What is laser therapy?

This is a Class IV laser therapy 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 cleared it in 2003) as an important form of care for musculoskeletal issues.

How does it work?

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, it can improve nerve regeneration, it can increase collagen production, and even stimulate new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis). Considering it helps lower inflammation, it can expedite any healing process associated with inflammation. It is well known to help with the following issues: 

• Arthritis
• Gout
• Sprains
• Ligament tearing/damage
• Neuropathy
• Tendonitis
• Stress fractures
• Muscle strains
• Swelling/edema
• Fibromyalgia
• Inflammation

What does the care process look like?

There is well-established support that 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”.

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.