What can Class IV laser therapy do?
It reduces pain and inflammation, and accelerates healing, all in a non-invasive and non-pharmacological way. Symptoms often improve within the first few treatments. Acute conditions are treated until resolution, while chronic conditions are treated until improvement is noted, then treated with reduced frequency to maintain the effect.
- Class IV laser therapy works to decrease pain perception through its effect on nerve cells and nociceptors, by increasing stimulation thresholds, reducing neuronal impulses, and increasing the release of tissue endorphins.
- Inflammation is reduced by decreasing the release of prostaglandins and inflammatory mediators, increasing macrophage activity and leukocytic phagocytosis, and by reducing edema through dilation of the lymphatic vessels and activation of the lymph drainage system.
- Healing is accelerated by increased blood flow from vasodilation, increased angiogenesis and capillary production, increased release of pro-healing cytokines, and the stimulation of fibroblast activity and collagen production.
Laser therapy is used as an adjunct to traditional treatment modalities and pharmacological agents, with medications being reduced in many cases. Although not a panacea, and not effective for every patient and condition, most patients with pain, inflammation or healing tissue are candidates for Class IV laser therapy.
Benefits of Cold Laser Therapy
1. Anti-Inflammation
Laser Therapy reduces inflammation with vasodilation, activation of the lymphatic drainage system, and reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators. As a result, inflammation, erythema, bruising, and edema are reduced.
2. Analgesic Effect
Laser Therapy of diseased and damaged tissue produces a suppression of nociceptors, an increase of stimulation threshold, and an increased release of tissue endorphins. The result is a decreased patient perception of pain.
3. Accelerated Tissue Repair and Cell Growth
Photons of light from lasers penetrate deeply into tissue and accelerate cellular reproduction and growth. Laser light increases the energy available to the cells so that they can take on nutrients and get rid of waste products more quickly.
4. Improved Vascular Activity
Laser light significantly increases the formation of new capillaries in damaged tissue. This speeds the healing process, resulting in more rapid wound closure.
5. Increased Metabolic Activity
The energy from photons of laser light is captured by chemical complexes within cells resulting in activation of enzyme systems and increased energy delivered into cellular metabolic processes.
6. Trigger Points and Acupuncture Points
Laser therapy stimulates muscle trigger and acupuncture points without mechanical invasion to provide musculoskeletal pain relief.
7. Reduced Fibrous Tissue Formation
Laser Therapy reduces the formation of scar tissue.
8. Improved Nerve Function
Slow recovery of nerve functions in damaged tissue results in numbness and impaired limbs. Laser therapy accelerates nerve cell regeneration.
9. Immunoregulation
Therapy laser photons have an effect on immune systems status through stimulation of immunoglobins and lymphocytes. Laser therapy energy is absorbed by chromophores (molecular enzymes) that react to laser light. The enzyme flavomono-nucleotide is activated and starts the production of ATP, which is the major carrier of cellular energy and the energy source for all chemical reactions in the cells.
10. Faster Wound Healing
Laser light stimulates fibroblast development. Fibroblasts produce collagen, which is predominant in wound healing in damaged tissue. Collagen is the essential protein required to replace old tissue or to repair tissue injuries. As a result, laser therapy is effective on open wounds and burns.