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Prolozone™

Prolozone

Regenerative medicine is a rapidly evolving field that focuses on repairing or regenerating human tissue to restore or establish normal function. This approach aims to treat a variety of health concerns by addressing the root cause, rather than just managing symptoms.

Tailored specifically to the individual patient, targeted regenerative joint injections utilizing ozone stimulate the natural healing potential of the body, resulting in less pain, and an accelerated healing process.

What is Prolozone Therapy?

Prolozone is a regenerative injection technique developed and pioneered by Dr. Frank Shallenberger. “Prolozone” is derived from the Latin word “proli” which means to regenerate or rebuild, and the word ozone. It employs the power of oxygen to stimulate regeneration in damaged or degenerated tissues, joints, ligaments, and tendons.

Prolozone is excellent for all forms of musculo-skeletal and joint pain, including chronic neck and back pain, rotator cuff injuries, degenerative and arthritic hips and knees, degenerated discs, shoulder and elbow pain.

How Does Prolozone Therapy Work?

The reason why some injuries heal completely while others do not is closely tied to circulation. For a damaged area of the body to regenerate and heal effectively, it requires essential elements that only the bloodstream can deliver, including vitamins, minerals, and oxygen.

Among these elements, oxygen stands out as the most vital. Insufficient oxygen levels can lead to an accumulation of lactic acid, which in turn is responsible for pain. Prolozone Therapy works through two key mechanisms:

First, it involves the injection of procaine and vitamins into the injured or degenerated area to reduce pain, and bathe the local tissues with nutrients essential for the healing process. Next, the area is infused with oxygen in the form of ozone. This combination ensures that the tissues receive the necessary elements for healing. As the tissues heal, circulation to the area is reestablished, completing the treatment process. The response to treatment may vary among individuals, but typically, most individuals require only 3-5 treatments to achieve the desired results.

Is Prolozone the same as Prolotherapy?

No. Prolozone harnesses the power of oxygen to promote healing, while Prolotherapy relies on inflammation to facilitate the healing process. Unlike Prolotherapy, which can be associated with significant pain that often lingers for days to weeks post-treatment, patients who receive Prolozone typically experience immediate improvement and minimal discomfort during the sessions. Moreover, Prolozone typically only a few injections, as opposed to the numerous injections required for Prolotherapy, making it a faster and more cost-effective option. This therapy, in particular, has shown remarkable effectiveness in regenerating damaged cartilage in knees and hips.

What does Prolozone® treat?

Prolozone® Therapy is used for:

• Neck pain

• Whiplash

• Degenerated or herniated discs

• Low back pain

• Plantar fasciitis

• TMJ Syndrome

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

• Torn tendons

• Sciatica Heel spurs

• Neuromas

• Tennis elbow​

• Rotator cuff tears

• Knee injuries

• Other sports injuries

Prolozone™ therapy is a regenerative injection treatment combining prolotherapy and medical-grade ozone gas (O3) to stimulate healing and reduce pain in injured or degenerated tissues such as joints, ligaments, and cartilage.

How it works:

Ozone delivers oxygen to damaged tissues and increases oxygen utilization by enhancing red blood cell release of oxygen and stimulating mitochondrial function, which is essential for cellular energy (ATP) production.

It acts as a mild oxidative stressor, triggering fibroblast activity, growth factor release (e.g., TGF-β, VEGF), and stem cell activation, promoting tissue regeneration and collagen synthesis.

Ozone also modulates inflammation by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and activating antioxidant pathways, helping to restore tissue balance and decrease chronic pain.

It possesses antimicrobial properties, killing bacteria, viruses, and fungi that may contribute to inflammation.

The injected ozone gas expands in tissues, allowing efficient coverage of injury sites with fewer injections than liquid therapies.

The science behind it:

Ozone stimulates key biochemical pathways by upregulating enzymes like cytochrome c oxidase and modulating signaling molecules that enhance cellular repair.

It enhances oxygen delivery even in hypoxic or inflamed environments, enabling better healing where blood supply is limited.

The treatment activates growth factor receptors on cell membranes, speeding cartilage and connective tissue regeneration, a critical benefit for joint health.

Benefits:

Effective pain relief and reduced inflammation in chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis, tendonitis, and ligament injuries

Accelerated tissue repair and improved joint function through enhanced collagen and cartilage regeneration

Improved blood circulation and detoxification at the treatment site

Minimally invasive treatment with minimal downtime and few side effects

Potential to reduce or eliminate the need for pain medication or surgery in some cases

In essence, Prolozone therapy leverages ozone’s unique biochemical effects to empower the body’s natural healing mechanisms, providing a scientifically supported, holistic approach to chronic pain relief and tissue regeneration.

What is Prolozone™?

Prolozone™ is a regenerative medicine treatment that combines ozone therapy with injection techniques to promote healing and reduce pain in damaged tissues, joints, ligaments, and tendons.  Developed by Dr. Frank Shallenberger, it involves injecting a mixture of ozone gas (a highly active form of oxygen), vitamins, anti-inflammatory agents, and sometimes platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into injured areas to stimulate tissue regeneration, increase blood flow, reduce inflammation, and promote collagen production.  Prolozone aims to repair tissues that have limited blood supply and improve oxygenation, which helps alleviate chronic pain and restore function.  It is used for conditions such as osteoarthritis, back pain, rotator cuff injuries, and other musculoskeletal issues, often resulting in long-term pain relief with fewer treatment sessions than traditional prolotherapy.


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Who is a good candidate for Prolozone™?

Good candidates for Prolozone™ therapy are individuals experiencing chronic joint, tendon, ligament, or musculoskeletal pain that has not fully healed, often due to limited blood supply in the affected tissues. It is suitable for people with conditions such as osteoarthritis, tendonitis, chronic neck or back pain, degenerative disc disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff injuries, sciatica, and other sports or traumatic injuries.


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What does a typical Prolozone™ session involve, and is there downtime?

A typical Prolozone™ session involves several key steps. First, a local anesthetic and vitamins to support new tissue growth are injected into the affected area to reduce pain and swelling.  Then, a mixture of medical-grade ozone gas (a highly active form of oxygen) is injected into the damaged tissues, joints, or ligaments.  The ozone stimulates healing by increasing oxygen supply and stimulating tissue regeneration.

Patients may experience mild soreness, tenderness, or stiffness at the injection site for a few hours to a few days after treatment.  There is minimal downtime, and most people can resume normal activities within 24 to 48 hours.


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How many Prolozone™ sessions will I need and when will I see results?

Prolozone™ therapy typically requires an average of 3 to 6 treatment sessions, depending on the severity of the condition and the individual’s healing response.  Some patients may experience pain relief and improved function after just one session, but most see continued improvement with multiple treatments.

Results often begin within a few weeks of starting therapy, with further healing and symptom reduction occurring over several months as tissue regeneration progresses.  Many patients report significant pain reduction, increased mobility, and improved quality of life by the end of their treatment course.  Maintenance treatments may be needed periodically to sustain benefits.


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Are there side effects or reasons Prolozone™ might not be right for me?

Prolozone™ therapy is generally considered safe with few side effects.  Common side effects include mild pain, soreness, swelling, bruising, or a sense of fullness at the injection site, which usually resolve within a few days.  Prolozone therapy is not recommended for individuals with acute infections (such as cellulitis or infectious arthritis), recent fractures or severe acute injuries, or allergies to anesthetics used during the procedure.


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