PROLOTHERAPY A GREAT ALTERNATIVE FOR THE FEMALE ATHLETE
Ross Hauser, M.D.

Women are just as competitive as men but unfortunately they are more apt to get injured as men. No matter what the sport or activity, study after study shows women are up to four times more likely as men to get injured. They are also much more likely for this injury to be chronic. Some of the reasons for this has been speculated and include:

Most studies show that a female athlete is more likely to get injured during the part of the menstrual cyle (around ovulation) when estrogen levels are highest. Women who take birth control pills or get Premarin after menopause are more likely to get injured and have chronic pain. It is true also that women compared to men are 'looser'. No they actually have better morals on average but do have 'looser' joints. This relates to a man's physiology being testosterone driven whereas a females physiology is estrogen driven. Testosterone has the great effect of helping ligaments tighten and tissues heal whereas estrogen unfortunately for womne helps fat accumulate and ligaments not heal. Specifically estrogen has been shown to inhibit fibroblastic profileration which means that collagen synthesis is inhibited the more estrogen a woman has in her blood. So for women who take birth control pills or Premarin or other estradiol (main estrogen) driven hormone replacement, you may wish to seek an alternative if you have chronic pain.

Prolotherapy helps strengthen ligaments. Ligament weakness or injury is at the root of most injuries that don't heal in female athletes. Some of the more common chronic injuries that female athletes have include:

All of the above conditions can be treated with Prolotherapy. The female athlete is more likely than their male counterparts to get injury leading to a chronic problem. Part of the blame occurs on the females physiology of being estrogen driven versus testosterone driven. A good approach for the female athlete is to have their physiology checked at a comprehensive natural medicine center like Caring Medical. The female athlete should consider the following analysis:

Some or all of the above can be done. Once the labs are back if a woman is estrogen dominant then a program to balance the hormones will be started including diet manipulation. To help with her pain, Prolotherapy will be given to the appropriate area. Prolotherapy stimulates the body to repair the painful area. Female athletes around the country are starting to realize that no matter how bad the pain you can always Prolo Your Pain Away!