Healing at the Speed of Light
Laser therapy, also known as low-level laser or light therapy, is a treatment that utilizes specific types of light to interact with tissue. It is used to eliminate pain and promote healing for a variety of medical conditions.
Laser therapy is the use of light from a Low-Intensity Laser Diode or an array of Superluminous Diodes to eliminate pain, accelerate healing and decrease inflammation.
Laser therapy does not heat or cut tissue, unlike high-intensity lasers. Many pharmacological treatments mask pain or only address the symptoms of the disease; Laser Therapy treats the underlying condition or pathology to promote healing. The treatments are effective, and the benefits of laser therapy are long lasting.
Conditions Treated by Laser Therapy
- Carpal tunnel
- Tennis Elbow
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Low back pain
- Plantar fasciitis
Advantages of Laser Therapy
- No patient sedation required
- Speeds healing process
- Highly effective
- Extremely safe with no side effects
Learn more about the physiological effects
of Low Intensity Laser Therapy
of Low Intensity Laser Therapy
- Production and release of beta-endorphins (these are morphine-like substances released by cells in the body that inhibit the sensation of pain)
- Promotes the synthesis of collagen (one of the key building blocks of muscle, ligaments and tendons)
- Activates other important cells (e.g. keratinocytes, endothelial cells)
- Cortisol production is increased (cortisol is the precursor of cortisone). This enables the body to combat the stress associated with trauma or the disease process
- Increased oxygen in the area of healing
- ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production is increased, resulting in improved cellular metabolism
- DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) production; the protein building block of tissue is substantially increased
- Improves transport of nutrients into the cell (e.g. calcium and potassium)
- Generates new blood vessels (angiogenesis)
- The immune response is stimulated
- Lymphatic drainage is improved
- The histamine response is positively altered
- Production of growth hormone is increased
- The body’s natural healing processes are enhanced
Laser Therapy is also used by:
- Dentists to treat damaged oral tissue.
- Dermatologists to treat ulcers, burns, edema, and dermatitis.
- Rheumatologists for the relief of pain, and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
- Sports medicine and rehabilitation centers to decrease pain, reduce swelling and improve function.
Acute conditions may be treated daily, particularly if they are accompanied by significant pain. More chronic problems respond better when treatments are received 2 to 3 times a week, tapering to once a week or once every other week, with improvement.
This depends on the nature of the condition being treated. For some acute conditions 4 to 6 treatments may be sufficient. Those of a more chronic nature may require 6 to 12 (or more) treatments. Conditions such as severe arthritis may require ongoing periodic care to control pain.
You may feel improvement in your condition (usually pain reduction) after the very first treatment. Sometimes you will not feel improvement for a number of treatments. This does not mean that the condition is not improving. Each treatment is cumulative and results are often felt after 3 or 4 sessions.
Yes. Laser Therapy is often used with other forms of treatment, including physical therapy, chiropractic, massage, soft tissue mobilization, electrotherapy and even following surgery. Other healing modalities are complementary and can be used with laser to increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
There is little or no sensation during treatment. Occasionally one feels a mild, soothing warmth or tingling. Areas of pain or inflammation may be sensitive briefly before pain reduction.
During more than twenty years of use by healthcare providers all over the world, very few side effects have ever been reported. Occasionally some old injuries or pain syndromes may feel aggravated for a few days, as the healing response is more active after treatment.
The typical treatment is 4 to 8 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated.
Yes. There are thousands of published studies demonstrating the clinical effectiveness of Laser Therapy. Among these, there are more than one hundred rigorously controlled, scientific studies that document the effectiveness of laser for many clinical conditions.