Why Laser Therapy
Laser therapy is a type of non-invasive treatment that we offer at the Portland Backsmith because of its versatility and evidence based results. There is a growing body of literature to support how laser therapy can benefit a multitude of musculoskeletal and nerve conditions. It has even been shown to regenerate nerve tissue and help to decrease chronic nerve pain1! Products used for laser therapy are classified based on power output and range from Class I (<.0039mW) to Class IV (>500mW). The laser we use at our clinic is a Class IV laser which can reach 9W of therapeutic power. Lasers in this class are effective at alleviating pain, promoting tissue healing, improving mobility, and stimulating recovery. Due to its effect on increasing healing outcomes, laser therapy has become widely used as an essential tool in athletic training rooms across all major professional sports (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, FIFA, Olympic teams, etc.).
How It Works and What to Expect
There are many different aspects to what occurs during laser therapy that can explain why we see such good results with musculoskeletal and nerve injuries. Class IV lasers will produce a deep heating effect, increase circulation, and improve nutrient transport to the damaged cells. This works through a process called “photobiomodulation” where light is essentially converted into energy by the mitochondria in your cells2.
As for what to expect during a treatment, the following text was taken directly from the website of our laser products manufacturer and sums up the process very well:
“Laser therapy treatments last between 5 and 10 minutes depending on the condition being treated. Laser therapy treatments must be administered directly to skin, as laser light cannot penetrate through layers of clothing. You will feel a soothing warmth as the therapy is administered. Depending on the condition being treated, your therapy may be administered through either a contact or non-contact hand piece. The contact handpiece is designed to allow the practitioner to physically manipulate the tissue while administering the treatment, resulting in a laser-massage treatment. This allows for light to penetrate deeper into tissues than the non-contact handpiece due to it’s ability to displace tissue through a laser-massage technique. Patients generally see results after 3 to 5 treatments. Your doctor will develop a treatment plan that is optimal for your condition. Lasers work by flooding the tissue with photons, which energizes cells resulting in increased circulation to the injured area and ultimately pain reduction. Laser therapy allows your body to utilize it’s own healing powers by inducing a series of healing responses in your body. During treatment you will feel a soothing warmth that identifies the beginning of an 18-24 hour process of modulated cellular activity leading to decreased pain and inflammation.”
Treatable Conditions
There are many different conditions that can benefit from laser therapy and the literature has proven it to be especially effective in some specific situations. There are few known contraindications or side effects so it is commonly used in conjunction with other therapies. Laser has demonstrated benefits pre-surgically, post-surgically, as a substitute for surgery, in acute injury, and in chronic injury. Conditions that have been studied and are thought to be positively affected by laser therapy include3,4,5:
Neck pain
Low back Pain
Knee pain
Disc herniations
Sprains and strains
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Fibromyalgia
TMJ disorders
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS)
Tinnitus
Shoulder tendinopathies
Bursitis
Snapping hip
Plantar Fasciitis
Migraines
References:
Ana Laura Martins, Paulo Ségio Bossini, Nivaldo Antônio Parizotto (2016) Use of low level laser therapy to control neuropathic pain: A Systematic Review. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, 164 (B), 36-42.
Paulo C.L. Silveira, Emilio L. Streck, Ricardo A. Pinho (2007). Evaluation of mitochondrial respiratory chain activity in wound healing by low-level laser therapy: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, 86 (3), 279-282.
Haslerud, S., Magnussen, L. H., Joensen, J., Lopes, M. R. A. B., & Bjordal, J. M. (2015). The Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Therapy for Shoulder Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Physiotherapy Research International, 20(2), 108–125.
Cotler, H. B., Chow, R. T., Hamblin, M. R., & Carroll, J. (2015). The Use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) For Musculoskeletal Pain. MOJ orthopedics & rheumatology, 2(5)
Roberta T. Chow, Les Barnsley (2005) Systematic Review of the Literature of Low-Level Laser Therapy in the Management of Neck Pain. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 37(1), 46-52.