In addition to our variety of other services available, Integrative Health & Rehabilitation provides Denver laser therapy for pain.
If you’ve experienced chronic pain, inflammation, arthritis, or suffered a recent injury, laser therapy can speed your recovery. Low-level laser therapy can help you return to doing what you love without harmful drugs or dangerous surgeries.
LLLT is a revolutionary advancement in the world of medical technology. Laser therapy accelerates your body’s natural healing process to assist treatment of pain, inflammation, and arthritis.
Also called “Cold Laser Therapy”, it stimulates healing without increasing the tissue temperature of the area receiving treatment. This lack of increased heat is why it’s called “cold.” The light level is lower than surgical and aesthetic lasers that destroy tumors and cut tissues for surgery.
Cold laser therapy is also known as:
- Low-level laser therapy (LLLT)
- Low-power laser therapy (LPLT)
- Soft laser biostimulation
- Photobiomodulation
Laser therapy directly applies different wavelengths and outputs of low-level light to a targeted area. The body tissue then absorbs the light. The red and near-infrared light stimulates the cell’s mitochondria, stimulating healing and improved function. Cold laser therapy uses wavelengths between 600 and 700 nanometers (nm) for superficial tissues and wavelengths between 780 and 950 nm for deeper structures.
Although you may feel slight warming in the treatment area, the procedure is painless and non-invasive. There is typically no sound or vibration during the treatment; each treatment only takes a few minutes.
How Does Laser Therapy Relieve Pain?
Laser therapy utilizes a low-level, heat-free laser to stimulate the body at a cellular level. LLLT revitalizes damaged cells. When the light reaches the target area, it penetrates up to 3 inches of tissue depth. Once there, the laser light stimulates the mitochondria (the “engine” of a cell) to function better. Because there are mitochondria in muscle, nerve, ligament, tendon, and bone cells, this therapy can improve function and speed up the repair of injuries in all those tissues.
Specific wavelengths and frequencies of light affect different types of tissue. Given that different tissues respond to different combinations of these variables, this is used to maximize the benefits of treating tour specific injury or condition.
What Conditions Does Laser Therapy Help?
Cold laser therapy can address all types of injuries and ailments. Because of that, LLLT can treat many conditions, including:
- Neck pain
- Low back pain
- Knee pain
- Wrist pain
- Shoulder pain
- Headaches
- Muscle strains
- Ligament sprains
- Tennis elbow
- Plantar fasciitis
- Ankle sprains
- Sciatica
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Whiplash
For example, laser therapy in Denver can reduce swelling, strengthen joints, and improve the health of ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
The Science Behind Denver Laser Therapy for Pain
Over 4,000 research studies show that the light energy absorbed by the cells through LLLT stimulates the mitochondria to increase the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the primary source of energy for our cells. Increasing energy production in cells improves the function of any cell, speeding up the healing process of injured or damaged tissue.
Cold laser therapy uses light photons introduced to your skin with a wand containing several light-emitting diodes. When photons enter your skin and pass through injured tissue, chemical changes to the mitochondria of the cells occur, signaling them to increase the production of adenosine triphosphate. It’s believed that the increase in ATP production stimulates tissue healing.
However, not just any light will stimulate the healing process. Low-level laser therapy, typically at 600- to 1,000-nanometer wavelength, can increase blood flow and improve recovery in injured tissues.
Is Denver Laser Therapy for Pain Safe?
The proof of cold laser therapy’s benefits is its increasingly popularity in both all types of healthcare. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved laser therapy for many conditions, including neck and shoulder pain, low back pain, plantar fasciitis, and much more.
Cold laser therapy is safe when performed on eligible conditions by a doctor or qualified practitioner. Non-invasive and painless, it does not cause any swelling or irritation. No medication or additional preparation is needed to benefit from this procedure. Still, it is commonly used with other forms of treatment to address many types of injuries and conditions.
Laser Therapy is a Natural Pain Relief Solution
LLLT can be used alone or combined with other types of treatment. Simply put, cold laser therapy addresses the body as a whole and lends itself to optimal wellness. Say “No” more to nagging aches and pains by saying “Yes” to LLLT. A safe, natural treatment.
Side Effects of Denver Laser Therapy for Pain Relief
Because of its many benefits and few side effects, cold laser therapy’s popularity is growing in traditional and alternative medical practices. The FDA approves laser therapy for several conditions. Cold laser therapy is safe when performed under a doctor’s or qualified practitioner’s care. It’s non-invasive, painless, and doesn’t require additional medication or preparation.
However, LLLT should not be used to treat carcinomas, cancerous lesions, the thyroid, or the eyes. Because the effect of cold laser therapy on unborn children is unknown, pregnant women should probably avoid this typically safe therapy.
If you’ve experienced an injury causing pain and inflammation, our providers are specially trained to deal with your specific injuries. Our doctors can use a variety of treatments to help relieve your pain and speed up your healing. Laser therapy is also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), is a proven treatment for many conditions.
