Think of it as a calculator… that subtracts pain!

What seems “new” is often not new at all…just new to us. Such is the case of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), often called Cold Laser Therapy.

In 2002 this “new” technology was introduced to the U.S. It has been used worldwide for a over 40 years in Asian and European countries and Australia for an incredible number of conditions.

The Low Level Laser is commonly called a cold laser because it DOES NOT PRODUCE HEAT IN THE TISSUES. Unlike many medical lasers, which produce heat that cuts, cauterizes, melts or reshapes human tissue, the cold laser actually stimulates tissue directly at the cellular level.

Low Level Laser Therapy has more than 2,000 published research reports and over 100 double blind positive studies confirming one very simple thing: It works. And boy, how!!

The studies have definitively proved that the cold laser can …

(1) REDUCE PAIN by stimulating cells to produce endorphins, a natural painkiller.

(2) PROMOTE FASTER HEALING by stimulating cells to increase the production of two major healing enzymes by as much as 75%; by improving the oxygenation of the tissue. The laser also stimulates the energy production center of the cells, the mitochondria, to produce up to 40% more energy, meaning the cells of the tissue being treated have more energy available for healing.

(3) REDUCE INFLAMMATION by as much as 75%.

(4) SPEED UP REPAIR OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE by stimulating cells called fibroblasts to increase collage production. Although various types of tissue make up the body, connective tissue is the most widely distributed. Collagen, the main component of connective tissues such as ligaments, tendons and muscular fascia, is the most common protein found in the body, making up an estimated 80% of our body. Collagen is the essential protein required to replace old tissue or to repair tissue injuries. Perhaps the most common example of collagen is the clear, sticky substance found around open wounds. Wounds are healed, or closed over, very rapidly by the application of laser light. There is also less scar tissue formed when laser light is applied to the area, since the rate of healing is improved.

(5) RELAX MUSCLES and muscle spasms.

(6) DECREASE SWELLING by stimulating lymphatic drainage. Laser studies conducted in 1987 and 1988 indicated that laser light is capable of doubling the size of lymphatic ducts in the area being treated, thereby rapidly removing the protein buildup that is found in edema. Another important aspect of the study showed that laser light was capable of “perfect” regeneration of the lymphatic system in the immediate area, no leakage, no confused networks of ducts. In the normal regeneration of lymphatic systems, the ducts are leaky and the duct network is complex and confused, leading to a tendency to have the same problem occur again in the same area. This makes the cold laser a perfect modality for dealing with an acute injury.

(7) INCREASE BLOOD FLOW by stimulating the formation of new capillaries in damaged tissue. This promotes better oxygen delivery, which is responsible for speeding up the healing process, closing wounds quickly and reducing scar tissue.

(8) ENHANCE THE IMMUNE SYSTEM by increasing the number of a type of white blood cell called “killer” cells by 400-900%.

(9) RE-ENERGIZE CELL MEMBRANES to allow transport of essential nutrients across cell walls (nutrients will not cross an injured or sick cell wall, thus slowing healing) allowing a healthy new cell to grow. This is perhaps the cold laser’s most important function.

With all of these functions that the cold laser provides, it’s crucial to remember one of the most important things about the cold laser:

There Are No Documented Side Effects! Not one!

There is also NO indication against using it. It can be used on pregnant women (Dr. Steve should know; he used it on his wife during two of her pregnancies). It can also be used on people with a pacemaker or other types of implanted electronic devices.

At Integrity Chiropractic we’re proud to use the Erchonia PL5000 Cold Laser. This is the same laser used exclusively by Lance Armstrong, the six-time Tour de France winner, as well as other elite professional athletes, including NFL football teams like the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. The U.S. Olympic Committee enthusiastically endorsed cold laser therapy in January of 2004.

Cold Laser can be used for a number of conditions and symptoms, including:

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Tennis elbow
• Plantar fascitis
• Bursitis
• Fibromyalgia
• Neck Pain, Back Pain
• Joint Sprains  
• Muscle strains  
• Tendonitis
• Arthritis
• Frozen Shoulder
• Bulging/Herniated spinal discs
• Headaches

In clinical work we have found that it greatly improves muscle strength almost immediately, and that it really improves our patients’ stiffness. Their sense of muscle tightness greatly decreases after cold laser treatments. Typically, they report an improvement of 30-50% in their pain level after just one treatment. There is no known “tissue problem” that is a contraindication against using the cold laser and it is impossible to “overdose” with it.

Our hope at Integrity Chiropractic is that other healthcare providers will eventually “latch” onto this technology and help to bring it forward to a more prominent position in healthcare in the United States. This technology offers a completely non-invasive option that provides so many physiologic advantages with no side effects!!

 

Hopefully, we’ll all see the light soon.

Take me back to Integrity Chiropractic