Dr. Handleman has a particular interest in the nonsurgical treatment of musculoskeletal pain and injury using Prolotherapy and other injection techniques. He is highly skilled using the least painful injection techniques to help patients achieve consistent results in the reduction and elimination of pain and the improvement of function.

Prolotherapy, is a safe, effective minimally invasive injection technique that has been in use for over 50 years. This technique stimulates the body's natural healing response to repair damaged ligaments and tendons and therefore permanently cure the most common cause of chronic pain.

Prolotherapy involves the injection of weakened or stretched ligaments with a dextrose-based solution or other natural "proliferant" substances. The solution, which is injected with a very thin needle at the precise points of tissue damage, sets up as local proliferative reaction increasing blood flow to damaged ligaments. Immune cells and fibroblasts are activate to rebuild healthy fibroelastic tissue and restore ligaments and tendons to their original strength.

Each patient evaluation includes a thorough osteopathic and orthopedic examination, review of medical history and tests, and discussion with the patient regarding available options including prolotherapy. Dr. Handleman may augment his treatment with osteopathic manipulation, as well as recommending complementary therapies such as physical therapy, active release treatment, acupuncture and nutritional evaluation. He incorporates the use of medications when appropriate, with referral to other medical specialists as needed.

Dr. Handleman treats a wide range of medical and orthopedic problems including:
• Back pain
• Neck pain and whiplash
• Sports injuries
• Repetitive motion injuries
• Knee pain and arthritis
• Shoulder and upper extremity problems
• Ankle and foot problems

Dr. Handleman’s medical career began in family medicine with an emphasis on musculoskeletal problems and osteopathic manipulative techniques. He began treating work-related injuries in 1993, which he continues to the present time. In 1995, he established a specialized practice in the treatment of musculoskeletal problems and chronic pain, including acupuncture. In 2003 he became interested in the field of prolotherapy, a treatment that was developed in the 1950’s by Dr. George Hackett. He traveled to Honduras in 2004 and 2005 with the Hackett-Hemwall Foundation to participate in a prolotherapy training and medical mission. He then returned to Honduras in 2006 and 2007 as a prolotherapy instructor. He continues to educate other physicians in the science and art of prolotherapy, most recently in 2008 with the Hackett-Hemwall Foundation in Davao, Philippines, treating patients and training physicians in prolotherapy.