At East-West Rheumatology, we believe healing is not just about symptom relief—it’s about restoring balance, rebuilding strength, and renewing your connection to your body. That’s why we offer regenerative treatments like prolotherapy and dextrose injections to support joint and musculoskeletal health from the inside out. A gentle injection of dextrose helps your body repair tissues, reduce inflammation, and regain balance—naturally.
With over 14 years of experience in joint and tendon injections, Dr. Zarbalian has spent the past 5 years focusing on non-steroidal injections such as dextrose prolotherapy and hyaluronic acid, supporting the body’s natural healing process through a regenerative, non-surgical technique.
💡 What Is Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is a regenerative injection therapy that stimulates the body’s natural healing response. By introducing a small amount of dextrose (a sugar solution) into targeted areas such as ligaments, tendons, or joints.
This gentle stimulation signals the body to send healing cells to the area, encouraging tissue repair, reducing inflammation, and strengthening weakened structures.
Over time, prolotherapy can help restore stability, improve function, and relieve chronic pain—especially in cases where tissues have become lax, irritated, or slow to heal.
Unlike treatments that simply mask symptoms, prolotherapy works with your body to rebuild and repair, offering a more sustainable path to recovery.
🌱 Why Dextrose? What does the medical research say about Dextrose prolotherapy injections?
Prolotherapy with dextrose is a safe, regenerative treatment that helps your body heal naturally—without the long-term risks of steroids or NSAIDs.
By gently stimulating your body’s repair response, it works to strengthen and restore injured tissues over time.
This approach is especially helpful for chronic joint pain, tendon and ligament injuries, hypermobility syndromes, and sports-related strain.
In osteoarthritis, numerous studies have demonstrated that dextrose prolotherapy provides equivalent or better results than other injection types such as steroid injections or hyaluronic acid (1,2). In comparison with corticosteroid injections, dextrose prolotherapy injections provider more durable improvement in joint pain with functional improvement lasting for 6-12 months, where corticosteroid injections only offer short-term benefit (6 weeks) with clear downsides :
– observational studies and imaging analyses suggest that repeated corticosteroid injections may accelerate cartilage loss (3)
– corticosteroid injections are associated with greater osteoarthritis progression compared to controls or hyaluronic acid (3)
In a double-blind trial of first carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis (arthritis at the base of the thumb), dextrose prolotherapy showed superior pain and function outcomes at 6 months compared to corticosteroids. Meta-analyses in knee osteoarthritis confirm these findings, with prolotherapy outperforming placebo and matching or exceeding other injectables in durability (4).
If you’re seeking lasting relief and a more holistic path to healing, prolotherapy with dextrose may be the gentle nudge your body needs.
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Integrative Care Tailored to You
Whether you’re navigating chronic pain, recovering from injury, or seeking alternatives to surgery, prolotherapy can be part of a holistic treatment plan that includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, and lifestyle support. Our team takes time to understand your goals and craft a personalized path to healing.
If you’re curious about prolotherapy or wondering if it’s right for you, we’d love to talk. Book a consultation today and explore how regenerative care can help you move with ease and confidence. |
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Works cited :
1. Hypertonic Dextrose Prolotherapy, an Alternative to Intra-Articular Injections With Hyaluronic Acid in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Arias-Vázquez PI, Tovilla-Zárate CA, Castillo-Avila RG, et al.
American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 2022;101(9):816-825. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000001918.
2. Effectiveness, Compliance, and Safety of Dextrose Prolotherapy for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta-Analysis and Metaregression of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Chen YW, Lin YN, Chen HC, et al.
Clinical Rehabilitation. 2022;36(6):740-752. doi:10.1177/02692155221086213.
3. Intra-Articular Knee Injections and Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative.
Bharadwaj UU, Lynch JA, Joseph GB, et al.
Radiology. 2025;315(2):e233081. doi:10.1148/radiol.233081.
4. Hypertonic Dextrose Versus Corticosteroid Local Injection for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis in the First Carpometacarpal Joint: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.
Jahangiri A, Moghaddam FR, Najafi S.
Journal of Orthopaedic Science : Official Journal of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association. 2014;19(5):737-43. doi:10.1007/s00776-014-0587-2.
The information provided on this website is for general knowledge and informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice. It is essential to consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health or treatment. The content on this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment
