ServicesWhat is laser therapy?
How does laser acupuncture work?
What is the mechanism of action?
For what conditions is laser treatment indicated?
Is it safe?
What type of laser does LVS have?
A laser unit emits light at a specific wavelength that has several effects on the body. Therapeutic laser is also called Low Level Laser or Cold Laser, to distinguish it from “hot” surgical laser. So while surgical laser is powerful enough to slice tissue like a knife, low level laser is less powerful. It does not cut, and provided it is not over-used, it does not burn, but low level laser does penetrate tissue.
How does laser acupuncture work?
Research shows that laser light can penetrate tissue as deeply as acupuncture needles. In fact it penetrates best at acupuncture points because these surface points have reduced electrical resistance where specific nerves and blood vessels are able to receive the input. This means that when the laser stimulates electrons they can flow more easily to the nervous system. The effect is accelerated healing and pain reduction.
What is the mechanism of action?
Laser works at the area of pain or dysfunction by affecting blood flow and local cell metabolism. It also works in other parts of the body remote from the injured area. Signals are sent from the acupoint to the spinal cord, where pain is dampened. Information can travel from the spinal cord to the brain, where additional pain-relieving mechanisms are initiated.
For what conditions is laser treatment indicated?
Laser is well known for its influence on wound healing. But laser treatment can be used for many other conditions that respond to acupuncture including medical conditions, pain, and musculoskeletal problems. It is particularly helpful for patients that find needles too painful. Animals that get jittery with needles seem to appreciate the laser unit!
The laser I use is safe and animals love the effects! Laser treatment is safe when used as directed, which means keeping the dose of laser light appropriate for the size and medical condition of the patient. It should not be shined directly into the eyes. It should also be avoided over a bleeding wound or pregnant uterus.
What type of laser does LVS have?
For the technical minded who may want to look up details on different laser types, the one I use has two heads: two 150 mW 808 nm near infra-red beams and three 5 mW 635 nm red visible beams. We have chosen a class III laser instead of LED for the magnified power, speed of treatment, and tissue penetration.
For a short and simple review of new research on how laser works to treat pain, see Dr. Robinson’s article here. Scroll all the way down and you will find the article titled Laser Therapy for Pain
For a detailed article on cellular effects of laser acupuncture for various conditions, go here.