Pain in the feet and legs can make daily tasks difficult. When ligaments or tendons heal slowly, progress may stall. Injection therapy (prolotherapy) is used to stimulate a healing response in irritated o
Benefits of Our Injection Therapy
A prolotherapy injection targets areas where ligaments or tendons have become weakened, irritated or overloaded. When injuries have not fully healed or have developed into chronic pain, stimulating the natural repair process may improve stability and comfort.
Some of the key benefits include:
- Support for soft-tissue healing
- Increased blood flow to the injured area
- Encouragement of collagen production
- Reduction of irritation caused by mechanical overload
- A non-surgical option for persistent symptoms
By strengthening the surrounding tissues, prolotherapy can support long-term improvement and help you return to daily activities with greater confidence.
What You Need to Know About Injection Therapy
Prolotherapy works by stimulating the body’s natural healing response in weakened or irritated tissues.
- When tissue is injured, the body triggers inflammation, which activates collagen-producing cells that help repair ligaments, tendons and joint-supporting structures.
- Prolotherapy aims to reproduce this process. A solution, often containing a local anaesthetic, is injected into the affected area to encourage the body to restart healing.
- As new collagen forms and strengthens over time, the tissue may become more stable and resilient.
- Prolotherapy is different from Prolozone therapy. Prolotherapy uses chemical stimulation, while Prolozone uses ozone gas.
- We offer prolotherapy only, as it is well-suited to many soft-tissue injuries of the foot and lower leg.
Who Benefits Most?
conservative treatments such as rest, footwear assessments and advice, load management, strengthening or taping.
It may be helpful for:
- Neuromas
- Intermetatarsal bursitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Chronic ligament irritation
- Soft-tissue overload that has not responded to standard care
Prolotherapy is not the first step in treatment. It is reserved for cases where injury recovery has plateaued or symptoms remain persistent despite a well-structured care plan.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
You may be suitable for Prolotherapy if you experience:
- Ongoing localised pain that worsens with pressure or load
- Symptoms that return after attempts at strengthening or rest
- Discomfort associated with chronic soft-tissue irritation
- Pain that improves only temporarily with traditional therapies
Before recommending an injection therapy approach, we complete a full assessment to identify whether the symptoms relate to ligament laxity, weak connective tissue or localised inflammation. Imaging may be suggested if further clarity is needed.
Injection Therapy Treatment
Prolotherapy treatment follows a structured process to ensure safety, comfort, and accurate injection.
Consultation and Planning
We begin by identifying the cause of your symptoms and determining whether Prolotherapy is appropriate. The first goal is always to correct mechanical overload, such as footwear issues, movement patterns or training errors, before considering further intervention.
The Injection Procedure
Injection therapy typically involves:
- Locating and marking the painful or weakened structure
- Applying a local anaesthetic to numb the area
- Performing the Prolotherapy injection
- Scheduling repeat injections every 1–3 weeks if required
- Planning a series of 2–6 treatments, depending on the severity and location of symptoms
Our clinic uses techniques to make injections as comfortable as possible. Each step is performed with care to reduce discomfort and ensure the solution is accurately placed within the affected tissue.
After the Injection
The injected area usually feels numb immediately due to the anaesthetic. As it wears off, mild soreness may develop and last 2 to 3 days. This temporary discomfort is expected, as the treatment intentionally stimulates a controlled inflammatory response to trigger repair.
Swelling, warmth, or stiffness may occur. These symptoms generally settle as the tissue begins the healing phase.
Recovery Timeline
Ligaments and tendons take time to heal. After the injection starts the repair process, the tissue usually needs up to 3 months to rebuild. During this time, gradual strengthening, careful load management and supportive treatment can help improve your results.
How It Works
Prolotherapy treatment follows a clear structure:
Consultation
We discuss your history, symptoms and any previous treatment. Understanding the nature of your injury ensures that prolotherapy is used appropriately and safely.
Diagnosis
A physical examination and, if needed, imaging help confirm the location and severity of the damaged tissue.
Application
The injection is administered into the targeted area following numbing with a local anaesthetic. Our podiatrists use a precise technique to ensure accurate placement.
Follow-Up
Repeat injections are spaced over several weeks. Your response to treatment is monitored, and your load-management plan may be adjusted based on progress.
Completion
Once tissue strength improves and symptoms settle, ongoing advice is provided for maintaining foot and lower-limb health.
This structured approach supports consistent improvement and ensures the treatment complements your broader rehabilitation plan.
Why Choose Us?
At Highett Podiatry, your treatment is guided by a careful assessment of symptoms, movement patterns and injury history. You’ll benefit from:
- Clear explanations of the prolotherapy process
- A focus on correcting the underlying cause of your symptoms
- An approach that combines injection therapy with load management and rehabilitation
- Integration with other services such as orthotics, footwear guidance, heel pain treatment and soft-tissue therapy
If you’re dealing with ongoing tendon or ligament pain that hasn’t responded to standard treatment, injection therapy may be an option worth discussing.
Contact us or book an appointment to find out whether injection therapy is suitable for your condition and begin a personalised approach to recovery.