Laser Therapy: Class IV LiteCure Laser

Introduction to Laser Therapy

What is Laser Therapy?

Laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses light energy (photobiomodulation) to control inflammation and reduce musculoskeletal pain. The laser (light energy) is absorbed by the body, which leads to a cascade of chemical responses. These responses lead to:

  • Faster healing.
  • Increased blood flow.
  • Decreased pain.

What is Photobiomodulation and how does it help?

Photobiomodulation is the biochemical effect of therapeutic laser, which occurs on a cellular level. It occurs when living tissues (including muscles, fascia, joints, nerves) are exposed to various dosages of energy at the different wavelengths of light emitted from lasers. The benefit that we feel from being in the sun is a form of photobiomodulation because the sun is a type of photoenergy.  When we are exposed to the energy of the therapeutic laser it triggers a cascade of physiological effects including:

  • Analgesia (decreased pain).
  • Inflammation (a certain amount of inflammation is normal in the early stages of an injury but may become abnormal or out of control if the injury is in the later stages).
  • Acceleration in tissue repair and wound healing.
  • Angiogenesis (increased circulation/blood flow and capillary formation).
  • Increased cellular activity (speeds up healing by increasing cellular energy).
  • Reduction in scar tissue formation.
  • Improved nerve function (including nerve injuries such as sciatica, carpal tunnel, thoracic outlet & disc herniation pain).
  • Stimulation of the immune system.
  • Stimulation of acupuncture points.

Additional facts about therapeutic laser (FAQ):

It reduces pain & inflammation without side effects.

During a laser therapy treatment photons (light energy) enter the tissue and interact with the cells. This interaction triggers events that lead to increased energy for cellular healing along with decreased pain and inflammation. Unlike medications, laser therapy reduces pain without undesirable side effects.

Laser therapy can be used for both acute and chronic conditions:

An acute condition is one that has occurred more recently (within a few days to a week). Laser therapy is particularly effective when it is administered as soon as possible following injury. The faster the inflammation is controlled, the faster the healing process and repair can begin. In the case of acute injuries (such as sprains, strains or acute neck or back pain), laser therapy helps restore the body to normal function more quickly.

Chronic conditions are injuries or conditions that have become persistent (lasing 3 months or longer). Following an injury the body goes through 3 normal stages of healing.

  • Inflammation
  • Repair
  • Remodeling

These 3 stages should occur within a specific time frame. Various factors will influence the bodies’ ability to transition through these 3 stages of healing in a timely manner. These may include the following:

  • General health (i.e.: diabetes, heart disease, inflammatory arthritis etc. can all have a negative impact on your bodies ability to heal from injury).
  • Lifestyle: smoking, overconsumption of alcohol and poor diet can impact your body’s ability to heal.
  • Stress, anxiety, depression.
  • Level of physical fitness prior to the injury or a previous injury.
  • Treatment of the injury early on: Treatments including: chiropractic, laser, myofascial release and exercise early on can help promote faster and more efficient healing of the body. If they are not initiated early on, dysfunction may persist and the injury may become chronic.

With chronic conditions, laser therapy is used most often to help combat persistent pain and inflammation. It can help to kick start the healing process, when in cases of chronic pain the body has become ‘stuck’ between the 3 phases of healing.

Treatments can be customized for each situation:

Lasers have larger power ranges and offer versatile treatment options. At Mountain Health our laser is a 10W laser that can be set to operate from 0.5 W all the way to 10 W. This allows us to treat a variety of conditions, quickly and easily.

Treatments feel good:

One common question related to laser therapy is “what does it feel like”? At Mountain Health & Performance the laser creates a gentle, soothing warmth. Many patients receiving Light Force Laser therapy treatments report enjoying the experience, especially when a massage ball treatment head is used to deliver a “laser massage”. Patients receiving treatments with high power lasers also frequently report a rapid decrease in pain.

Treatments are fast:

At Mountain Health and performance we utilize the highest-powered laser (10W) that is currently available in Canada. This allows us to deliver a lot of energy in a small amount of time, so that therapeutic dosages are achieved quickly. For people with packed schedules, fast and effective treatments are available.

Laser therapy is safe:

Lite Cure Medical Lasers are cleared by the FDA and adhere to strict standards in order to provide you with the safest non-invasive treatment option on the market. Laser therapy provides you with a safe and effective alternative to drugs and surgery.

Laser therapy is fast acting:

Most patient see some results within 3-5 short treatments. Lite cure medical lasers work by flooding the tissue with photons, which energizes the cells and increases circulation to the injured area- resulting in pain reduction.

Laser therapy is for athletes and non-athletes:

Laser therapy has been adopted as an essential pain management tool by athletic trainers in the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, FIFA and Olympic teams. Lite Cure medical is the preferred laser therapy manufacturer of professional trainers because it delivers consistent results. Elite athletes consistently rejoin the team faster when this energizing treatment is part of their treatment plan. Laser therapy is appropriate for people of all ages and fitness levels.
 
 

Mountain Health & Performance is back open for non-urgent care as of May 19th 2020! We will be following COVID-19 guidelines in our clinic to ensure the safety of our therapists and patients. Please call 604-984-0014 to book or click on the "book an appointment" button to book online.