Effects of Photobiomodulation

Enhanced Tissue Healing: Laser treatments enhance blood circulation and lymphatic drainage; release oxygen and nutrients from the bloodstream into the tissues and improve cellular metabolic activity to produce more cellular energy. With more energy available, damaged cells can be repaired and regenerated more quickly, and with better quality. 

Accelerated Tissue Repair and Cell Growth: Photons of light penetrate deeply into tissue and accelerate cellular reproduction and growth. The laser light increases the energy available to the cell so that the cell can take on nutrients faster and get rid of waste products more efficiently. As a result, the cells of tendons, ligaments, bones, nerves, and muscles are repaired faster. 

Faster Wound Healing: Fibroblasts are the building blocks of collagen, which is predominant in wound healing. Laser therapy stimulates fibroblast development in damaged tissue. Collagen is the essential protein required to replace old tissue or to repair tissue injuries. As a result, laser therapy is effective on open wounds, scars, and burns. 

Reduced Fibrous Scar Tissue Formation: Laser therapy reduces the formation of scar tissue following tissue damage from cuts, scratches, burns, or surgery by inducing the production of more normal type-1 collagen. Scar tissue is a primary source of chronic pain. Laser treatments should be given as soon as possible after any acute injury to promote type-1 collagen production and parallel alignment of the collagen fibers. 

Inflammation Modulation: Laser treatments modulate inflammation by causing vasodilation and activating the lymphatic drainage system. As a result, there is a reduction in swelling caused by bruising or inflammation. Try not to say that laser treatments are “anti-inflammatory”, they do not suppress or inhibit inflammation as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do. Rather, photobiomodulation with a class 4 therapy laser helps the body progress through the stages of inflammation more efficiently. 

Pain Management: Laser therapy can reduce the firing of the C-pain fibers that transmit signals of ‘pain’ from the cells to the brain. Increased blood circulation flushes away tissue irritants called ‘kinins’. Pain-modulating chemicals such as endorphins and enkephalins are released from the brain and adrenal gland. Increased cell membrane permeability encourages normal concentrations of ions across the cell membrane, and the resting potential of pain fibers is returned to -70 millivolts. 

Improved Vascular Activity: Laser therapy will significantly increase the formation of new capillaries in damaged tissue which speeds up the healing process, closes wounds quickly, and reduces scar tissue. Additional benefits include acceleration of angiogenesis, which causes temporary vasodilation, and an increase in the diameter of blood vessels. More blood flow equals faster healing and less pain.

Improved Nerve Function: Slow recovery of nerve function in damaged tissue can result in numbness and impaired limbs. Laser therapy will speed up the process of nerve cell reconnection and increase the amplitude of action potentials to optimize muscle action. 

Immune System Regulation: Laser therapy can both increase the local immune system response as well as have a positive effect on the whole-body immune response. Increased circulation and enhanced cellular energy production will enhance the activity of immune system cells, helping to reduce and fight infection. 

Trigger Points and Acupressure Points: Laser therapy reduces muscle trigger points and stimulates acupuncture points on a non-invasive basis providing musculoskeletal pain relief. Applying laser treatment before soft tissue manipulation techniques will initiate trigger point resolution and increase the effectiveness of the soft tissue work.