Ozone injections, sometimes called prolozone, are an injection-based approach for chronic joint and soft-tissue pain. They’re part of the prolotherapy options offered at Venturis Clinic in Oklahoma City. Here’s what they are, what the research shows, and what you should know before considering them, including their regulatory status.
What ozone joint injections are
An oxygen-ozone gas mixture is injected into or around a painful joint, ligament, or tendon. Proposed effects studied in research include reducing inflammatory signaling, influencing the body’s antioxidant response, and supporting a local healing response.
Ozone injections are considered a form of prolotherapy because they target chronic musculoskeletal pain in the same areas, at similar injection sites. For injectable dextrose, see our Prolotherapy in Oklahoma City page.
Important regulatory information
Please read this before considering ozone treatment:
- Ozone is not FDA-approved for injection or for treating any medical condition.
- An FDA regulation (21 CFR 801.415) describes ozone as a toxic gas with no known useful medical application in specific, adjunctive, or preventive therapy.
- Use in the U.S. is off-label and unapproved. Oxygen-ozone therapy is used and studied more widely in some other countries, particularly in Europe.
We share this so you can make an informed decision.
What the research shows
- Knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review of randomized trials (Sconza et al., Arthroscopy, 2020) found that intra-articular oxygen-ozone injections improved pain and function in the short term. Evidence for long-term benefit was limited, and ozone did not clearly outperform other injection options over time.
- Other joints and soft tissues: evidence is more limited and comes largely from smaller or non-U.S. studies.
- Overall quality: many studies are small, and protocols vary widely, making results hard to compare.
Who may be considered
- Chronic joint pain, such as mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis
- Chronic ligament or tendon pain that hasn’t responded to conservative care
- People who understand the regulatory status and evidence limits and want to explore it
Who should not receive ozone injections
- People with G6PD deficiency (ozone may pose a risk of red blood cell breakdown)
- Pregnancy
- Active infection at the injection site
- Certain bleeding disorders, uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, or uncontrolled diabetes
Your full history is reviewed before any treatment.
Risks
- Common: post-injection pain, pressure, swelling, and stiffness.
- Uncommon: bruising, infection, or lightheadedness.
- Rare but serious: gas entering a blood vessel (gas embolism) has been reported with ozone injections and can cause stroke-like symptoms or other serious harm.
Risks are discussed in detail before treatment.
When to get emergency care
Call 911 immediately after any ozone injection if you have sudden chest pain, trouble breathing, confusion, weakness on one side of the body, vision changes, or severe headache.
Seek prompt care for a hot, red, swollen joint or fever.
Serving Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and all of Oklahoma
Venturis Clinic sees patients from Oklahoma City and surrounding areas, including Tulsa, and from across Oklahoma. Learn more about prolotherapy in Oklahoma City and our ozone therapy services.
Frequently asked questions
Is prolozone the same as prolotherapy? It’s considered a type of prolotherapy that uses an oxygen-ozone mixture instead of dextrose.
Is ozone injection FDA-approved? No. Ozone is not FDA-approved for injection or for treating any condition.
Does ozone injection work for knee arthritis? Systematic reviews show short-term improvement in pain and function, with limited long-term evidence.
Is it safe? Most side effects are temporary soreness, but rare serious complications, including gas embolism, have been reported. Risks are reviewed before treatment.
Want to talk through your options? Book a free 15-minute discovery call.
Ozone is not FDA-approved for the treatment of any condition. Individual results vary. This page is for educational purposes and is not a guarantee of outcome.
By Alvin Philipose, DC, ICCP
Sources
- Sconza C, et al. Oxygen-ozone therapy for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Arthroscopy. 2020;36(1):277–286.
- 21 CFR 801.415 — Maximum acceptable level of ozone.