Yellend M. et al., (2011) [6]

Patients with painful mid-portion Achilles tendinosis (n = 43)

Prolotherapy group: dextrose 20% (n = 14)

ELE group: Eccentric loaded exercise (n = 15)

Combined ELE and prolotherapy group (n = 14)

4 to 12 sessions; weekly,

Palpation method

1. Pain

2. Function (VISA-A)

3. Stiffness

4. Activity limitation

6 weeks, 3, 6, 12 months

Significant increase in VISA-A score at 6 and 12 months and earlier reduction in pain, stiffness, and activity limitation in prolotherapy and combined group;

Maxwell J.N. et al., (2007) [57]

Patients with Achilles tendinitis symptoms for more than 3 months (n = 34)

All patients received dextrose 25% intratendinous injection (n = 36)

Injections every 6 weeks until symptom resolution or no improvement was shown; under sonographic guidance

1. Pain at rest, during daily activity, during and after sport (VAS score)

2. Sonographic features (tendon thickness, echogenicity, neovascularity)

Before every injection session, 12 months after treatment completion

Significant reduction in pain scores after hypertonic dextrose injection

Mansiz Kaplan B. et al., (2020) [48]

Patients with a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis (n = 60)

Intervention: dextrose 15% injection (n = 30)

Control: normal saline injection (n = 30)

2 sessions; every 3 weeks,

Under palpation guidance

1. Pain (VAS score)

2. Function (FFI score)

3. Fascia thickness

5, 12 weeks

Significant improvement in pain, disability and fascia thickness in dextrose injection compared to the control group

Asheghan M. et al., (2020) [52]

Patients with a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis (n = 59)

Intervention: dextrose 20% injection (n = 30)

Control: extracorporeal shock wave

Therapy (n = 29)

2 sessions; weekly intervals,

Under ultrasound guidance

1. Pain (VAS score)

2. Function (FAAM score)

3. Fascia thickness

6, 12 weeks

Significant improvement in pain, disability, and fascia thickness in both groups, no significant difference between groups

Kim E. et al., (2014) [49]

Patients with a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis (n = 21)

Intervention: dextrose 15% injection (n = 11)

Control: autologous platelet-rich plasma (n = 10)

2 sessions biweekly,

Under ultrasound guidance

1. Function (FFI score)

2 weeks,

2, 6 months

Significant improvement in FFI score and its subcategories (pain, disability, and activity limitation) in both groups with better results in PRP group, no significant difference between groups

Ersen O. et al., (2018) [51]

Patients with a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis (n = 50)

Intervention: dextrose 15% injection (n = 26)

Control: stretching exercise (n = 24)

3 sessions; every 3 weeks,

Under ultrasound guidance

1. Pain (VAS score)

2. function (FFI, FAOS score)

21, 42, 90, 360 days after injection completion

Significant improvement in pain, FFI, and FAOS scores in the prolotherapy group compared to the control group