing process. 1-4 weeks after treatment, you should notice a decrease in pain and other symptoms. Many people can reduce or stop their use of pain-relieving medications and be more active following Prolozone injections. The team continues to monitor your progress and they may recommend additional injections or complementary therapies based on the severity of your condition to maximize treatment results. 

Optimizing Your Prolozone Treatment: Complementary Therapies

Prolozone therapy offers a powerful approach to chronic pain relief and healing. To maximize its effectiveness, we often combine it with other complementary therapies at our clinic:

• Pre-Treatment: Focused Shockwave Therapy
• This targeted approach uses acoustic waves to penetrate deep tissues (up to 4 inches). It breaks down adhesions (scar tissue) and stimulates healing, creating an optimal environment for Prolozone to regenerate damaged tissue.
• Enhanced Treatment for Severe Cases: PRP & A2M Injections
• For patients with significant pain and tissue damage, we may recommend combining Prolozone with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Alpha-2-Macroglobulin (A2M) injections. This powerful trio provides a more comprehensive approach to tissue repair and pain reduction.
• Post-Treatment Support: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) & Red Light Therapy
• After Prolozone injections, HBOT and red light therapy can significantly enhance healing. HBOT floods the body with oxygen, promoting tissue repair at the injection site and throughout the body. Red light therapy reduces inflammation and further stimulates cellular healing.

By combining Prolozone with these complementary therapies, we can create a personalized treatment plan designed to optimize your healing journey and achieve long-lasting pain relief and healing.

Experience lasting relief from pain and regain joint function.