Prolotherapy in chronic supraspinatus tendonitis
Marcelo de Pinho Teixeira Alves, Stephen G Cavallino
Background: Supraspinatus tendonitis is a common cause of chronic shoulder pain and disability.
Among the various types of treatment, prolotherapy has emerged as a non-surgical option.
Methods: Prolotherapy consists of the injection of a solution containing dextrose, saline solution and a
local anesthetic. The authors present a series of 10 patients with chronic supraspinatus tendonitis, treated
by only one session of prolo-therapy. The visual analogic pain scale (VAS) and the shoulder pain and
disability index (SPADI) were used to evaluate the patients before and after the treatment.
Results: Pain as measured by the VAS was improved as well as disability as seen in SPADI scores.
Conclusion: The authors observed that only one session of the injection treatment can actually improve
pain and disability inflicted by this condition. Prolotherapy can be used as a non-surgical option in the
treatment of chronic supraspinatus tendonitis.
