Low Level Laser Therapy Available at My Office

Here's a great Healthy Tip for Today!!
Low Level Laser Therapy is available at my office and is one of the primary reasons why my knee is healing as quickly as it is!  Day 14 since surgery and I am doing an hour on the bike with resistance, almost full flexion of the knee and my p.t. has me practicing my kicks in front of a mirror.  I'll be out jumping rope and running sooner than ever!
Here's some information on low level laser therapy.  This is a wonderful method to treat quite a number of pathologies, so call today and make an appointment and get yourself on the road to wellville.

(Text: Courtesy of Medical Laser Systems)


Lasers have been used safely as a therapeutic tool for over 30 years. Laser Therapy (LT) stimulates cellular activity that improves the speed and quality of healing. In over 1,800 publications worldwide, LT has demonstrated its non-invasive, non-toxic quality, and its ability to augment and in some cases, replace, pharmaceuticals and surgical intervention. Acupuncturists, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists, Dentists, Osteopaths and M.D.'s currently use LT for a variety of problems; including the treatment of acute pain and chronic degenerative conditions, improving the speed and quality of wound healing, and for muscle, tendon and ligament injuries. In addition, LT is utilized as an adjunctive treatment for neuropathies, sinusitis and IVF.

The Physiological Effects of Laser Therapy

- Biostimulation/Regeneration of Tissue

- Reduction of Inflammation

- Relief of Pain

How Does It Work?

Cellular homeostasis of the mitochondria is modified by laser irradiation, promoting a cascade of events in the respiratory chain of cytochromes, cytochrome oxidase and flavine dehydrogenase that permit absorption of light. The redox status of both mitochondria and cytoplasm are impacted, resulting in improved production of ATP (energy of the cell). When cellular membranes are irradiated, the flow of the membrane ion carriers sodium and potassium are altered, affecting the movement of calcium between cytoplasm and mitochondria. (Karu)1 . Cell proliferation, motility and secretion are altered when irradiated with laser with specific wavelength, intensity and dose.(Basford)3

Improved micro-circulation after laser irradiation promotes accelerated recovery after injury, resulting from reduced arteriolar and venular vessels and improved blood-flow in nutritional capillaries and activation of angiogenesis. (Zhao4 , Skobelkin5 , Kozlov6 ,and Telfer7 )

Collagen synthesis, proliferation of fibroblasts, faster edema reduction and enhanced lymph flow from LT can accelerate recovery after trauma, through improved edema resolution, regenerated blood and lymph vessels and tendon strength (Lievens8 ).

The improvements induced by laser on collagen production lead to significant increases in collagen content and tensile strength of wounds at one and two weeks following laser treatment (Lyon9 , Abergel10 ). Similarly, (Braverman11 ) and (Enwemeka11) found improved tensile strength in laser treated wound and tendon groups. Also, Enwemeka found that Laser Therapy not only improved the rate of healing; but led to a better quality of healing. Shoulder tendinitis showed statistical improvement after LT (England12 ).

Beneficial Effect on Nerve Cells and the Production of B-Endorphins

Laser light has a highly beneficial effect on nerve cells which blocks pain transmitted by these cells to the brain. Studies have shown that laser light increases the activity of the ATP-dependent NaK pump. In this case, laser light increases the potential difference across the cell membrane moving the resting potential further from the firing threshold, thus, decreasing nerve ending sensitivity. A less understood pain blocking mechanism involves the product of high levels of painkilling chemicals such as endorphins and enkephalins from the brain, adrenal gland and other areas, as a result of stimulation by laser light. Lombard concluded that the neuropharmacological analgesic effects of lasers are likely due to the release of serotonin acetylcholine at the site and in higher centers.

How is Laser Therapy Administered?

The laser is held against the skin in a contact mode. Many therapists recommend applying light to firm pressure to the area to distress the underlying blood vessels and tissue to improve the penetration of the energy. The laser is applied at a given power output for a specified period of time, to deliver the proper amount of laser energy, measured in joules. Dosages can range from 1 joule up to 30 or more, depending upon the condition being treated and the schedule of treatments. A wavelength is chosen which meets the absorption requirements of the condition, with wounds and aesthetic conditions benefiting from higher absorption (lower wavelengths), and deep tissue benefiting from deeper penetration (higher wavelengths). Normally, multiple treatments are needed to resolve chronic conditions and injuries. Laser can be directed to acupuncture points, trigger points, nerve endings and directly to the specific injury. Recent findings conclude that, with few exceptions, patients do better when treatment begins as quickly as possible. Patients usually do not take notice when the laser is applied because they do not receive ‘De Qi’ sensation normally felt with the application of acupuncture needles. Sometimes, patients will comment that they have a warm and comfortable feeling after the first 5 or 10 minutes during treatment. For musculoskeletal conditions, especially for chronic conditions, it is possible that the patient will feel more sore proceeding the treatment, but will experience great improvement over a 24 hour period of time following a laser session.

1Karu, T. Molecular mechanism of the therapeutic effect of low-intensity laser irradiation. Lasers in the Life Sciences, 1988:;2:53-74.

3Basford, J. Laser Therapy: Scientific Basis and clinical role, Orthopaedics, 1993;16:541-547.

4Zhao, Y, Yasudam S, Yamamoto M, et al. He-Ne lasr irradiation against rat adjuvant arthritis. Jap J Assoc.

Phys. Med. Balneol Climatol, 1990;53 No. 2:95-100.

5Skobelkin O, Kozlov V, Litwin G, et al. Blood microcirculation under laser physiotherapy and reflexotherapy in patients with lesions in vessels of low extremeties. Laser Therapy, 1190; 2 No.2; 69-77.

6Kozlov V, Terman O Builin V,et. al. Structural and functional basis at laser microvessels interaction. Proc of SPIE, 1993:48-55

7Telfer J, Filonenki N, Salansky N. Leg ulcers: Plastic surgery descent y laser therapy. Proc of SPIE, 1993;2086:258-261.

8Lievens, P. The influence of laser irradiation on the motricity of lymphatical system and on the wound healing process. InLT. Congress on Laser in Medicine and Surgery, Bologna, June 26-28, 1985.

9Lyons R, Abergel R, White R, et al. Biostimulation of wound healing in-vivo by a helium neon laser. Annals of Plastic Surgery, 1987;18:47-50.

10Abergel R, Lyons R, Castel J. Biostimulation of wound healing by lasers: experimental approaches in animal models and fibroblast cultures. J Dermatological Surgery Oncology, 1987;13:127-133.

11Enwemeka, C. Rodriquez O., Gall N., et. al, Correlative Ultrastructural and biomechanical changes induced in regenerating tendons exposed to laser photostimulation. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 1990: (Suppl.2)" 12-19.

12England S, Farrell J, Coppock G, et al. Low power laser therapy of shoulder tendonitis. Scand J Rheumatologoy, 1989;18:427-431.