Laser
"I was apprehensive when the Physical Therapist told me my back pain would diminish following the first treatment. I'm astonished now... I can’t believe it worked so fast." Mary K
How the LASER works
The health benefits of cold laser therapy can be roughly divided into three categories:
- Reduce inflammation
- Reduce pain
- Accelerate tissue repair
Reduce Inflammation
Immediately after an acute injury, the body undergoes a complex series of reactions designed to stop bleeding and initiate the tissue repair process. This process normally includes edema, inflammation, and pain. These reactions are designed to protect the damaged area while the body repairs itself. Laser therapy has been shown to reduce inflammation by increasing the amount of vasodilation (opening of blood vessels) and anti-inflammatory components that are connected to inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
Reduce Pain
Laser treatments have been shown to stimulate increased levels of endorphins that serve as natural analgesics to reduce pain.
Accelerate Tissue Repair
To enhance tissue repair, laser light affects the mitochondria (power house of the cells). The mitochondria is the part of the cell responsible for producing the chemical energy of the cell. Laser light has been shown to greatly accelerate the production of energy (ATP), thus speeding up the overall activity of the cell. In cells responsible for repairing tissue, including bone, muscle, ligament, skin, and even nerves, this results in an increased rate of repair.
These explanations are only a sample of a large list of mechanisms shown to be affected by laser therapy. (Click here if you are interested in learning more about the cold Laser treatment)
