Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and Chiropractic

Therapeutic Benefits of Laser Therapy

• Anti-inflammatory Action: Laser light reduces swelling, leading to decreased pain, less stiffness, and a faster return to normal joint and muscle function.
• Rapid Cell repair: Laser light accelerates cellular reproduction and healing.
• Faster Wound Healing: Laser light stimulates fibroblast development and accelerates collagen synthesis in damaged tissue.
• Reduced Fibrous Tissue Formation: Laser light reduces formation of scar tissue, leading to more complete healing, with less chance of weakness and re-injury later.
• Increased Vascular Activity: Laser light increases blood flow to the injured area.
• Stimulated Nerve Function: Laser light speeds nerve cell processes, which may decrease pain and numbness associated with nerve-related conditions.

Conditions treated using laser therapy

• Acute soft tissue injuries e.g. sprains/strains
• Back and neck pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Chronic pain syndromes e.g. RSI, frozen shoulder, chronic low back pain
• Fractures and non-union fractures
• Nerve pain (Neuropathic pain) e.g. from disc injuries
• Ulcers e.g. diabetic ulcers
• Post operative care: Post operative pain, tendon repair, post mastectomy lymphoedema, infected wounds,
• Burns

Advantages of Low Level Laser Therapy over Medical Treatment

• Safe and quick results. Can be used immediately after injury, over pins, plates and bony prominences.
• Drug free pain relief without the unwanted side-effects. It doesn’t have side effects like some anti-inflammatory medication and painkillers.

Clinical effects of low level laser therapy

• Reduces swelling and inflammation: Stimulates lymphatic drainage to reduce swelling.
• Reduces healing time: Stimulates the cells around the injury to increase the speed, quality and strength of tissue repair.
• Pain relief: Inhibits the nerves related to the site of pain.

How does LLLT or Photomedicine therapy work?

Therapeutic lasers work by supplying energy to the body in the form of photons of light.

The tissues and cells then absorb this energy, where it is used to accelerate the normal rate of tissue healing.

The red and near infrared light (600nm – 1000nm) commonly used in LLLT can be produced by laser or high intensity LED. The intensity of LLLT laser and LEDs is not high like a surgical laser and there is no heating effect.

The effects of LLLT are photochemical, like photosynthesis in plants. The laser can affect cell membrane permeability and aid the production of ATP (the fuel for our cells) thereby providing the cell with more energy, which in turn means the cell is in optimum condition to play its part in a natural healing process.

Safety of Low Intensity Laser Therapy

Low level laser therapy is not harmful.

Lasers used for tissue stimulation have insufficient strength to damage cells.

Thirty years of clinical studies and clinical use have shown only mild, occasional adverse effects.

There are normally no adverse effects from LLLT, however you may occasionally experience mild ache after treatment.

This is due to a re-stimulation of the inflammatory phase and should settle down after 24 – 48 hours.

Frequency of Treatments

While some patients get immediate results, others require 6-10 treatments before seeing a lasting effect.

Less severe or acute injuries will require fewer treatments than chronic or severe conditions.

The treatment frequency recommendation is 1-2 times / week for 2-4 weeks, then 1 time / week for 2-6 weeks.

This clearly will vary from one person to the next depending on the type of injury, the length of time it has been present and how well you heal.

In summary

The use of a laser will help your injury heal quicker, it will reduce the pain and get you back to normal activities faster.

You can achieve this without any of the side-effects that you often get from taking painkillers.

The Advantages Of Low Intensity Laser Therapy is:

• It is safe
• Non-invasive
• Non-toxic
• Easily applied
• Highly effective
• No negative side effects

If this is something that you are interested in please contact Isis Chiropractic Centres here.