online is a field where many practitioners get frustrated. Inside our clinic we see it on a regular basis as a lot of the more difficult cases can be found in after they have observed everyone else and a chiropractor is their last resort. Chronic pain doesn't always imply that we must do more, sometimes what appears like an extremely little treatment can produce marvelous results.
Take laser therapy for instance; this can be a popular treatment now from from foot fungus to weight reduction. Now personally I haven't seen the studies that it's effective for all of the many uses folks are finding for it but I do know from the research and from my very own clinical experience that it's an effective therapy for pain management in conjunction with some of the more traditional methods like physical therapy, chiropractic, acute injury and chronic injury management protocols and dynamic neuromuscular stabilization.
Lasers for use in pain therapy are starting to gain recognition in this country. The FDA cleared Low Level Laser Therapy for used in pain, inflammation, and wound healing in 2002; however, the benefits of LLLT have been recognized and successfully used overseas for decades. Studies have shown LLLT to reduce neck and back pain by around 70% without known side effects.
The theory is the laser excites the targeted cells in the injured tissue, evoking the cells to send out a signal that healing must take place in the area being treated. This signal travels through the entire blood stream, connective tissues, and nervous system to significantly speed up the body's response and healing time. Interestingly, researchers have also found that LLLT boosts healing through the entire body, not just in the area being treated.
Many would be surprised to learn that more isn't better with regards to LLLT; the effective dose is quite small. Typical treatments may take as little as 5 minutes and are administered many times per week over a course of 2-3 weeks for maximum and lasting effect. In our clinic it is probably the most used modalities. Often patient respond quickly with minimal subjective complaints, decreased muscle spasm, and increased ROM of the affected area. Should you be experiencing carpal tunnel, neck and low back pain, tendonitis, knee pain or any number of painful conditions, give laser therapy a try to see if it is right for you.