Class IV Laser Therapy: A New Solution for Natural Healing
If you’re searching for “laser therapy near me,” you may be looking for an effective, non-invasive way to relieve pain and heal your body from an injury. Class IV Laser Therapy is a state of the art solution used by a variety of healthcare professionals to address a wide range of musculoskeletal issues, inflammatory conditions, and soft tissue injuries.
What is Class IV Laser Therapy?
It is a machine that emits near-infrared light as well as red light to stimulate rapid healing, tissue repair, and nerve regeneration. This device sounds a bit futuristic, but it has actually been around for a while. The FDA approved this form of laser therapy as an effective form of care for musculoskeletal issues in 2003.
How it works:
The laser speeds up tissue regeneration by increasing ATP (energy) production, speeding up the cell’s natural functions, and leading to healing up to 300 times faster than normal according to some sources. It accelerates soft tissue and bone repair, brings more blood flow to the area, improves nerve regeneration, it can increase collagen production, and even stimulate angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth). Considering it helps lower inflammation, it can expedite any healing process associated with inflammation. This specific type of laser differs from lower-powered lasers by delivering more energy, allowing for deeper penetration and quicker results.
The benefits of laser therapy are cumulative, meaning that each laser session builds upon the previous one. This isn’t just a temporary, quick fix or “bandaid treatment”. For the majority of our patients that use the laser, they notice immediate pain and/or symptom relief which is great; however, the healing continues to work on the cellular level inside the body even after you leave the office and go about your day. It goes beyond just helping you “feel better”.
What Are the Benefits of Class IV Laser Therapy?
Laser therapy is well known to help with the following issues:
- Arthritis
- Gout
- Sprains
- Ligament tearing/damage
- Neuropathy
- Tendonitis
- Stress fractures
- Muscle strains
- Swelling/edema
- Fibromyalgia
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Inflammation
What to Expect During a Session
If you’re considering laser therapy, I’m sure you’re wondering what a session and a care process would look like.
During a Class IV Laser Therapy session at Lighthouse Chiropractic and Wellness:
- A trained professional applies the laser to the affected area using a handheld device.
- The process is painless. Most patients just describe feeling a warm, soothing sensation.
- A typical session is quick, but effective- lasting anywhere from 5-15 minutes depending on the type and severity of the issue we are working on.
Most laser care plans involve 6-12 sessions to achieve long-lasting results; however, for longstanding chronic issues, it could take more sessions. Again, it is case by case depending on type and severity of issue. Are you repetitively doing the same thing that injured you in the first place? Athletes or individuals with physically demanding jobs may want to receive laser therapy sessions more often to help manage pain and inflammation and optimize their performance. Those with chronic conditions may schedule laser sessions on an ongoing basis to manage their symptoms. Most issues do not require ongoing care with the laser though.
There are many different options out there to achieve pain relief. We always recommend using a natural, non-invasive approach as a first line of defense. Approaches like chiropractic care, pain-relieving herbs, stretching, and icing are other great ways to alleviate pain naturally in addition to laser therapy. Want to book a laser therapy session at Lighthouse? Click here to schedule your first session. If you have questions about laser therapy or our other services at Lighthouse, contact us!
