A non-invasive effective treatment for pain relief and pain management.
What is Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)?
Low Level Laser Therapy for Pain Relief is a widely used application for the Photobiomodulation process. There are many clinical studies proving the efficacy of Laser Therapy (LLLT) for treating pain to explain biological processes within the body that are stimulated by light wavelengths, applied at particular powers and frequencies. Low Level Laser Therapy (also known as Cold Laser Therapy) is used as a stand alone therapy, or in combination with other rehabilitative therapies such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, sports massage, pilates and so on. The benefits of using Low Level Laser Therapy for pain relief are varied. LLLT is a non-invasive procedure, there are no adverse effects, it reduces the need for analgesic medication (which does carry side-effects), and in many cases Low Level Laser heals the source of inflammation or pain, rather than simply providing relief from it.
At Laser Medicine we successfully employ Low Level Laser Therapy to reduce pain and inflammation for many health conditions. Often, we find patients who have been in pain for many years (from chronic injury or fibromyalgia, for example) experience instant relief after a Cold Laser treatment, significantly improving their quality of life. Moreover, they find that the results are long lasting. In many cases, traditional medication has been unable to resolve pain successfully. In our experience, we feel that pain management is the greatest single benefit of Cold Laser or Low Level Laser Therapy.
Class 1 Laser | LED
Some Red Light Therapy | LED products on the market have increased the power output. Class 2 lasers are limited to a maximum output power of 1 milliwatt or one-thousandth of a watt (abbreviated to mW). The NovoThor Red Light Therapy bed is a good example.
Class 2 Laser
Class 1 devices cannot harm the eyes, which is why they are freely available for home use. Power output for Red Light Therapy | LED equipment is usually can increase up 500 mW to fall within a low power laser category. We recommend a number of Class 1 home use laser devices for our patients to use in between treatments in the clinic, including the Handy Cure Laser and the B Cure Laser.
Class 3b Laser
Class 3b Laser is widely used within most clinical Low Level Laser equipment used by the medical profession in the area of Photobiomodulation (PMBT). Class 3b Laser does not create a thermal effect so it does not burn, however Class 3b laser could damage the eyes if shone directly into them. Protective goggles are always worn and the treatment is administered by a professionally trained therapist.
Class 3b Laser is considered the most effective Red Light Therapy available and is employed for clinical trials and research in the Laser Therapy field. At Laser Medicine we use a variety of probes with different wavelengths and power output depending on the specific medical condition or type of treatment. Skin, as mentioned earlier, requires a different approach to for example, bone fracture repair.
NB. Class 4
Laser devices with an output power of above 500 mW can burn the skin. This kind of Laser should not be used for Low Level Laser | Photobiomodulation Therapy and is misleading if this is the manufacturer’s claim.
Laser Therapy for Musculoskeletal Conditions
We offer treatments for the improvement of many inflammatory musculoskeletal conditions, including:
- Sports injuries relevant to ligament, tendon, muscle and soft tissue damage.
- Acute & chronic back pain, including sciatic nerve pain.
- Neck pain.
- Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain).
- Epicondylitis (tennis elbow).
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (wrist pain).
- Achilles Tendinitis (leg pain).
- Adhesive Capsulitis (frozen shoulder).
- Fracture healing.
Laser Therapy for Inflammatory Disease
Pain is also relevant in many cases relating to the following health conditions. With Peripheral Neuropathy and Neuralgia, where there is nerve damage, Low Level Laser both resolves pain and heals the nerve, resulting in long term pain relief. We have developed highly effective protocols over many years for healing the following conditions:
- Rheumatoid & Osteo-arthritis.
- Chronic oedema (swelling & fluid retention).
- Headaches & migraines (including TMJ / jaw pain).
- Peripheral Neuropathy.
- Neuralgia (Post-Herpetic, Trigeminal).
- Fibromyalgia.
Pain relief is also relevant for the treatment of mental wellness.Please refer to our Services for addiction, stress, and depression.
Laser Medicine Laser Therapy Pain Protocols
Here’s the science: Therapeutic Laser works at three fundamental levels so that pain is addressed in a number of ways. We balance the lymphatic system to encourage the distribution of white blood cells to the necessary areas of the body for healing. As part of this process, endorphins (the body’s natural pain reliever) and enkephalins (related to endorphin) are released into the blood stream, which results in an analgesic effect. Laser Therapy (LLLT) also decreases nerve sensitivity by decreasing bradykinin, a pain eliciting chemical. Laser Therapy (LLLT) has a pain-blocking effect on certain nerve fibres, which are also play a major role in natural pain relief. Furthermore, Low Level Laser reduces inflammation, which is often the source of pain and discomfort for many of our patients.
Low Level Laser Therapy for Pain, Clinical Studies
Many clinical studies in Low Level Laser Therapy for pain relief now support a wide range of FDA approved equipment in the USA and across Europe.
On UK soil there is an increasing body of research studies, recognised by NICE that supports the efficacy of Low Level Laser Therapy for pain. View this work in the Laser Therapy field, recognised by NICE here.
For further information on clinical studies and trials that relate to the reduction of pain and inflammation please refer to the following:
Low Level Laser for Back Pain
Low Level Laser for Neck Pain
US National Library of Medicine
The Use of Low Level Laser for Musculoskeletal Pain
