5 Things to Know About Laser Therapy
Clinicians are using laser therapy more often than ever before to help reduce pain and inflammation related to many common conditions.
I and many of my patients have actually been blown away by the results. From TMJ, trigeminal neuralgia, shoulder pain, spinal pains, hip pain, plantar fascitis and more, I have treated challenging cases that responded incredibly well!
Thousands of doctors and patients have experienced the power of laser therapy and are familiar with its therapeutic effects, but for those who aren’t, here are 5 things everyone should know about it:
1. It reduces pain and inflammation without side effects
Laser therapy uses a process called photobiomodulation. Photons enter the tissue and interact with the cytochrome c complex within mitochondria. This interaction triggers a biological cascade of events that leads to an increase in cellular metabolism and a decrease in both pain and inflammation. Unlike medications, laser therapy reduces pain without undesirable side effects.
It is also important to point out that patients report long-lasting pain relief. While the number of treatments required may vary depending on the acuity of the condition, many patients experience lasting relief after only a couple treatments.
2. Can be used for acute and chronic conditions
When treating acute conditions with laser therapy, it is particularly effective when it is administered as soon as possible following injury (assuming there is no active hemorrhaging). The faster the inflammation is reduced and the healing process can begin, the better. In the case of acute injury, laser therapy helps restore the body to normal function quicker.
With chronic conditions, laser therapy is used most often to help combat persistent pain and inflammation. I use the LightForce class 4 UV laser. This therapy laser is especially well-suited for treating chronic conditions because it enables me to treat a wider area, while still delivering therapeutically relevant dosages.
3. Treatments can be customized for each situation
Lasers that have larger power ranges offer versatile treatment options. My laser can be set to operate from 0.5 W all the way up to 15 W allows me flexibility to treat low and slow or at maximum output.
Each body part and injury condition has a tried-and-true protocol that has been created over many years by clinicians and researchers. Most of these call for 4 to 18 treatments, but most of my patients receive between 6 and 12 on average. Of course there are a few of the 1 visit cure stories, but we know that laser works by stimulating and speeding up the body’s healing processes, which normally requires a few days to a few weeks.
4. Treatments Feel Good
One common question related to laser therapy is, “What does it feel like?” Depending on the laser, it can create little to no sensation or it can create a gentle, soothing warmth. My patients receiving LightForce Laser Therapy treatments report enjoying the experience, feeling a deeply warming sensation, and also frequently report a rapid decrease in pain. For someone suffering from chronic pain, this effect can be particularly pronounced.
5. Treatments Are Fast
With LightForce lasers, treatments are quick, usually 5-10 minutes depending on the size, depth, and acuteness of the condition being treated. High-power lasers are able to deliver a lot of energy in a small amount of time, so therapeutic dosages are achieved quickly. For people with packed schedules, patients and clinicians alike, fast and effective treatments are a must.
References
Hamblin MR, Demidova TN. “Mechanisms of low level light therapy.” Proc. of SPIE Photonics. 2006; 6140: 614001-01-12. doi: 10.1117/12.646294
Kingsley JD, Demchak T, Mathis R. “Low-level laser therapy as a treatment for chronic pain.” Frontiers in Physiology. 2014; 5(306): 1-3. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00306
https://www.litecure.com/medical/2015/04/5-things-you-should-know-about-deep-tissue-laser-therapy/