What Is Ozone? The oxygen you breathe is present in the air as a pair of oxygen atoms. This is the most stable form of oxygen. Ozone, unlike regular oxygen, is composed of three oxygen atoms instead of two. It is the addition of the third oxygen atom that makes ozone “supercharged” oxygen, and gives it all of its remarkable medical properties. Ozone is found naturally in the body. The white cells make it as part of the immune response. Pure medical grade ozone, when it is used according to the established medical guidelines, has a safety record that is unparalleled. The use of ozone to treat various medical conditions was first developed in Germany in the early 1950’s with hundreds of studies proving its effectiveness and safety. Today, prolotherapy ozone injections are common throughout Europe, and its use has gradually been spreading in America over the last 25 years.

What is it used for? Medical-grade Ozone is injected using a special technique. It is excellent for all forms of musculoskeletal and joint pain including chronic neck and back pain, rotator cuff injuries, degenerative and arthritic hips and knees, degenerated discs, and shoulder and elbow pain. Because in many cases Medical Ozone actually corrects the pathology of the disorder, there is a 75% chance for the chronic pain sufferer to becoming permanently pain free.

How does it work? Medical-grade Ozone is a form of non-surgical ligament reconstruction and is a permanent treatment for chronic pain. The treatment is a connective tissue injection therapy of ozone gas which can aid in the reconstruction of damaged or weakened connective tissue in and around joints. The Medical-grade Ozone is injected into the damaged connective tissue around a joint to rebuild the damaged areas. Because ozone is a gas, we do not have to inject it directly into the joint for it to be effective. It defuses in and around the joint and is attracted to inflammation, causing it to be drawn to the areas of injury or damage.  When someone suffers from chronic pain, the pain has been there for so long it becomes the “new normal”. This means the healing process has stopped. When Medical-grade Ozone is injected, the properties of ozone gas mimics that part of the body being injured. It does not cause the pain or symptoms of an injury, but it starts a series of reactions that allow the body to restart the healing process. This does not mean that ozone injections are only for injuries. Almost any type of muscle or joint pain will respond in much the same way.

Why does it work? We can think of our joints as the hinge on a door. Until the hinge is fixed the door just isn’t going to open or close right and it’s the same exact story with our joints. If we are athletic or if we are just getting older there is some gradual and natural degeneration of the moving parts of the body due to ongoing recurrent mechanical stress, and failure of tissues to repair. This can come from lack of nutrients, lack of circulation, aging and inflammation. When this happens the ligaments, tendons, and cartilage become dehydrated and weaker. This results in laxity and more abnormal mechanical stress and shearing forces on the joint. Abnormal shearing forces and torsion cause more joint dysfunction.

Prolotherapy ozone injections cause repair and tightening of the lax structures, partially torn connective tissue, cartilage, muscles, and ligaments. Ozone halts the pain/inflammation cycle. This allows for better circulation, increased blood flow carrying nutrition, and hydration of the damaged tissues. This allows for a healing environment within the joint/muscle to develop and results in increased range of motion and decreased pain.

To become pain free and start enjoying life, call Legacy Clinic at:

352-259-0024.