Regenerative Injection Therapy

Naturopathy

Regenerative Injection Therapy

(RIT) techniques involve the injection of a solution into damaged soft tissue to promote local inflammation and healing. Regenerative injection therapy causes the body to lay down new connective tissue, which strengthens the integrity of ligaments, tendons and other soft tissue structures. Regenerative injection therapy is often used in conjunction with other techniques to resolve both acute and chronic conditions. The two main RIT’s utilized at Catalyst Kinetics Group are prolotherapy and Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP).

Regenerative Injection Therapy

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is a non-surgical regenerative injection technique that has been shown to be effective in producing long term pain relief in acute and chronic joint conditions over the course of several treatments. It involves the injection of an irritant solution at the site of injury to trigger the body’s own natural healing response to repair damaged or degenerated ligaments, tendons, cartilage and other adjacent structures within the joint. The irritant solution used most often contains dextrose (d-glucose), a natural form of glucose normally found in the body, along with a small amount of local anesthetic and saline.

The goal of prolotherapy is to stimulate localized inflammation, which is a healing response that triggers new cell growth, release of growth factors, and collagen deposition. A small amount of inflammation is introduced into the injured area through the injection of the irritant solution, which facilitates the repair and regrowth of connective tissue and stabilizing structures. As a result, prolotherapy can produce long-lasting improvements in strength, stability and function, while reducing pain and stiffness of a previously unstable or injured joint.

Regenerative Injection Therapy

PRP

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is also effective in treating acute and chronic joint pain. It involves the collection of the patient’s own blood which is spun in a centrifuge to remove the red blood cells, which are not useful in creating a healing response in the context of RIT. The remaining fluid, called “plasma” is further centrifuged to obtain a small amount of fluid containing a high concentration of platelets. This final product is called PRP, and it is injected to the area of injury or degeneration. This process is done in-house by our lab technician.

Another option for making PRP is to use a tropocells kit, which requires a much smaller blood draw, more effectively removes red blood cells from the PRP, and delivers a higher concentration of platelets. Talk to your health care practitioner to discuss whether you would be a good candidate for PRP.

Platelets are cells that contain several clotting and growth factors that play key roles in tissue repair. PRP augments the natural healing process of joint repair by delivering high concentrations of these platelets directly into injured areas, which become activated, release growth factors and stimulate regeneration of the surrounding tissue. Activated platelets also promote migration of mesenchymal stem cells and other immune cells into the area, thereby accelerating the regeneration of injured tissues and helping to resolve chronic joint dysfunction.