Laser therapy is also known by its official term, 'photobiomodulation', or PBM. It is the application of red and infrared wavelengths of laser light to tissues, which absorb the photons of light and help the body with healing. The results are pain management, inflammation resolution, and enhanced tissue healing.

During each painless treatment, laser energy increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen, and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved.

There is little or no sensation during treatment. Occasionally you could feel mild, soothing warmth, or tingling. Areas of pain or inflammation may be sensitive for a little while after the treatment, and then usually feel better.

Laser therapy can help with pain, inflammation and tissue damage. Since the treatments are non-invasive and use non-ionizing laser light, they are very safe. Some common conditions treated with laser therapy are arthritic joints, acute injuries, neck and back pain, peripheral neuropathy, and more.

Other patients have experienced relief from these conditions: Tendinopathies, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Myofascial Trigger Points, Tennis Elbow, Neck Pain, Lower Back Pain, Rib Pain, Ligament Sprains, Muscle Strains, Repetitive Stress Injuries, Chondromalacia Patellae, Plantar Fasciitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Shoulder, Back & Knee Pain, Herpes Zoster (Shingles), Post-Traumatic Injury, Fibromyalgia, Diabetic Neuropathy, Sports Injuries, Auto & Work Related Injuries.

During more than twenty years of use by healthcare providers all over the world, very few side effects have ever been reported. Occasionally some old injuries or pain syndromes may feel aggravated for a few days, as the healing response is more active after treatment.

Laser therapy treatments are non-invasive. Most patients report feeling a soothing, relaxing sensation. Sometimes the treatment area will get a little warm, but laser treatments are never painful.

You may feel improvement in your condition (usually pain reduction) after the very first treatment. Sometimes you will not feel improvement for a number of treatments. This does not mean that the condition is not improving. Each treatment is cumulative and results are often felt after 3 or 4 sessions.

Laser Therapy is often used with other forms of treatment, including physical therapy, chiropractic, massage, soft tissue mobilization, electrotherapy and even following surgery. Other healing modalities are complementary and can be used with laser to increase the effectiveness of the treatment.

Yes, laser therapy treatments deliver light, which is reflected from metal. Patients who have metal surgical clips, joint replacements, spinal scoliosis rods or any other metal in the body can be treated with laser therapy.

No, the material will completely block the laser light. We’ve had cases where a hole was cut in the cast, to apply the laser to the body part. With bandages or taping, apply the laser when they are being changed, directly on the skin.

Acute conditions may be treated daily, particularly if they are accompanied by significant pain. More chronic problems respond better when treatments are received 2 to 3 times a week, tapering to once every week or two as improvement is seen.

This depends on the nature of the condition being treated. For some acute conditions 4 to 6 treatments may be sufficient. Those of a more chronic nature may require 6 to 12 (or more) treatments. Conditions such as severe arthritis may require ongoing periodic care to control pain.

Yes. The science of laser-tissue interactions started in the 1970's when Dr. Endre Mester discovered that red laser did not make cancer grow faster, but it did make shaved hair grow back more quickly. Since then, thousands of studies have been published on how laser therapy works, and the conditions that can benefit from laser therapy treatment.

The absolute contraindication is that you do not shine the laser directly into the eye. Relative contraindications include the following:

·         Thyroid gland

·         Spinal cord stimulators

·         Steroid shots

·         Pregnancy

·         Cancer

It should be noted that it is safe to laser adolescents with open growth plates and to laser directly over metal implants and joint replacements.

You can safely apply laser therapy over open growth plates. The treatments do not create deep heat in the plates / tissues. There are several studies concluding that infrared laser has no adverse effect on growth plates. And literally hundreds of human and animal adolescent patients have been treated with the laser, with no reported adverse effects.

Yes. Laser is light and would be reflected from the metal. It will not get absorbed and heat- up the metal like ultrasound does. You can safely treat over plates, pins, screws, knee, and hip replacements, and even metal clips for a patient who has had surgery. To demonstrate this, hold a metal object in your hand and run the laser over the back of your hand. You will be able to feel that the metal does not heat up.

No. Red and infrared laser light does not penetrate clothing very well, if at all. Treatments must be delivered directly on the skin to be effective. It is fraudulent to say that laser therapy treatments can be delivered through clothing.

Right away. Laser therapy should be administered as soon as possible after acute injuries, trauma, surgery, etc. If your immediate goal is to help with surgical incision healing, use a setting appropriate for that. Then address the inflammation, bruising and tissue healing.

Yes, laser treatments have synergistic effects with regenerative medicine. Not only will it help the transplanted cells survive, proliferate, and function but it will enhance/improve the general health of the tissue and structures being treated for optimal recovery. Also, the laser treatment can help with pain management associated with the multiple injections, reducing the need for long-acting opioid pain medications such as Percocet.

Class 4 laser therapy treatments increase blood circulation and lymphatic flow, and ice causes vasoconstriction and reduction in blood flow. If you want to ice the patient, do it before the laser treatment. Do not use ice after laser treatment, as this will negate the treatment benefits.

It is not required, but if decide that heat will be clinically beneficial, use it after. Class 4 laser treatments cause vasodilation and increase blood flow, so heat may help to extend the effect.

In most states, and in most health care professions the answer is yes. In all cases, Doctor supervision is recommended, with the physician on the premises during laser therapy treatments. Check with your laser company for more information.

Yes, you can treat over the skull and sinuses. When you are treating the skull and sinuses, the laser light is not entering directly into the eye, so there is no danger. Laser treatment for sinus problems, seasonal allergy symptoms, etc. can be very effective. This treatment should only be attempted after direct one-on-one training from a qualified company representative.

Yes! There is only small amount of infrared laser light that is reflected back from the patient. This reflected infrared laser light is not harmful, and clothing will completely block it and there is no exposure to the fetus. Also, the electromagnetic profile of a class 4 therapy laser laser is less than that of a clock radio. So yes, a pregnant woman can deliver class 4 laser therapy treatments.

Laser therapy treatments are non-invasive and use non-ionizing laser light. Therefore, by definition they are very safe. Photobiomodulation treatments with a class 4 therapy laser are one of the safest treatment modalities in a health care office! Occasionally a patient may feel a mild achiness or soreness in the treatment area. We should always warn the patient about this before their first treatment. The increase in blood flow and release of tissue toxins can cause the post-treatment soreness. Reassure the patient that there is no tissue damage, and in fact the soreness is a good sign, that the laser is creating changes in the tissues.

This will happen rarely when treatments are properly delivered. The increased blood flow and release of tissue toxins can sometimes cause post-treatment soreness. This will typically resolve in a few hours. You may want to reduce the power by 25% for the next laser Treatment. The incidence of post-treatment soreness diminishes with subsequent treatments. For severe cases of post-treatment soreness, have the patient apply ice, ten minutes on, ten minutes off. And for the most severe reactions, a topical analgesic such as Benzocaine may be necessary.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) classifies lasers according to the potential for injury to the eye, but in general lasers can be classified by power output with numbers from 1 through 4. Any laser with power greater than half a watt (or 500 milliwatts) is a class 4 laser, as well as surgical and industrial lasers. Class 4 therapeutic lasers are lower in power and the treatment beam diverges. Therefore the laser- tissue effect is therapeutic, not cutting, ablative or damaging.

When you purchase a class 4 therapy laser for your clinic, the company that sold your equipment is responsible for proper training for you and your staff members. There is no national certification required. You will need to appoint a Laser Safety Officer (LSO), and the laser company is also responsible for guiding you through that process.