Low Level Laser Therapy

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Cold Laser therapy uses a specific type of light to penetrate the skin’s surface and underlying tissues to stimulate the body’s natural repair processes. The result is faster healing and reduced pain, swelling and inflammation. Cold laser therapy is a natural, effective, non-invasive, drug-free medical treatment. Applying light produced by low level laser triggers normal cellular functions that lead to faster wound healing, pain relief and accelerated functional recovery.

What type of Conditions are Treated with Cold Laser Therapy?

Laser Therapy has been used successfully to treat athletic injuries, acute & chronic conditions, repetitive strain disorders, tissue healing and much more. By providing the extra energy required for healing, the tissue is able to heal itself naturally. This innovative therapeutic alternative may also eliminate the need for painful, debilitating surgeries and drug therapies so often accompanied by harmful side effects.Research has demonstrated that laser therapy can be used to effectively treat many conditions. Simulating the body’s natural repair processes using the healing nature of light has been proven particularly effective for certain conditions including:

• Arthritis/rheumatism
• Tendonitis, tennis and golfer's elbow
• Repetitive Stress Injuries (i.e. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)
• Neck and Lower back pain
• Soft Tissue Injuries, Strains and Sprains
• Migraine headaches
• TMJ
• Whiplash injuries
• Disc problems

 What does Cold Laser Therapy do?

When the light penetrates the skin and underlying tissue, they are absorbed by the cell, and converted into energy. This triggers a cascade of benefits at the cellular level. Some of the unique healing effects of Laser therapy include:

• Increased cell metabolism
• Improved localized blood circulation
• Development of collagen and muscle tissue
• Relief from acute and chronic pain
• Reduced localized inflammation and edema
• Stimulation for wound healing and tissue repair
• Stimulation of the immune system
• Stimulation of nerve function

Is Laser therapy the only treatment required for healing?

How are laser therapy treatments administered?

Laser/phototherapy devices are positioned directly on the skin with gentle pressure applied. Generally there is no discomfort or sensation associated with treatment. Various areas may be treated including: Directly over the lesion or site of injury, Muscle insertion points, Relevant trigger points or tender points, Nerve roots or superficial nerve trucks, and/or Acupuncture points.

LLLT is a relatively safe procedure. Due to the low level, nonthermal nature of the laser, there is no tissue destruction or other hazards that you would find associated with the higher powered lasers. Suitable goggles are worn by both the physical therapist and the patient to ensure that the eyes are not damaged by the light.

Does laser therapy affect only the area being treated?

The effects of Laser therapy treatment can be local - with a direct benefit over the affected injury; regional - with positive effects seen in the surrounding tissue, or
systemic - broader effects evident through increased cell membrane permeability and chemical mediators carried in the blood, lymphatic and nervous systems.

Clinical Studies

A number of papers have shown a reduction of pain with laser treatments.  For example, a group of subjects with chronic tendinopathies, that had been previously treated unsuccessfully with physical therapy, local injections, and or surgery, had an 87 percent success rate in pain reduction following the application of LLLT.

In a study involving over 4,000 subjects who had suffered from conditions such as degenerative arthritis; muscle pain; tendinitis and tension myalgia. More than 80 percent of the subjects found a marked lessening of their symptoms following irradiation with an IR laser.

In a study involving a total of 69 subjects and 302 total laser treatment sessions, more that 80 percent of the subjects with chronic radiculopathies and over 90 percent of the subjects with chronic neuropathies experienced a greater than 50 percent total relief of pain following LLLT.  In a similar study involving 60 total patients and 111 total laser treatments, it was shown that LLLT produced an immediate reduction of pain in 79 percent of the subjects.

In a study involving over 100 subjects and over 500 laser treatments, it was observed that acute soft tissue pain syndromes showed a dramatic response following the initial laser treatment with a marked reduction in tissue swelling, bruising and good pain relief.

LLLT is effective for the treatment of myofascial and postoperative pain syndromes; rheumatoid arthritis; muscle tears; hematomas; tendinitis; shingles; herpes simplex; scarring; burn and would healing.

To find out if you would benefit from Cold Laser Therapy, call us:  (780)466-1104