Healing With Laser

June 7, 2023

Low-level laser. Therapeutic laser. Cold laser.

It can be advertised by many names.

Whatever the name you want to use, it spells RELIEF for many people.

I am going to talk about healing this month. Specifically, a tool that is a game changer for healing.

Therapeutic laser.

I have used laser in my clinic for almost 11 years. I can attest to the efficacy rate of over 90%.

After doing much research, I decided to add this tool to my “toolbox” to help people. The research I initially found revolved around using laser in burn units at hospitals. After having a great response myself with another unit, I was hooked on the possibility of helping more people with their injuries using therapeutic laser.

I made the investment and have never regretted the decision.

I have treated a wide variety of conditions with this wonderful tool. Everything from frozen shoulders, acute ankle or knee sprains, post surgical healing, jaws and tendinitis, to sore necks and backs. Pretty much anything and everything you can think of.

I have treated all ages with the laser. Young kids with sports injuries who are itching to get back on the field, court or ice to geriatric patients who wouldn’t tolerate a traditional treatment but yet were in need of relief from their chronic condition.

Laser therapy is effective, painless and safe. There are literally no side effects.

Let me repeat that…there are no side effects.

Results are often immediate in terms of pain relief, especially in acute cases. By reducing the formation of scar tissue after injuries such as burns, cuts, sprains and strains, the patient gets moving and back to normal life sooner than later.

It truly is a miracle biohack for healing.

The laser unit I use at my clinic uses pulsing infrared and near-infrared laser light at specific wavelengths which penetrate into the tissue. Here the light energy is converted into chemical or physical energy.

The laser energy then does 3 things:

Stimulates the ATP pathway of the cell

Remember high school biology? Okay, probably not. As a quick reminder of your yesteryear, ATP is the energy of the cell and this is created in the mitochondria. The laser light stimulates the mitochondria of the cell to produce more ATP. Cells that don’t have any energy are unable to heal effectively. The laser light is absorbed by the cell where it is converted into food energy so the cell is able to “re-charge” with ATP. Once this happens, the cells are able to replicate and divide and this will heal the injured area more quickly.

Decreases Inflammation

Inflammation equals swelling. While this is often looked at as a bad thing, it is actually a good thing that the body does to protect the injured area initially. If it is not controlled however, it can slow the healing process and make the person more immobile. Laser helps get the swelling to dissipate so it doesn't play havoc on healing.

Removes Pain

The laser light helps remove the pain signal at its source. The pain and tenderness associated with an acute or chronic condition are lessened very quickly with laser treatment. This is very important to someone who is very uncomfortable due to pain.

I have seen many conditions over the years respond favourably to the therapeutic laser. There are a couple of caveats as to who can receive laser treatment.

People who have had cancer treatment in the last five years are contraindicated to receiving laser treatment. You will recall from earlier in this blog that laser stimulates the cells to create more ATP. This, in essence, increases the metabolic activity of the cell. As you could guess, this is not a desired effect for someone within five years of cancer treatment, which is directed at cells not having the energy to replicate.

The other contraindication is putting laser on the abdomen of a pregnant woman. This again has to do with altering the metabolic activity of the developing cells. That’s a no-no for the little bambino.

Now that you know about therapeutic lasers, you may see them advertised at other health offices as well.

Some veterinarian offices have laser for the animals that come into their clinic. They may use the laser on any surgical cases, like spays and neuters, to help with wound healing. If Fluffy has a sore leg, laser may also be suggested. I particularly remember one person who was resistant to getting laser on her sore knee. She diligently asked me about her knee every month for almost a year. My answer never wavered: laser. One day, she actually came in for laser! She had decided that she was paying for laser for her pet’s leg so she might as well splurge for her own knee. After a series of laser treatments, she no longer mentions her knee pain.

This is one of many success stories that I have witnessed.

You may also see dentists who work with implants advertise laser. The laser heals where the incision is on the gum, allowing the implant process to quicken and the patient to have their teeth sooner. Yay!

To answer a common question: this is not the same sort of laser as is used for eye surgery or hair removal. :)

Okay, that’s the Cole’s notes on one of the best hacks for healing. If you are frustrated and don’t know what to do with a complaint, consider adding a laser to your treatment plan, either in conjunction with some other therapy or standalone.

You won’t be disappointed.