Lateral Epicondylosis (“Tennis Elbow”): A Regenerative Approach to Treatment
Lateral epicondylosis, commonly known as “tennis elbow,” is a prevalent upper extremity condition, with an incidence of 4–7 cases per 1,000 patients per year in primary care settings. It primarily affects individuals involved in repetitive and high-load upper extremity activities, including athletes and those performing tasks like keyboarding—although formal data on the latter is limited.
The term “lateral epicondylitis” is often used interchangeably with tennis elbow; however, this is a misnomer. Most overuse tendon injuries, including tennis elbow, do not exhibit histopathologic evidence of inflammation. Instead, they are characterized by chronic degeneration. For this reason, “lateral epicondylosis” is the more accurate term.
While various non-surgical therapies have been explored for cases of tennis elbow that do not respond to conservative treatments, Venturis Clinic offers Prolotherapy and Prolozone therapy to help reduce the pain and degeneration associated with this condition.
What Is Prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy (PrT) is an injection-based regenerative treatment used for chronic musculoskeletal conditions like tendinopathy. Common injectants include dextrose (a type of sugar) and sodium morrhuate (derived from cod liver oil). Animal studies suggest that these substances may help strengthen and enlarge ligament and tendon attachments, although the exact mechanism remains unclear (Jensen, 2007, unpublished data).
This technique was formalized in the 1950s by Dr. George Hackett, a general surgeon in the United States. Treatment typically involves injecting small volumes of the solution into painful tendon and ligament attachment points, generally over 3 to 5 sessions spaced about a month apart.
Clinical Use and Evidence
Anecdotal evidence suggests that Sports Medicine Physicians, Primary Care Providers, and Chiropractors use prolotherapy for a variety of musculoskeletal issues beyond tennis elbow (Rabago, unpublished data).
Several human randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown positive outcomes for prolotherapy in the treatment of low back pain and osteoarthritis, although the quality of these studies has varied. To date, no RCT has specifically assessed prolotherapy for tendinopathy, including lateral epicondylosis.
To address this gap, a double-blind RCT was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of prolotherapy in reducing elbow pain and improving both resting grip strength and isometric elbow extension strength in adults with tennis elbow that had not responded to standard therapies.
Dr. Philipose: Over 25 Years of Experience
Dr. Philipose has been successfully treating lateral epicondylosis for over 25 years using prolotherapy and dry needling. Many patients experience significant improvement in pain and function without the need for invasive surgery.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, call Dr. Philipose at 405-848-7246.