Every March, for over 40 years, the Hackett Hemwall Foundation has been sending physicians who are trained in prolotherapy to Honduras to provide medical services to members of the community who have little or no access to medical help. The foundation was established in 1969 by Dr. Gus Hemwall, a surgeon in private practice in Chicago.   

Prolotherapy, which is short for "proliferative therapy," is a sophisticated method of Regenerative Injection Therapy where natural solutions, such as high concentration dextrose, are delivered to areas of injury to restart and maximize the body's own wound-healing processes. This healing technique is most often applied to painful and injured joints, ligaments, and tendons to encourage the restoration of normal, healthy tissue. As such, prolotherapy can help people to avoid surgery in some cases. Learn more about prolotherapy and the conditions that can be treated effectively with it here.

Members of the Kaplan Clinic medical team have been participating in this mission for the last 4 years. In March 2014, Dr. Erika LeBaron spent 7 days in the town of Olanchito. I asked her if she would be interested in writing about her experience - she happily agreed and you can read about her journey below.

With best wishes for your optimal health,

Gary Kaplan, DO