Advantages of Low Intensity Laser Therapy: Non-invasive, non toxic, painless, safe. Easily applied, comfortable. Highly effective for many disease conditions. Often makes surgical interventions unnecessary.
Patient Benefits:
- Eliminates pain & inflammation
- Eliminates use of pharmaceuticals
- Enhances the natural healing process
- Restores normal range of motion and physical function
- Increased blood flow & nutrients to damaged tissueStimulates tissue repair at the cellular level
- Breaks down scar tissue from cuts, burns, and post surgical wounds
- Increases nerve response allowing numb areas to come back to life
- Restores a normal lifestyle
- Restores normal sleep patterns
- Provides a treatment alternative for patients that have not responded to conventional medical therapies
- Reduces healing time Is cost effective
Short Term Effects:
- Production and release of beta-endorphins (these are morphine like substances naturally produced by various cells in the body that inhibit the sensation of pain – the body’s “natural pain killers”)
- Stimulates the natural production of cortisone. This enables the body to combat the stress associated with trauma or the disease process. The short-term effect is significant in 5-10% of cases during or after the conclusion of the initial treatment, but is not as important as the long term or cumulative effect
Long Term or Cumulative Effects:
- ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production is increased resulting in improved cellular metabolism.
- DNA (deoxyribonucleicacid)synthesis; the protein building block essential to the process of cell regeneration is substantially increased.
- Collagen Production Increases tensile strength of muscles, tendons and ligaments
- Endorphin Stimulation Morphine like substances produced by the body to reduce the sensation of pain.
- Modulation of cellular components involved in the healing process i.e. macrophages, fibroblasts, lymphocytes, etc.
- Neurotransmission is facilitated due to elevated levels of serotonin and aceytylcholine.
- Mitochondrial activity is stimulated resulting in cell replication etc. (i.e. replacement, regeneration and repair of abnormal cells).
- Cell Modulation of macrophages, fibroblasts, lymphocytes and other cells
- Regulates cell membrane potential, essential in Na, Cl and K ion transfer (electrolyte balance)
- Cytokines and other chemicals enhancing cellular communications are released.
- Stimulation of: Immune response, Lymphatic drainage (reduction in swelling).
- The formation of new capillaries and arterioles (angiogenesis) increases circulation to damaged tissue resulting in improved wound healing
BIOFLEX LASER
Laser Therapy uses red and infrared light for the relief of pain, to accelerate healing and decrease inflammation. When the light source is placed against the skin, the photons penetrate several centimetres and are absorbed by the mitochondria, the energy producing part of a cell. This energy fuels many positive physiological responses resulting in the restoration of normal cell morphology and function.
Unlike many pharmacological treatments that mask pain or only address the symptoms of disease, Laser Therapy 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.
Class 3B [medical therapeutic] lasers are the most peer-reviewed researched Low Intensity Laser Class, which prevents thermal damage to tissue and allows accurate dose control. (Class IV lasers do not, by nature of application, allow one to know the dose delivered to the tissue).
The monochromatic coherent and polarized characteristics of the therapeutic lasers permit penetration of deep tissues without affecting normal cells. Again, it should be noted that the end result is curative with regard to the pathology, rather than strictly symptom modulation which is the conventional approach for the management of pain.
CONDITIONS TREATED WITH LOW INTENSITY LASER THERAPY
General:
- Repetitive Stress Injury
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- TMJ
- Rotator Cuff Tear
- Dupuytren’s Contracture
- Fibromyalgia
- Epicondylitis
Injuries :
- Ligament and Tendon Tears
- Fractures with associated Soft Tissue
- Musculoskeletal Injuries
- Tendonitis
- Facet Joint Syndrome
- Bulging and Herniated Discs
- Frozen Shoulder
- Contusions
Inflammatory:
- Tendonitis
- Myositis
- Synovitis
- Bursitis
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Degenerative:
- Arthritis,
- Osteoarthritis
- Chondromalacia Patella
- Discogenic and Vertebrogenic
- Spinal Stenosis
- Calcifications (e.g. bone spurs)
- Sciatica/Radiculopathy
Other Applications:
- Wound Healing
- Dermal Ulcers: Venous stasis, Artherosclerotic, Contact, Diabetic
- Traumatic: Burns: Thermal, Chemical
- Gout / Arthritis
- Lymphedema
- Dermatology: Herpes Zoster (shingles), Eczemas, Psoriasis, Acne, Acne rosacea
- Neurological: Neuropathies, Bell's Palsy, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Peripheral nerve damage (trauma), Remodeling of dermal lesions/keloids
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What type of lasers do you use?
