LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY
Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is quickly becoming the first line of attack in pain control and tissue healing in rehabilitation medicine. It is safe, painless, quick and easy to apply and results are often immediate with no side effects.
LASER IS A FORM OF LIGHT ENERGY
The term laser is an acronym of Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It is a pure form of light energy of a specific color and wavelength, which has special healing properties.
LOW POWER LASERS STIMULATE TISSUE
There are two general types of medical lasers: high power lasers, which cut through tissue, and low power lasers, which stimulate tissue repair. This is referred to as photo-bio-stimulation. Stimulation of tissue includes wound healing, tissue repair, swelling reduction, increased blood flow and pain reduction.
LOW POWER LASERS ARE NOT HARMFUL
Lasers used for tissue stimulation have insufficient strength to damage cells. However, as the laser beam is often invisible, the patient should avoid staring directly into the beam as it could irritate the retina and in sustained dosage permanently damage the eye. After 30 years of clinical use, low power lasers have not been found to have any adverse effects or cause cancer. In fact, lasers are proving useful in pain management for chronic cancer patients.
LASER STIMULATE BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES
When laser light interacts with tissue, it causes certain photochemical reactions to occur and stimulates natural biological processes. Many of these reactions have beneficial effects on the body which help to control pain and accelerate healing.
LASER STIMULATE BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS
Laser therapy has been valuable in the treatment of a variety if conditions, including patient suffering acute, chronic or post-operative pain. Other conditions which have responded well are: arthritis, osteoarthritis, tendon and ligament problems (tendonitis), nerve root irritations (back and neck dysfunction), shoulder and back pain, repetitive strain injuries, TMJ, plantar fascitis, burns, wounds and a variety of other skin conditions.
LASER IS A PAINLESS FORM OF THERAPY
Low power lasers do not generate perceivable heat. Therefore, when the laser contacts the skin the patient experiences no warmth or burning as a result of the laser. Although certain nerves may be stimulated by the laser light, most people feel nothing at all while a few may feel a slight tingling during the treatment.
TREATMENTS ARE FEW AND RAPID
Treatments may last as little as 2 minutes or as long as 20 minutes. The total number of treatments required is usually 6 to 20, depending on the body’s natural healing rate. This will be different for each patient. The less severe or acute the condition, the fewer number of treatments required. The more severe or more chronic the condition, the greater number of treatments required.
RESULTS ARE RAPID AND SUSTAINABLE
While some patients get immediate results, other usually requires 3 to 6 treatments before there is a lasting effect. Again, each patient will respond differently according to his or her own body’s natural healing rate.
LASER TREATMENTS DO NOT COMPROMISE YOUR SCHEDULE
Although it is recommended that you come in daily for the first 3 visits, if this is not possible, 2 or 3 times per week is usually sufficient to maintain your cells in biostimulation. Your clinician is best able to develop a schedule tailored specifically to your condition.
Conditions that benefit from Laser Therapy:
- Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
- Ankylosing spondylitis (inflammation between the vertebrae of the spine and sacroiliac joint)
- Buerger’s disease (inflammation of the arteries, nerves and veins in the legs and arms)
- Osteoarthritis (degeneration of the cartilage that lines joints or formation of osteophytes – bony outgrowths)
- Frozen shoulder
- Radiculopathy (damage to the nerve roots that enter or leave the spine)
- Lumbago (lower back pain)
- Occipital and trigeminal neuralgia (severe pain of the trigeminal nerve)
- Headache and migraine pain
- Otis media (inflammation of the middle ear)
- Sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses)
- Fibrositis/Fibromyalgia
- Cervical vertebral syndrome (pain in the neck joints)
- Contusions
- Tennis epicondylitis (inflammation in the tendon that attaches the extensor muscles to the humerus)
- Golfer’s elbow (inflammation of the epicondyle (bony prominence) on the inner side of the elbow)
- Tendonitis (inflammation of a tendon)
- Bursitis (inflammation of a bursa – fluid filled pad that acts as a cushion at a pressure point in the body)
- Tenosynovitis (inflammation of the cartilage directly behind the kneecap)
- Sore heel cushion
- Plantar fascitis (heel spurs or inflammation of the fibrous connective tissue of the foot)
- Sciatica (pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve in the leg)
- Morton’s metatarsalgia (pain in the metatarsal bones in the foot)
- Post-operative pain
- Diabetic neuropathy (inflammation of the peripheral nerves between the central nervous system and other organs)
- Neuralgia (pain associated by the irritation or damage of a nerve)
- Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland)
- Teitze’s syndrome (inflammation of the rib cartilage)
- Muscular Pain
- Healing of wounds
- Lessening of pain in geriatric wearing of joints
- Warts
- Accelerating the healing of a fracture
- Sprains and Strains
- Intercostal Neuralgia
- Menstrual pain – reduces pain, increases regularity in cycles
- Immune System Modulation
- Muscle regeneration
- Nerve regeneration
- Bone regeneration
- Cerebral Palsy – reduces muscle spasm and increases the mobility of muscles
- Rheumatic pain and rheumatoid arthritis