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PROLOTHERAPY
& The
Patella (Knee Cap)
Ross
Hauser, M.D.
When there is a problem with this part
of the knee it manifests as pain in the front of the knee after strong
exertion (running, skiing, or stair climbing.) This may be due to erosion of
the
cartilage on the under side of the patella, poor tracking of the patella
in its groove on the front of the knee, or an inflamed
tendons on the lower
edge of the patella.
The patella is covered on its back side
with the thickest layer of
articular cartilage of all the joints in the body.
Erosion of this cartilage is called "chondromalacia patellae." On
x-ray it is seen as a decrease in the amount of cartilage underneath the
kneecap. It may be caused by trauma or occur spontaneously. If the patella is
fractured, pain may still persist after the fracture heals.
Prolotherapy is
excellent at relieving all of these pains so the athlete can participate in
sports again pain-free.
Prolotherapy helps chondromalacia
patellae or patellar tracking problems because the pain-producing structure is
generally the patellar tendon or the musculoskeletal support around the
patella. Prolotherapy for chondromalacia involves intra-articular (inside)
injections as well as injections on the outside of the knee, stimulating the
growth of many musculoskeletal structures around the patella. It is for this
reason the knee gets stronger and the pain of chondromalacia is relieved.
Patellar Tendonitis
Another common condition is patellar
tendonitis, which can occur at the sides, the top, or the bottom of the
patella. It commonly occurs in athletes who do a lot of jumping, such as
basketball players, volleyball players, and ballet dancers. This is why it is
also known as "jumper's knee." By injecting the appropriate site
with Prolotherapy, these injuries are effectively and permanently treated and
the pain is relieved. This is because Prolotherapy helps strengthen the
patellar tendon (though some would call this the patellar ligament since it
goes between two bones, the patella and the tibia). While Prolotherapy causes
a strengthening of the patellar tendon,
cortisone and its related anti-inflammatories,
weaken it. For this reason athletes should avoid cortisone injections into the
patellar tendon because of the risk of it weakening and thus leading to
rupture of the tendon. This occurs because cortisone weakens the
ligament/tendon-bone junction. Cortisone and the other anti-inflammatories
have a lot of other bad effects.
Athletes: Do Not Be Desperate for
Surgery or Scopes
Athletes with pain often succumb to
surgical procedures, even drastic ones. A good example of drastic surgery is
the recommendation to surgically remove the patella in order to remove the
pain. This sometimes does relieve the pain, but at a significant cost to the
body. The strength to extend the knee is reduced by about 30 percent, and the
force exerted in the knee is increased. There are a host of other risks
associated with surgery. The athlete must realize that with each procedure and
each shaving or cutting of tissue,
NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drug) prescription, or cortisone shot, the odds of developing long-term
arthritis are greatly increased. The key to keeping the knee strong is to
stimulate the area to heal, not to cover up the pain with a cortisone shot or
NSAID. Even worse is to eliminate the painful area by shaving or cutting. This
just delays the pain for a few years until the remaining tissue becomes
degenerated. The best approach for the athlete is to stimulate the area to
heal. The best way to do that is with
Prolotherapy.
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 Ross
Hauser, M.D.
Dr.
Hauser received his M.D. from the
University of Illinois, Chicago;
completed his residency at
Loyola-Hines VA-Marianjoy Hospitals
in Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation; and received his
Bachelor of Science degree from the
University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign.
Dr.
Hauser is one of the leading experts
in the treatment of chronic pain and
sports injuries with
Prolotherapy.
He, along with his wife Marion, have
written seven books on the topic of
Prolotherapy, a comprehensive book
on the natural medicine approach to
cancer, as well as a myriad of
articles and newsletters for the
general public.
Read more
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1999-2011
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12 Years Online!
Caring Medical and Rehabilitation
Services, 715 Lake Street Suite
600
Oak Park, IL 60301 708-848-7789
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The information on this website is presented
as information only and not a self-help
guide NOR AS SPECIFIC HEALTH
RECOMMENDATIONS. Never alter or change your
health management or begin any new health
plans without first consulting your personal
health care provider. Some
statements on this site regarding the value
of nutritional supplements have not been
evaluated by the FDA.
As with any
medical technique,
Prolotherapy may not be effective for every
individual and there are risks involved,
these risks should be discussed with your
physician.
Results achieved with some may not be
typical of all. Please consult a physician.
Please read
Prolotherapy Risks
There is no known cure for arthritis.
Prolotherapy
and nutritional supplements can help
alleviate, reverse, or end arthritic pain by
treating an underlying cause that
contributes to degenerative disease,
ligament laxity. Strengthening ligaments and
other connective tissue can help prevent
bone on bone arthritis from developing.
Caring Medical
and Rehabilitation Services 715 Lake Street
Suite 600 Oak Park IL, 60301
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Prolotherapy