Laser Therapy / LED Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Regarding Laser Therapy
What is Laser Therapy?
High Dose Laser Therapy (HDLT) is the use of light from a High Power Laser Diode or an array of luminous LED Diodes to eliminate pain, accelerate tissue healing and decrease inflammation.
Many pharmacological treatments mask pain or only address the symptoms of the disease. Laser Therapy actually treats the underlying condition or pathology to promote healing. This means that the treatments are effective and the benefits of Laser Therapy are long lasting.
What conditions can be treated with Laser Therapy?
Laser Therapy can be used to treat a broad range of medical conditions, including neurological and musculoskeletal problems, arthritis, sports injuries, wounds, chronic and degenerative conditions, and many dermatological problems.
How long does a treatment take?
Treatments can last between 10 minutes to 30 minutes depending on the condition and area being treated. These time frames are based on very specific protocols set out by your clinician to maximize the benefits in the shortest period of time. We use a very high powered, High Dose Class IV laser to penetrate deeper and accelerate healing in a shorter treatment times when compared to lower power Lasers. We also use a high power LED system to greatly increase the effectiveness .
How many treatments are needed?
The number of treatments will vary with regard to the individual problem as every patient and condition responds to Laser Therapy uniquely. In a recent clinical report on over 1,000 patients treated with the Laser Therapy System, patients averaged slightly less than 6-10 treatments to resolve their Acute Condition. For Chronic - Long Term Conditions 10-20 treatment may be needed. In some cases, additional maintenance treatments may be recommended. Like many other modalities, the total number of treatments depends on the age, severity, chronicity, and nature of the condition as well as factors regarding the patient's age, overall health, and even exercise levels.
Is Laser Therapy covered by private insurance plans?
Insurance does not cover or pay for Laser Therapy since this is such new technology. Rarely does insurance offer to pay for new, high tech therapies, they barely want to pay for older, traditional therapies.
Is Laser Therapy safe?
Hundreds of research studies have shown Laser Therapy to be safe and effective. Laser Therapy is non-invasive, non-toxic and non-thermal. Unlike other forms of radiation, Laser Therapy is beneficial rather than harmful to tissue. Our Laser Therapy and LED system are both FDA approved. There are very stringent safety protocols have to be met to ensure complete and continuous patient safety.
Are there any contraindications?
Yes. Laser Therapy should be avoided in the following instances:
Over the womb for women in their first trimester of pregnancy (as there have been very little studies on this)
Over cancerous tumors (as we do not want to increase angiogenesis and blood flow to such areas)
How does compare with other conventional treatments?
Laser Therapy is able to influence the cell pathology directly at the cellular level, resulting in therapeutic benefits that are long lasting and address the underlying condition or pathology. This is unlike many other conventional medical treatments which treat only the symptoms or site of pain, without addressing the source of pain.
Who uses Laser Therapy?
High Dose Laser Therapy is being used by an increasing number of physicians, physiotherapists, chiropractors, veterinarians, naturopaths and dentists across Canada, the United States, Europe, South America and Asia. The Laser Rehabilitation Clinic in Canada currently performs over 800 laser treatments a week, and that number is steadily increasing. Our Laser Therapy program is modeled after their set up. High Dose Laser Therapy Systems are also currently being used by a number of sports professionals: high performance organizations utilize the technology as the basic treatment platform for their athletic injuries.
How does Laser Therapy work?
Laser therapy is based on the principles that light photons of a certain wavelength will penetrate into cells and initiate increased levels of energy production which results in a higher level of metabolic enzyme activity which then translates directly to increase protein synthesis and tissues repair. More proteins produced by the cells, results in more tissue healing. Actual Healing of tissue rather than only treating the symptoms.
How does the Laser Therapy treatment fit in with Graston Technique, Active Release Technique, and other treatment modalities?
Laser Therapy is an adjunctive treatment to the other modalities. Where the outcomes of GT, ART, and other techniques may be to break down scar tissue and release adhesions, Laser therapy is intended to stimulate the cells to produce more proteins as a process of cell healing. HDLT is not a replacement of those other treatments but rather a supplement treatment to ensure that the cells and tissues heal as optimally as possible.