Cold Laser Therapy
Stimulate healing using low levels of light.
What is cold laser therapy?
Cold laser therapy is best described as low-intensity laser therapy used to stimulate healing through low light levels. There has been an increased case of awareness of soft laser biostimulation by Dr. Donna Splendore in Concord NH.
This technique gets the name 'cold’ as it uses low light levels that aren’t too hot to heat tissues in the body. When compared to the other forms of laser therapy – similar to the ones used for tumors and coagulate tissues, cold laser therapy contains the lowest levels of heat. Additionally, this technique doesn’t heat the tissues under treatment, unlike aesthetic and surgical lasers.
It is also referred to under various varying names. These include low-level laser therapy (LLLT), photobiomodulation, low-power laser therapy, and soft laser biostimulation.
What Ailments are treated by cold laser therapy?
Cold laser therapy is used in various medical fields, such as dentists, medical professions, doctors, and other physical therapists. The main uses, however, are tissue repair and pain and inflammation relief. The different methods can be categorized into various groups which include;
- Sprains and minor injuries
Photobiomodulation is widely used in physical therapy and other sports medicine practices. The chief use is minor injuries and sprains such as tennis elbow, muscle strains, bursitis, ligament sprains, back pain in the lower back region, tendonitis, knee pain, and muscle spasms.
- Inflammation
Cold laser therapy can also be applied by dentists to treat inflamed tissues in the mouth as well as lacerations. Additionally, it is also used by doctors to treat inflamed autoimmune chronic illnesses and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Pains and aches
Low-level laser therapy is a popular technique used in pain clinics. Usually, they use the procedure to assist patients with prolonged or severe pain. This includes people suffering from conditions such as fibromyalgia and carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Rejuvenating the skin
Cold laser therapy can be used to encourage skin rejuvenation. It is a recommended procedure by a dermatologist for skin conditions such as vitiligo, burns, acne and acne scars, rashes and dermatitis, edema and skin swelling, and psoriasis.
- Healing open wounds
Some difficult to heal wounds have positively responded to photobiomodulation. This includes wounds relating to diabetes.
- Acupuncture
There are numerous benefits acupuncturists claim you experience from an acupuncture session. However, some people are afraid of needles. Luckily, with low-level laser beams, you can achieve the same effects as an acupuncture session.
How cold laser therapy works
Simply put, the procedure works through disbursing a low amount of light on the targeted areas. The body tissue then absorbs the light. This process goes on till the end, where there’s cell regeneration.
Laser therapy often elicits fear in many people. However, with soft laser biostimulation, while the device does have direct contact with the skin, the process is painless. There’s also no heat, vibration, or harm during the process, and the treatment takes a few minutes.
What are the benefits of cold laser therapy?
If you fall under the categories where photobiomodulation is advised, you may be considering undertaking the procedure. However, you may want to understand better how the process will benefit you. Thus, here are a few of the ways soft laser biostimulation (Cold Laser Therapy) will help your life.
- A safe and non-invasive procedure
When you have an upcoming surgery, it is natural to worry and be concerned about the process. And rightly so, open surgery cases do have complications now and then. Fortunately, with the cold laser therapy technique, you’re assured of safety. The procedure doesn’t require any surgical procedures. Additionally, this novel procedure ensures you have a faster recovery process.
- No accompanying medication
After you’ve had a procedure, you’ll likely be given medication to help with the healing process. While medicine does help, it often comes with various side effects. When the recuperating process takes longer, you’ll most likely be on the medication and keep experiencing the side effects. Fortunately, with soft laser biostimulation, you don’t require any accompanying medication. This, coupled with the low rates of side effects registered; you can rest without worrying about the side effects.
- No side effects
Sometimes, the side effects come from the procedure itself and not the accompanying medication. Fortunately, as various studies and research have shown, there are no severe side effects of using photobiomodulation. When you are on the lookout for a safe technique with low risks and better recovery time and experience, then low-level laser therapy is your best bet.
Other benefits include;
- Cost-effective, both for the patient and provider
- Has an efficacy rate of more than 90 %
- It is a better alternative to analgesics and the other drugs which have strong and undesirable side effects.
The future of cold laser therapy
Numerous studies are being undertaken to increase the knowledge of light therapy better. In this instance, some of the projected areas where the technique could help include traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord injury.
Is it the right therapy for you?
At the end of the day, the one question that matters is whether the procedure is right for you. The evidence backing the benefits of cold light therapy are numerous and grand.
Additionally, it has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is a rising start amongst traditional medicine practices. The short and long answer is yes, cold laser therapy is the best option for you.
