New technologies are providing alternative ways of helping to heal musculoskeletal injuries, and low level laser therapy can be a valuable additional therapy alongside chiropractic care. Darren Bell, DC, of Bell Chiropractic Injury and Pain, in Hamburg, New York, provides state-of-the-art low level laser therapy for patients who have muscular and joint pain to boost the natural healing process and relieve discomfort. Call the office today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.
Low Level Laser Therapy Q & A
What is low level laser therapy?
Low level laser therapy is a safe, painless, and effective method of treating chronic pain problems such as:
- Arthritis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Muscle pains
- Sprains and strains
- Repetitive strain injury (RSI)
- Frozen shoulder
- Nonunion fractures
- Neuropathic pain
- Disc injuries
Dr. Bell uses low level laser therapy as a complementary therapy alongside chiropractic approaches to musculoskeletal pain.
How does low level laser therapy work?
Low level laser therapy is also known as cold laser because, unlike other laser treatments, it doesn’t use heat to stimulate tissue repair.
Low level laser therapy uses red and near-infrared light beams. The light beams cause a photochemical reaction that boosts production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
ATP gives the cells in your body extra energy, which helps boost the natural healing process. The result is faster tissue repair, reduced inflammation, and an improvement in comfort.
What are the benefits of low level laser therapy?
Low level laser therapy has several significant benefits. Because the laser speeds up the growth and repair of cells, it means you can regain normal function of your muscles and joints much more quickly.
The anti-inflammatory action of the laser helps reduce swelling in the tissues and ease stiffness. Blood flow improves, which further aids healing, and the laser stimulates nerve function too, which can reduce pain and relieve numbness if you have a nerve-related condition.
Laser light also reduces scar tissue formation, which promotes a more complete recovery with less risk of injury or permanent weakness in the future.
Low level laser therapy is a safe form of treatment. Dr. Bell can use it right after you suffer an injury, and it’s safe to use when you have pins or plates.
Low level laser therapy won’t cause any adverse effects like how anti-inflammatory medication and painkillers can, and many patients find they don’t need medication with low level laser therapy.
How many low level laser therapy treatments would I need?
The number of low level laser therapy treatments you need depends on the severity of the tissue damage. Milder conditions might only require 1-2 treatment sessions. For more severe problems, you might need 6-10 sessions.
Dr. Bell recommends that patients start with 1-2 treatments each week for the first 2-4 weeks. After that, you might benefit from weekly low level laser therapy sessions for a few weeks or months.
To find out more about the benefits of low level laser therapy, call Bell Chiropractic Injury and Pain today or book an appointment online.
