For years, physicians have been using cold laser therapy or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on patients who are seeking effective, alternative methods for pain relief.
How Cold Lasers Work
Cold Laser Therapy or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a treatment that utilises specific wavelengths of light to interact with tissue and is thought to help accelerate the healing process. It can be used on patients who suffer from a variety of acute and chronic conditions in order to help eliminate pain, swelling, reduce spasms and increase functionality.
Cold lasers are handheld devices and is placed directly not only over the injured area but associated areas that impact on healing such as blood supply and lymphatic drainage. The duration of treatment will vary dependent on the type of injury, age of the patient and stage of healing.
During this time, the non-thermal photons of light that are emitted from the laser pass through the skins layers (the dermis, epidermis, and the subcutaneous tissue or tissue fat under the skin). This light has the ability to penetrate 2 to 5 centimeters below the skin at 90mw and 830nm. As this is a low level laser utilizing the photo effect (there is no thermal effect) you do not feel anything.
Cold laser therapy can stimulate all cell types including muscle, ligament, cartilage, nerves, etc., so a number of conditions can be treated by cold laser therapy. Some of conditions that may typically be treated by cold laser therapy include:
- Arthritis pain
- Back pain
- Temporomandibular Disorders
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Fibromyalgia pain
- Knee pain
- Planterfasciitis
- Neck pain
- Tendinitis
Effectiveness of Cold Laser Therapy
Since 1967 there have been over 2,500 clinical studies published worldwide. Many of these studies are double-blinded, placebo-controlled and have demonstrated cold laser therapy to be a proven method for pain relief.
Here at Spine Central we use Multi Radiance lasers.