Laser therapy is used in physical therapy to provide pain relief and accelerate tissue regeneration, stimulating endorphin release for pain reduction.
Laser therapy sessions typically last only 10-15 minutes and how often you receive treatments may depend on several factors. We will review some general guidelines for including laser therapy into your healthcare plan in this article.
Frequency of Treatments
Laser therapy is FDA approved and uses stringent safety standards to keep patients safe, making it an excellent option for pain relief. Unfortunately, as with any treatment option, it may not work for everyone and may lead to mild side effects, including skin redness, tingling sensation and warm feelings – these typically subside quickly with further sessions.
Laser therapy treatments consist of having a technician hold a flashlight-sized handheld device for 30 to 9 minutes over an injured area, depending on what treatment type is necessary and its location. Patients have reported experiencing a soothing, warming sensation during these procedures that is both relaxing and comforting.
Laser light penetrates deep into tissues to increase energy production and accelerate cell repair, as well as increasing your body’s natural production of cytokines, enzymes that reduce inflammation and promote healing. This process, known as photobiomodulation, has proven highly successful in studies regarding neck pain and arthritis.
Many individuals report immediate relief following their first laser therapy treatment, with noticeable improvements to pain levels and range of motion immediately apparent afterward. Since laser therapy’s effects build upon each session, additional sessions may result in even greater pain relief.
Laser therapy treatment plans typically consist of 6 to 12 sessions; more may be necessary for chronic conditions. When you book your initial laser therapy appointment, our physical therapists will learn more about what’s causing you discomfort and develop a customized plan tailored specifically to you.
In certain instances, we may advise combining laser therapy with other modalities and physical therapy techniques for maximum effect in order to ensure successful recovery without surgery. This has proven successful.
No matter the source of your discomfort – be it an accident, sports injury or chronic condition – laser therapy may provide an invaluable way to accelerate healing and get you back doing what matters most quickly. To see if laser therapy might benefit you, arrange an appointment at our downtown New York City clinic today!
Initial Treatments
Laser therapy is used to treat various conditions, from muscle spasms and joint issues to hair loss. After conducting a physical evaluation, one of our dedicated physical therapists in Amherst, Williamsville, Grand Island, Kenmore West Seneca or North Tonawanda New York will assess which laser is appropriate for you and determine the amount of power needed.
Physical therapists at our physical therapy centers employ advanced Class IV laser technology to alleviate pain, promote healing and expedite recovery. Light energy penetrates the skin to trigger biochemical reactions within cells that improve circulation while decreasing inflammation and stimulating healing mechanisms. Patients typically feel soothing warmth during treatment sessions and many experience significant pain relief after only one or two sessions.
Laser treatments offer long-term and permanent relief from pain, unlike medications and opioids which only temporarily mask it. Light energy interacts with damaged cells to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which allows cells to absorb nutrients more effectively while eliminating waste more efficiently, speeding up healing time.
Laser therapy also increases capillary formation in damaged tissue, speeding the repair and healing of wounds more rapidly. Laser therapy is an excellent solution for chronic injuries or illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic joint pain, backache and neckache.
Laser therapy sessions typically last just minutes per session. One body area at a time will usually be treated, enabling your natural healing energies to focus solely on treating the problematic region.
At each treatment session, goggles will be worn to protect your eyes from laser light. Depending on what condition is being addressed, you may feel either slight warmth over affected areas or light pressure from a laser beam; some even find these treatments relaxing enough that they even fall asleep!
After treatments, it is common to experience temporary increases in pain in the treated area 6-24 hours post-session – this is a good sign! Your healing journey has begun and our clinical team will monitor your progress throughout your course of care.
Maintenance Treatments
As laser therapy provides long-term pain reduction and healing effects, many patients elect to include treatment sessions as part of their ongoing care plan. On average, six-12 sessions may be scheduled each month, though this may differ depending on your condition being addressed.
Laser therapy can be beneficial in treating many conditions, including neck and back pain, sciatica, arthritis, sports injuries, bursitis and plantar fasciitis as well as chronic injuries that have left people debilitated or in pain. Laser technology has proven its ability to effectively treat acute injuries as well as reduce inflammation without inflicting significant discomfort or side effects for most users.
Laser treatments work by sending photons into your tissue that interact with cytochrome c complex within mitochondria, stimulating enzyme production within your cells to boost metabolism and initiate natural healing processes in your body. This leads to an increase in blood flow, reduced inflammation and pain relief as well as an improvement in overall metabolism.
Laser therapy offers non-invasive pain relief without side effects like drugs or surgery do, often providing better pain relief than any other form of therapy, including medication that often produces unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
After receiving laser therapy, apply ointments or creams to your skin to avoid scab formation. Apply two to five times a day until the area feels comfortable without pain or irritation; in addition to this you should refrain from using any irritants until any redness and stinging have subsided completely.
Before your first laser session, avoid direct sunlight and tanning beds for two weeks prior. Additionally, those who wear pacemakers should avoid treating directly over them as this could interfere with its function and lead to serious complications. Finally, pregnant women should not utilize laser treatments as it may interfere with fetal development.
Visit your physical therapist to determine whether laser therapy would be beneficial to you, they can conduct a thorough assessment and develop an individual treatment plan based on your specific needs and recommend which laser type would provide maximum benefit – plus assist in scheduling initial sessions!
Follow-Up Treatments
Laser therapy offers noninvasive relief of pain and inflammation with minimal to no adverse side effects compared to medications, which often have unpleasant adverse reactions such as fatigue, loss of appetite, constipation diarrhea or nausea. Furthermore, it requires no downtime due to being noninvasive.
One of the reasons that laser therapy works so effectively is its non-blood chemistry-altering nature. Albert Einstein famously proposed in 1905 his quantum theory of light which states that light exists both as waves and as particles called photons; when laser beams are directed onto painful areas they penetrate tissue layers where mitochondria interact to trigger an increase in energy and decrease pain and inflammation.
Laser therapy can be applied to many different tissues, including muscle, bone, skin, ligaments and joints. It has proven its efficacy against osteoarthritis joint pain or sports injuries. Furthermore, laser therapy is an effective solution for chronic back pain that has shown to increase range of motion; decrease neck disk hernia pain; as well as help manage fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain conditions.
Laser therapy has many common cosmetic uses. From hair and tattoo removal, to combatting signs of aging like wrinkles and sagging skin. Furthermore, it can be used to reduce scars while simultaneously stimulating healing in wounds or burns.
Laser therapy is an FDA-approved solution that is capable of relieving pain for an array of conditions. It can serve as an invaluable addition to a physical therapy routine or aid recovery from surgery faster. Many patients report being able to stop taking painkillers after just a few sessions with laser therapy; to learn more about its potential advantages for you, speak to your physical therapist.
