What is it?
Cold laser therapy is a type of healing process that includes low-intensity lights. The lights used in this kind of laser therapy aren’t intense enough to give off any heat and are very low levels of light compared to most types of laser therapy. Compared to different types of laser therapy, such as lasers with enough heat to destroy tumors, cold laser therapy gives off little to no heat and is much less intense. True to its name, surgical or aesthetic lasers heat the treated tissue, but cold laser therapy doesn’t.
Here are the different names for cold laser therapy:
- Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)
- Low Power Laser Therapy (LPLT)
- Soft laser biostimulation
- Photobiomodulation
It can also be used in conjunction with whole body cryotherapy, a service we offer at Francis Optimal Performance Chiropractic.
How does it work?
The procedure functions by supplying different wavelengths and low-level light directly to the intended area in need of healing. The body absorbs the supplied light and the red and near-infrared light react, which causes the damaged cells to respond physiologically to support regeneration. Different issues in tissues require different wavelengths to heal them. Superficial tissues are dealt with lighter and more shallow penetration between 500-700 nanometers (nm). Deeper penetration requires wavelengths from 780-950 nm. Each procedure only takes a few minutes with no burning or sensation on the skin, no vibration or sound, and no pain.
But why cold laser therapy?
Medical professionals such as doctors, dentists, and physical therapists have a variety of uses for cold laser therapy. They mainly use this non-intensive therapy for tissue repair or to relieve any inflammation or minor pains.
MINOR INJURIES
Sports medicine and some physical therapies use cold laser therapy often to treat minor sprains and injuries such as
- Ligament sprains
- Muscle strains
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Tennis elbow
- Neck pain
- Lower back pain
- Knee pain
- Multiple pains associated with muscle spasms
Cold laser therapy can also be used to reduce any swelling or to promote cell regeneration.
INFLAMMATION
Dentists use this type of treatment to treat any inflamed tissues in the mouth or to treat any ulcerations. Doctors use this kind of therapy to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other similar chronic autoimmune diseases.
ACHES AND PAINS
Clinics use LLLT to assist in relieving any acute or chronic pains from patients with conditions such as fibromyalgia or carpal tunnel syndrome.
SKIN REGENERATION
Another use of cold laser therapy, dermatologists can treat several skin problems such as
- Acne/acne scars
- Psoriasis
- Burns
- Vitiligo
- Swelling of the skin, also known as edema
- Dermatitis and rashes
Should you consider cold laser therapy?
With growing uses and even more in the future, medical professionals are beginning to recommend it more and more. It is easy to see why though, as cold laser therapy has several uses but still requires little time, little effort, and a painless procedure. Cold laser therapy is even approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is completely safe when practiced by a medical expert or specialized doctor. Another plus is cold laser therapy’s noninvasive fashion without any need for future medication. Although cold laser therapy has so many plusses, it shouldn’t be meant for everything such as any cancerous lesions, carcinomas, and shouldn’t be used on thyroids and eyes. Another warning is that the effect on newborn and unborn babies is unknown, so it is best to not receive any cold laser therapy while pregnant. Now although the actual procedure only takes a few minutes, it can take up to a month to actually start to see any results. Cold laser therapy is incredibly easy and painless, so for light trauma and similar troubles, therapy might be a very viable option when you take into account the different warnings and cautions.
So in conclusion…
Cold laser therapy is perfectly viable for most minor injuries and other conditions but isn’t recommended for any eye or thyroid treatment, and should not be used for cancerous lesions. LLLT is painless, doesn’t burn, and doesn’t give off any burning to the skin.
If you would like directions to our whole body cryotherapy near Wilmington, DE , click the link.
Related content: https://optimalperformancechiro.com/nine-tips-for-choosing-a-chiropractor/