What is cold laser therapy?
Cold laser therapy, sometimes referred to as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), is type of laser medicine used often in physical therapy. Wavelengths of light help to stimulate and speed up the body’s natural healing of an affected area. Cold laser treatments can help to eliminate swelling and pain, reduce spasms, and ultimately improve functionality.
How does cold laser therapy work?
It’s an incredibly simple and painless process. Cold lasers are typically handheld devices, about the size of a flashlight. The low-power laser is focused on the injured part of the body for thirty seconds to a few minutes, depending on the area and required dosage. The laser’s light can penetrate as deep as 5 centimeters beyond the skin.
The results of cold laser therapy sounds like a snippet from a biology textbook. Light is made up of particles called photons. Lasers deliver these photons through the skin to the damaged cells. When the photons are absorbed by the cells, it increases the production of ATP – “the energy currency of life.” In turn, this extra energy helps cells recover back to a healthier state. It’s comparable to photosynthesis in plants, where sunlight is converted to energy to help the plant grow.
What makes cold laser therapy such an appealing option is that it is a non-invasive procedure, meaning no surgical incisions or prolonged recovery times. Plus, it does not involve taking any medications and has no serious side effects when properly used by a trained professional.
What can cold laser therapy treat?
Cold laser therapy has the ability to stimulate the cells in nerves, cartilage, ligaments, and muscles, which means it can treat a wide variety of conditions. Some of these can include:
- back pain
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- fibromyalgia pain
- joint disorders
- knee pain
- neck pain
- rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
- tendonitis and tendinopathy
Cold laser therapy offers relief for acute and chronic pain in most parts of the body. If you’re fed up with chronic pain, or want to try an alternative approach to healing a recent injury, call (713) 622-3456 or schedule an appointment online for a cold laser therapy session at Harper Wellness & Rehab Center today!