LL Laser therapy is a treatment that uses focused light. Unlike most light sources, light from a laser is tuned to specific wavelengths.
In simple yet realistic terms, the laser can be considered to be a form of light amplifier - it provides enhancement of particular properties of light energy.This allows it to be focused and can penetrate the skin tissues.
The correct application of low-power lasers over injuries or lesions relieves pain or stimulates and enhances cell function, thus improving wound and soft tissue healing, reducing inflammation and giving relief for both acute and chronic pain.
LLLT also reduces oxidative stress and increases ATP production within the cell. When LLLT is administered to acupuncture points the procedure may be called laser acupuncture.
What does Laser Therapy do?
- Stimulates cellular energy
- Triggers neuropathways
- Stimulates chemical release
- Promotes wound healing
- Reduces inflammation
- Relieves pain
- Increases cellular regeneration
Some Interesting Facts
- Laser therapy uses low-energy laser beams, instead of traditional acupuncture needles to influence acupuncture points.
- This is a non-invasive method of treatment and because you are not breaking the skin—there is zero risk of infection.
- Effectiveness can be enhanced because laser therapy allows you to treat points you otherwise might not be able to treat, due to patient age, sensitivity, or positioning. Perhaps the greatest advantage of laser therapy is that it's completely painless.
- The healing power of lasers was discovered over 40 years ago. ... Lasers are also used to accelerate healing, reduce inflammation, and reduce pain
- Recent studies on laser therapy have included advanced brain imaging, as well as several other modern protocols for measuring various physiological effects to the body. These studies show that laser therapy has physiological effects, not only locally, but also in the brain. In 1991, a study was done in Novosibirsk, Russia that applied directly to the study of this therapy. Researchers shined light on various parts of the body and found that light travelled under the skin to other acupuncture points, but it didn't travel to places that were not on (acupuncture) meridians. It appears that the body contains a sort of fibre optic network—where light enters a therapy point, travels through the meridian and can be detected at other places along the meridian with a sensitive photon detector. This is a fascinating study showing how light is received, used and transmitted throughout the body.
- Studies show that low-level lasers can help regenerate cells, decrease pain, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and stimulate hair growth, and stimulate those all-important Acupuncture points.
PBM Therapy Research Files
- This paper
from Harvard Medical School reviews the LLLT mechanisms and the biphasic dose response. It summarises the molecular and cellular mechanisms of LLLT, gives a scientific explanation for the biphasic dose response (why a low dose has a stimulatory effect and why a high dose inhibits). Low power densities tend to get better healing and anti-inflammatory effects where higher power densities are more likely to inhibit (which may be useful if you just want an analgesic effect).
WATCH THE INTRODUCTION TO LLLT VIDEO
Introduction to LLLT and dose response by Prof. Michael Hamblin, Wellman Centre for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School
International Dose Response Society - Hosted on Youtube by ASKJAMESON.com