What is low-level laser therapy?

Laser therapy, also called low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or cold laser therapy uses visible light radiation to produce a photochemical reaction within the body’s cells. LLLT does not emit heat and is why you might also hear people call it cold laser therapy. The treatment uses wavelengths within the visible light spectrum that falls between 400 to 760 nanometers (nm). These wavelengths can penetrate the skin and soft or hard tissues and have clinically proven to have a positive benefit on inflammation, pain and healing.

How Do Laser Treatments Work for Pain?

The Erchonia Laser is the only LLLT to receive FDA Clearance to treat overall nociceptive muscle skeletal pain which includes a vast range of conditions, such as:

• Arthritis

• Back pain

• Fibromyalgia

• Muscle strains

• Neck and shoulder pain

• Plantar fasciitis

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

• Ligament sprains

• Tendinitis

• Bursitis

• Tennis elbow

How Do Laser Treatments Work for Pain?

When you undergo LLLT, you expose your skin to photons, or particles of light that carry electromagnetic radiation. A portion of your cells, called the mitochondrion, absorbs the photons. This phenomenon causes your mitochondria to accelerate adenosine triphosphate production, which helps fuel cellular processes in the body. Some tissues, like muscles, have a lot of mitochondria because they need energy.

In addition to giving your cells an energy boost, LLLT improves circulation and speeds up tissue healing. Only cells and tissues that are normally dormant absorb the light energy emitted by an LLLT device, and it does not affect healthy cells.

How is low-level laser therapy administered?

During an LLLT session, your clinician will align the laser-emitting device over the painful area. The low-level laser will then penetrate your skin without causing pain or damage. Your cells will absorb the light energy and convert it into cell energy, suppressing pain and reducing the inflammatory pathways. The entire therapy procedure may only take a few minutes, but you might need to return for follow-up treatments a few times a week for a month or so. Published data shows that results have lasted up to a year.

What are the benefits?

Coping with pain can be a frustrating, time-consuming and sometimes risky experience. For example, turning to back surgery to relieve pain carries the risk of complications. Health experts recommend trying non-invasive treatments such as LLLT before agreeing to get an operation.

There are also issues with taking pain medications to find relief. Doctors typically suggest medicine such as acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain, but these often come with undesirable side effects or do little to help. For more severe pain, a doctor might prescribe an opioid, which carries a high risk of misuse. Patients who do not feel comfortable taking medications and who want an effective way to treat pain or inflammation might look toward LLLT.

Here are some of the benefits:

• Offers a cost-effective alternative to invasive surgeries

• Effectively reduces inflammation

• Accelerates tissue repair

• Increases blood flow

• Is safe and painless to use

• Features easy application

• Does not require the use of medicine

• Is free of side effects

• Has zero recovery time

• Is a quick, outpatient treatment

• Provides long-lasting relief

• Customizable to meet your needs

Book an appointment with Nicole or Conor to find our more about how laser can help you.