Our Low Intensity Lasers [cold lasers] are designed for medical therapeutic use. They are not surgical, cosmetic, or rudimentary. Surgical lasers are high intensity, high powered systems that generate intense heat, which cuts through human tissues. Cosmetic lasers are used for treatments such as hair removal. Rudimentary lasers are small usually hand held devices that are incapable of a broad range of protocols. Our advanced systems are approved for medical use by Health Canada, ISO and CSA, are FDA cleared, are Canadian technology in use worldwide and are designed by a Canadian vascular surgeon.
Is Low Intensity Laser Therapy safe?
Yes. Low Intensity Laser Therapy is perfectly safe. Cold Lasers were first used in Hungary in the 1960s and have been widely used around the globe ever since. There have been more than 1000 laboratory research studies and well over 100 clinical trials done without report of a single long-term negative side effect. There is no risk of an adverse outcome. For more information see our list of research studies.
Is Low Level Laser Therapy painful?
Laser therapy is completely pain free for most people. Some points can be sensitive due to physiological disturbances in the tissue and some very sensitive people may experience increased discomfort the day after the initial treatment or two, which is normal. It occurs because an injury is made “acute” when the process of healing starts, which is a short-term and positive sign that cells are responding to the treatment. There is no surgery, cutting or bleeding. Laser therapy iscompletely non-invasive.
How does Low Level Laser Therapy work?
To explain this we use an analogy. If a tomato plant is failing to thrive, but the soil is healthy and plenty of good water is used, what could be the problem? The plant is in the shade, lacking energy from the sun’s rays. Move the plant into a sunny spot and it will quickly thrive. You see, 50% of the sun’s rays are infra-red photons - particles of light. Our Low Intensity Lasers artificially synthesize and precisely reproduce the sun’s healthy rays. Through the microscopic beams the laser photons seek out and find the sick or injured cells, stimulating their natural healing process back to normal. Just like the tomato plant.
Where is this particular technology in use today?
The technology that Estevan Laser Health Clinic employs is currently being used across the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, Asia, the Middle East and Australia. In addition to healthcare professionals, a number of professional sports teams have used the same systems that we use for their injured players, including the Toronto Raptors and The Miami Heat of the NBA, The Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL, and the Toronto Blue Jays of MLB.
How many treatments are required?
The number of treatments will depend on the condition being treated and each person's response to laser therapy. Acute or recent injuries tend to need fewer treatments than chronic conditions. The severity of chronic conditions will be a determining factor in the number of required treatments.
When will I start to see positive results?
Most people start seeing positive results after the first treatment. A positive aspect of laser therapy is that pain can be alleviated as early as during the initial treatment itself. The most effective treatment plan is 2 – 3 times a week for 3 weeks and then if needed, once a week until the injury/pain is alleviated. Laser therapy treatments have been shown to be cumulative (the dose from one treatment lasts for some time, and what remains of the dose is added to the dose at the next treatment). Laser therapy will significantly speed the healing time. The injured area however, must be allowed to rest and any daily activities or exercise programs should be resumed gradually. Treatment should not be interrupted just because the pain is gone to allow tissue healing to occur.
What does Low Intensity Laser Therapy do?
By affecting and reversing the offending pathology at the cellular level, laser optimizes the restoration of normal cellular morphology and function, and symptoms disappear. The beneficial effects of laser therapy are cumulative over the course of a series of treatments.
Are there any contraindications?
Yes. There are two basic contraindications. Patients on photoactive medication and women in their first trimester of pregnancy. Appropriate clinical factors vary and must always be considered. A health history will be taken and evaluated before treatments can be initiated.
Are there any side-effects?
The use of laser therapy is safe, painless, drug free and highly effective. After 30 years of use, there are no known side-effects associated with laser therapy. The benefits of laser therapy are well documented and over 2500 research reports have been published world-wide. Studies show that up to 80% of people who have received laser therapy have responded positively to the therapy.
How long does a treatment take?
Treatments typically take from 30 to 60 minutes depending on the area being treated.
What should I wear to my appointments?
Clothing should be loose fitting and comfortable. In some instances, removal of a garment may be necessary. You will be draped or there will be a privacy curtain drawn around you.