Cold laser therapy uses a focused beam of light to treat musculoskeletal pain and reduce inflammation. It is also known to speed up wound healing and reduce swelling and it can be used to treat skin conditions such as acne and even possibly fungal or viral infections. Pain and swelling of the gums can be treated after tooth extraction and it can aid the healing of burn scars.
Short term relief is common for chronic neck pain and pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis but studies on low back pain have been inconclusive. Depending on the frequency of light used it can penetrate deep below the skin and can even be used for the relief of pain in major joints where cartilage has been worn away.
Many still consider it an experimental treatment but the scientific studies which are emerging seem to support the claims and the theoretical explanation appears sound. It is also non invasive and has not shown any significant side effects. Some people might require much more treatment than others to achieve the same results but it is still a safe and painless alternative or complementary treatment to medication and surgery.
Low level laser therapy (LLLT) as it is also known uses light of different frequencies to stimulate photochemical reactions in cells. There are a number of reactions which apparently occur and they can be beneficial in a number of ways.
Short term treatment of chronic pain is affected by the release of endorphins and serotonin and inflammation can be controlled by the suppression of enzymes such as prostaglandin which cause redness and swelling. Helpful healing enzymes are also released in the process and increased blood flow and nerve function will also assist in healing.
Certain conditions such as lymphedema can benefit from stimulation of lymphatic flow and by the reduction of scar tissue which can exacerbate the problem. When used to treat acne it will also shrink oil producing glands and kill bacteria, thereby reducing the incidence of new breakouts. For all skin treatments the skin is softened and plumped up and new cell growth is stimulated.
One possible mechanism of action might be the stimulation of mitochondrion to produce adenosine triphosphate or ATP which is used by cells for many different functions. It is used to transport energy within cells and is also used in cell division which means that it will enhance the function and growth of new cells. The final enzyme in the production of ATP does appear to accept light as an energy source which supports the theory that light can be used to stimulate its production.
There are many different types of laser that are available for therapeutic treatment and they are classified according to power, light frequency and whether they use pulsing light or not. The effective light range varies from visible red light at around 600m to infrared light which is barely visible to humans at over 900nm. The higher the frequency the deeper it will penetrate and infrared light will go beyond 1.5" below the skin surface.
The treatment regime is also very important to a successful outcome and cold laser therapy has to be done according to strict guidelines. For successful treatment the correct duration, power and light frequency has to be administered.
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