Have you ever heard of cold laser? How about red light therapy? Cold laser therapy is low-intensity laser therapy that stimulates healing while using low levels of light. It is called “cold” laser due to the fact that it does not heat tissues, so you will not feel the laser. (Unless used on top of a tattoo or black hair.)

How does it work?

Cold lasers are handheld devices that are about the size of a flashlight. The laser is placed directly over the injured area from 30 seconds to several minutes. The time depends on the size of the area being treated and the dose provided by the cold laser unit.

During this time, the non-thermal photons of light that are emitted from the laser pass through the skins layers. This light has the ability to penetrate 2 to 5 centimeters below the skin. The light energy is absorbed in the cell and produces ATP (food source for the cell), which aids in healing the tissue. This also causes a reduction in pain, inflammation, and edema.

What conditions does it treat?

Cold laser can treat many conditions. Cold laser therapy can stimulate all cell types including muscle, ligament, cartilage, and nerves. Some of conditions that may typically be treated by cold laser therapy include:

• Arthritis pain
• Low back pain and sciatica
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Fibromyalgia pain
• Joint pain (elbow- golfers elbow, tennis elbow, knee, foot, shoulder)
• Tendonitis
• Burns
• Scars
• Acne
• Wounds
• Diabetic wounds

Patients do not typically get full relief or resolution from their pain symptoms after the first treatment. It takes a series of treatments, usually 6 to 30, depending on the severity and duration of the condition. There will be a noticeable change in pain after one visit though.

Testimony

Just recently I had a gentleman come into the office to try out cold laser. He has had a wound on the back of his head for over 5 years that has not healed. He has gone to every other doctor he could imagine, with multiple biopsies to make sure it wasn’t skin cancer. Ultimately, he has kept a band-aid on the top of the wound which didn’t allow any air flow. So first thing we did was take that band-aid off! I also started using (and having him use) tea tree oil on the wound multiple times a day. We used the cold laser on his head 3 times a week for about 4 weeks. Then backed off to once a week for 6 weeks. We did have a hiccup when he went to a dermatologist and she scrapped all the healing scab off his head! Which put us back a couple of weeks.

If you have a wound healing, do NOT scrape off the scab! A scab is a good thing! Leave it alone and let it fall off on its own. Tea tree oil also helps heal the skin faster.

My patient now doesn’t have any of the pain associated with the wound and we have a wound with new skin on it! It will take a while longer for the skin to not look pink and match the rest of his head, but we are both thrilled about the results we got in such a short time when he has been dealing with it for 5 years! I have backed him off to once every 2 weeks, due to him starting chiropractic care for his low back (now that he likes me).

This is a huge win for him, as he has never had a scab form over the wound. The picture doesn’t even do it justice. I am so proud of how far we have gotten in a short amount of time.

Results of cold laser therapy

–In results to osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis treatment with cold laser pain was decreased 70% in comparison to the placebo group.

–In another study on musculoskeletal disorders– “This meta-analysis presents evidence that Low Level Light Therapy is an effective treatment modality to reduce pain in adult patients with musculoskeletal disorders.”

For best results with cold laser patients often have to return to the doctor for 2 to 4 times per week, for 2-4 weeks (depending on the injury). Old injuries may be aggravated for a few days after treatments, but for most patients this is short term, lasting for a couple of days.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic adjustments along with cold laser can be very effective in treating pain and aide in healing. If you have any questions on cold laser or chiropractic care, give us or a chiropractor near you a call!

Chiropractic is whole body wellness and focuses on a LOT more than just low back or neck pain!

~Dr. Lacey~
Carder Chiropractic Clinic, INC.
El Reno, OK 73036