Low Level Laser Therapy - Pain Relief and Wound Healing (LLLT)
Some years after the invention of lasers, in 1967, a forward-thinking and curious Endre Mester of Semmelweis University performed a series of laser experiments on mice with skin cancer. After shaving the backs of a number of mice, he treated some of them with lasers and discovered that the hair on the treated mice grew back more quickly than those not treated.
Today, low level laser therapy, also known as LLLT, cold laser therapy and cold laser, is proving to be effective in the treatment of soft tissue injuries, chronic pain and wound healing. However, controlled scientific studies are underway using reliable low level laser devices for pain, wounds, injuries, and other conditions. If these studies show positive results, certain types of cold laser treatment may eventually become part of conventional medical care.
The term low level laser therapy refers to the use of low-intensity or low levels of laser light. Some providers claim that cold laser therapy can reduce pain and inflammation, but stronger proof is still needed.
But what exactly is low level laser therapy? Simply put it's the use of light emissions of either low intensity laser diodes or high intensity super luminous diodes anywhere from 250 milliwatts to 2000 milliwatts. This light source is placed directly on the skin so as to allow the photon energy to penetrate the tissue and the procedure is completely painless.
This relatively new therapy is an emerging medical technique whereby exposure to low levels of laser light stimulates or inhibits cellular function in the body, resulting, in many cases, but not all, in beneficial effects. Specific combinations of wavelength, duration and intensity of the treatments are still being explored.
One particular focus of interest is the treatment of inflammation, where the possible anti-inflammatory effects of low level laser irradiation is being compared to the current forms of treatment.
Low level laser therapy has proved effective in a number of reported Achilles heel injuries and in diabetic foot wound healing. The therapy has also proved to be successful in the reduction of oedema and inflammation and the re-establishment of arterial, venous and lymph microcirculation. Increased rates of ATP, RNA and DNA synthesis have also been noted.
Low level laser therapy is sometimes used in place of acupuncture where, instead of needles, laser beams are used to stimulate the body's acupoints. This treatment is for those who have a fear of needles.
Low level laser therapy has, in some cases, helped some people to finally quit smoking and the therapy is also being used (with mixed results) to treat herpes, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, wrinkles, cerebral palsy and a number of other conditions.
|
|
