Prolotherapy in Saskatoon
A treatment option for persistent joint, tendon and ligament pain
Prolotherapy is an injection treatment used for certain musculoskeletal conditions, particularly when pain involves injured or chronically irritated tendons, ligaments or joints.
At Bridgman Clinical, the first step is determining whether prolotherapy is appropriate for your particular injury or source of pain.
What is Prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy is an injection therapy used for certain painful musculoskeletal conditions involving joints, tendons and ligaments.
A prolotherapy solution—most commonly containing dextrose—is injected into carefully selected areas around the painful or injured tissue. The treatment is intended to stimulate a local healing response and may help reduce pain and improve function in appropriately selected patients.
Prolotherapy is not appropriate for every type of joint or musculoskeletal pain. A careful assessment is important to determine the likely source of pain and whether prolotherapy is a reasonable treatment option.
What concerns might prompt a prolotherapy assessment?
Prolotherapy may be considered for certain chronic or recurrent musculoskeletal conditions, particularly when pain is related to injured or irritated ligaments, tendons or joints.
Common areas and conditions that may be assessed for prolotherapy include:
Chronic joint pain, including the knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, elbow and wrist
Tendon injuries, including Achilles, patellar and rotator cuff tendons
Ligament injuries and joint instability
Osteoarthritis in selected cases
Repetitive strain injuries
Persistent pain following sprains or other soft-tissue injuries
Prolotherapy is not suitable for every musculoskeletal condition. A detailed assessment helps determine the likely source of your pain and whether prolotherapy is an appropriate treatment option for your particular situation.
How does prolotherapy treatment work?
The goal of prolotherapy is to address pain arising from structures such as ligaments, tendons and joints by stimulating a localized healing response.
During treatment, a carefully selected solution is injected into the area being treated. Depending on the condition and location, several treatment sessions may be recommended over time.
Many patients seek prolotherapy after symptoms have persisted despite rest, exercise, medications, physiotherapy or other conservative approaches.
Every patient responds differently. The likelihood of improvement depends on factors such as the diagnosis, duration of symptoms, severity of tissue damage, overall health and activity level.
At Bridgman Clinical, prolotherapy is used as part of a broader treatment plan that may also include rehabilitation exercises, lifestyle modifications and other supportive therapies when appropriate.
How the assessment works
One of the most important parts of prolotherapy is identifying where the pain is actually coming from. The source of pain is not always the same as the place where it is felt.
During your assessment, I will:
Take a detailed history of your injury and symptoms
Examine the affected joint, tendon and surrounding ligaments
Assess stability, range of motion and movement patterns
Review previous imaging, including X-rays, ultrasound or MRI when available
Determine whether prolotherapy is appropriate, or whether another treatment is likely to be a better option
Not everyone is a candidate for prolotherapy. My goal is to recommend the treatment that best fits your diagnosis—not simply to offer injections.
What happens during prolotherapy treatment?
If prolotherapy is appropriate, a treatment plan is developed based on the structures involved and the nature of your injury.
A prolotherapy solution is injected into specific areas around the affected joint, tendon or ligament. Several injection points may be used during a treatment session.
After treatment, it is common to experience temporary soreness or stiffness in the treated area. Activity recommendations will depend on the area being treated and the underlying condition.
Prolotherapy is usually performed as a series of treatments rather than a single injection. The number and frequency of treatments varies depending on the condition, its severity and how you respond.
The goal is to gradually improve pain and function while allowing time between treatments to assess your progress.
Is prolotherapy right for you?
Prolotherapy may be worth considering when musculoskeletal pain has persisted despite time, rehabilitation or other conservative treatments.
It may be particularly appropriate to assess when:
Pain has persisted for several months or longer
An old sprain or injury has never completely recovered
A joint feels unstable or repeatedly becomes irritated
Tendon or ligament pain keeps returning with activity
Osteoarthritis is contributing to ongoing joint pain
Physiotherapy or exercise has helped, but progress has plateaued
You are looking for options before considering more invasive treatment
Prolotherapy is not appropriate for every cause of pain. The first step is determining what structure is causing the problem and whether injection therapy makes sense for your particular condition.
If prolotherapy is not a good fit, I will discuss other appropriate options with you.
Dr. Toby Bridgman, ND
I have been practising naturopathic medicine in Saskatoon since 2010 and have treated more than 10,000 patients.
Prolotherapy has been part of my clinical practice for many years. My approach begins with a careful assessment of the injury and the structures that may be contributing to the patient's pain.
I believe that accurate diagnosis is an important part of successful treatment. Rather than simply injecting the area that hurts, I look at the history, physical examination, previous imaging and response to earlier treatments to determine whether prolotherapy is a reasonable option.
When appropriate, prolotherapy can also be used alongside rehabilitation, exercise and other approaches to help patients return to normal activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Prolotherapy involves a series of injections, so some discomfort during treatment is expected. The treated area may also feel sore or stiff afterward, usually for a short period. The amount of discomfort varies depending on the area being treated and the individual.
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The number of treatments varies depending on the condition, how long it has been present and how you respond. Some patients notice improvement after only a few treatments, while more persistent problems may require a longer series. Progress is reassessed along the way rather than committing everyone to a predetermined number of treatments.
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Most people can continue with normal daily activities after treatment, although temporary soreness or stiffness is common. More strenuous exercise or activity may need to be modified for a short period. Recommendations will depend on the area treated and the nature of the injury.
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Usually, yes. Appropriate movement and rehabilitation are often an important part of recovery. However, heavy or aggravating activity may need to be temporarily reduced following treatment. Specific recommendations are provided based on the injury and the structures treated.
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Prolotherapy is not intended to provide an immediate numbing effect. Improvement, when it occurs, is generally assessed over the weeks following treatment. Changes in pain, function, stability and ability to return to activity are considered when deciding whether further treatment is appropriate.
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Coverage varies between insurance plans. Some extended health plans provide coverage for naturopathic medical visits or procedures, while others do not. Patients should check with their insurer to determine what their individual plan covers.
Considering Prolotherapy?
If you have persistent joint, tendon or ligament pain and would like to know whether prolotherapy may be appropriate for you, the first step is an assessment.
We can review your symptoms, previous injuries and imaging, examine the affected area, and discuss whether prolotherapy or another approach makes the most sense