Laser Therapy (Photobiomodulation)

Laser therapy is a non-invasive medical treatment that uses focused, high-intensity light (photobiomodulation) used to treat acute and chronic, inflammation, and accelerate tissue healing. By targeting specific wavelengths to damaged cells, it boosts cellular energy (ATP) to repair tissue, often used for musculoskeletal injuries, chronic pain, as well as pre- and post-surgery treatment to help control pain.

Our nervous system is composed of the brain and the spinal cord, which combine to form the central nervous system, and our sensory and motor nerves, which include the peripheral nervous system. Nerves send information about what is happening in our environment to the brain via the spinal cord. The brain then sends information back to our nerves, helping us to perform actions in response.

Laser therapy treatments must be administered directly to skin; you will feel a soothing warmth as the therapy is administered. Many patients receiving Therapy Laser treatments report enjoying the experience, especially when a massage-ball treatment head is used to deliver what is often referred to as a “laser massage.”

Laser therapy is generally considered a safe, FDA-cleared, non-invasive, and painless treatment for reducing pain, inflammation, and accelerating tissue healing. The biggest risk to injury during laser therapy treatments is to the eye, which is why certified, protective eyewear is always required during treatments.

With Laser therapy treatments are quick usually 3-10 minutes depending on the size, depth, and acuteness of the condition being treated. High-power lasers are able to deliver a lot of energy in a small amount of time, allowing therapeutic dosages to be achieved quickly.

Most clinicians will encourage their patients to receive 2-3 treatments per week as the therapy is initiated. There is a well-documented support that the benefits of laser therapy are cumulative, suggesting that plans for incorporating laser as part of a patient’s plan of care should involve early, frequent treatments that may be administered less frequently as the symptoms resolve.

The nature of the condition and the patient’s response to the treatments will play a key role in determining how many treatments will be needed. Most laser therapy plans of care will involve 6-12 treatments, with more treatment needed for longer standing, chronic conditions. Your doctor will develop a treatment plan that is optimal for your condition.

Patients often report improved sensation, including a therapeutic warmth and some analgesia immediately after the treatment. For noticeable changes in symptoms and condition, patients should undergo a series of treatments as the benefits of laser therapy from one treatment to the next are cumulative.

Laser therapy will not limit a patient’s activities.  The nature of a specific pathology and the current stage within the healing process will dictate appropriate activity levels.  Laser will often reduce pain which will make it easier to perform different activities and will often help restore more normal joint mechanics.  That being said, reduced pain should not overshadow the advice of a medical professional that understands how the laser will fit into a rehabilitation protocol when deciding how aggressively to push functional limits.