Laser therapy is a low-intensity light applied to injured or inflamed tissue. The low-intensity light, called “cold laser,” is thought to improve blood flow and decrease pain and inflammation in injured tissues.
Differing from the high-intensity laser that a surgeon may use to cut through tissues, LLLT can be used without injuring tissue. The light-emitting diodes in cold laser therapy are not powerful enough to cut tissue. Still, they are strong enough to penetrate your skin and promote healing after injury.
Types of Conditions Treated by Laser Therapy
Your healthcare provider may use cold laser therapy to treat various conditions. These may include, but are not limited to:
- Arthritis
- Tendonitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Ligament sprains
- Muscle strains
- Joint pain
- Fibromyalgia pain
- Frozen shoulder
- Bursitis
- Soft tissue injuries and burns
In fact, almost any soft tissue injury that causes pain or inflammation in your body may benefit from cold laser therapy.
Pros and Cons of Denver Laser Therapy for Pain
When deciding to have cold last therapy for your injury, your healthcare provider should explain the treatment’s goals. Also, they should discuss with you the expected benefits and risks associated with cold laser therapy.
Pros of cold laser therapy include:
- Treatment is non-invasive.
- Treatment is typically painless.
- Cold laser therapy may help your injury heal faster.
While the risks of cold laser therapy are minimal, you should understand them. Cons to having the procedure done may include:
- You may need several treatments to realize positive results.
- Treatment may be expensive, especially if your health insurance does not cover the therapy. Fortunately, we offer special discounts on all of our care through a free DMCO called Patient Options.
- Some research indicates that cold laser treatments are no better than placebo (treatment with no therapeutic value) for musculoskeletal injuries.
Nonetheless, having realistic expectations of using cold laser therapy for your injury can help you decide whether to have the treatment.
What to Expect from Laser Therapy
Suppose you and your healthcare provider use cold laser therapy for your injury. In that case, it helps to understand what to expect during the treatment. Fortunately, the advanced lasers that are used at Integrative Health and Rehab do not require you to wear eye protection during your treatment. However, other offices with older technology may require eye protection during your treatment. The doctor will hold a device, about the size of a cell phone, with light-emitting diodes over the treatment area. s for a few minutes. Treatment times can vary from two to five minutes.
Effectiveness of Denver Laser Therapy for Pain
When choosing to have cold laser therapy treatments, you should know the research surrounding the therapy. Some research supports using low-level lasers for back pain, neck pain, and tendonitis.
A 2015 meta-analysis (examining data from many independent studies) found that cold laser treatments can reduce pain in people with low back pain. On this occasion, the studies did not show an increase in functional movement, however.
In contrast, many studies have shown decreased joint pain with cold laser therapy. However, there appeared to be no additional improvement in overall function in patients getting the treatment.
Suppose you have tendonitis (inflammation of a tendon, which attaches muscle to bone) or tenosynovitis (inflammation of the tendon and the sheath surrounding it). In that case, your healthcare practitioner may use laser therapy for you.
Laser Therapy Treatment for Chronic Pain
By and large, experiencing chronic pain affects every area of our lives. Thankfully, there are many different options to help reduce and manage pain. While research regarding cold laser treatments is limited, published data indicate that it may decrease pain for specific conditions. Still, it may need to do more to improve its function.
Because pain management is multifaceted, it’s important to discuss additional rehabilitation techniques. For instance, our office frequently combines cold laser therapy with other treatments, including chiropractic, acupuncture, and dry needling.
FAQ
Does Denver Laser Therapy for Pain Hurt?
Not at all. At most, you might feel a warm sensation or slight tingling. This is the body’s natural response to stimulated nerves and will disappear shortly after your session.
Is Medication Needed for Laser Therapy?
Cold laser therapy does not rely on any medication. It is a drug-free, non-invasive therapy that can be used on almost every body part.
How Long Does it Take for Laser Therapy to Work?
For the most part, every patient heals at a different rate. The frequency of care will be determined based on your response to cold laser therapy and the type of injury or complaint you suffer from. Be sure to contact our practice with any questions or concerns about your personal circumstances.
How Long Does Laser Therapy Last?
Typically, a cold laser therapy session lasts between four and 10 minutes. Six to 20 minutes is the average time it takes from start to finish. Before your procedure, we will determine the extent of your injuries and the estimated length of care. Treatment time depends on your complaint’s type, severity, and location.
Typically, most patients experience immediate results after their first LLLT treatment, while some patients may need 2 to 3 treatments before noticing significant changes.
Contact Us Today
Do what is best for your health! Cold laser therapy may be the solution to the pain and discomfort that you have long awaited. If you have questions, contact us today!
Integrative Health & Rehabilitation today to learn more about cold laser therapy and how it might positively affect your health. Our professional team looks forward to getting to know you and helping you live a happier, healthier life. Our office is conveniently located for patients in Arvada, Denver, and Wheat Ridge, Colorado!
Lastly, learn more about the conditions we treat and the benefits of the many types of treatment we provide on our Health Articles page.