Cold laser therapy is a type of laser treatment that uses low levels of light to stimulate healing. It is also sometimes called soft laser or low-intensity laser light therapy (LLLT). Cold laser therapy has been used for over 30 years to treat a variety of conditions, including pain, inflammation, and tissue damage.
The FDA has cleared cold lasers for use in the United States, which means they have been determined to be safe and effective in treating a variety of musculoskeletal conditions.
One of the most common uses for cold laser therapy is to boost the healing of injuries. The only way to determine if the treatment is right for you is to consult a doctor that provides this treatment.
Let’s explore what cold laser therapy can be used for.
How Does Cold Laser Therapy Work Exactly?
Cold laser therapy uses light-emitting diodes directed at a specific body part that has been injured and/or is experiencing pain. A chemical reaction takes place when the photons come into contact with the cells of the injured tissue, stimulating cellular turnover, which brings about healing. It can also improve blood flow to the injury. With improved circulation, the nutrients and oxygen that the injury needs to heal reach the location where it is most needed. As cold laser therapy positively impacts healing, it also has the added benefit of relieving pain.
What Can Cold Laser Therapy Help Treat?
- Cold laser therapy has been used to treat conditions such as joint pain and has shown to help reduce inflammation in patients with arthritis, as well as improve the range of motion in joints that are stiff or painful.
- Cold laser therapy has also shown to be effective in treating nerve pain, such as that associated with herniated discs or sciatica, or when herniated discs begin to press on a nerve, causing pain in the lumbar region of the back, the buttock, and the back of the leg.
- For patients with physically active lifestyles, such as athletes and weekend warriors, cold laser therapy helps relieve muscle pain and spasms from overtraining and sports injuries such as muscle tears, sprains and strains, and tendon and ligament injuries.
- Cold laser therapy also helps boost wound and bruise healing, especially in patients with chronic non-healing wounds such as diabetics.
- The treatment is also used in pre- and post-surgical treatment, to make recovery more comfortable and boost surgery outcomes.
- Finally, cold laser therapy is sometimes used to treat conditions like TMJ disorder or fibromyalgia that cause widespread pain throughout the body.
Cold Laser Therapy in Sarasota, FL
If you are suffering from pain or an injury, our physical medicine doctor, Dr. Susan Aull at SA Aesthetics may use cold laser therapy as part of your treatment plan. Being a physical medicine specialist, Dr. Aull specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the musculoskeletal system, as well as neurological conditions, and offers many non-invasive treatments, such as the Multiwave locked system (MLS) laser therapy, biofeedback, acupuncture, and massage and physical therapy. To consult with Dr. Aull, call our office today at (941) 487-7244 or use our convenient online appointment request form.
