Low Intensity Laser Therapy

Over time the body begins to break down. Sports, accidents, and day-to-day life increase the rate of deterioration. In an attempt to combat this problem, people have been using balms, ointments, and other various treatments for centuries.

There was a time when traveling salesmen would tout products with miracle cures for whatever problems their audience was facing. These purveyors of purification would sell to the rich and the poor alike. They not only sold ingestible cure-alls to the public, they also sold intricate devices that could send electricity through the body in an attempt to “shock the sick out of you.”

But as our understanding of science began to deepen, so too did our understanding of the human body. Ineffective devices soon found themselves in the waste baskets, replaced by newer technological developments.

With the increasing use of technology in medicine, new treatments have emerged, allowing medical professionals to aid in the body’s natural recovery process. One such treatment uses non-invasive lasers to stimulate healing.

What is Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT)?

Low Intensity Laser Therapy is a way to treat muscular, skeletal, and degenerative conditions. This type of treatment helps to heal pain in the ligaments, muscles, tendons, and bones.

As part of the treatment, a medical professional will place a low intensity laser on the skin. The laser sends waves of light from the laser and through the tissue. The photons from the laser are then absorbed by the light-sensitive parts of the cells in your body.

The process is not dissimilar to that of a solar panel, where light from the sun hits the panel and is then converted into energy. The difference here would be that the laser emits a focused stream of light, as opposed to the sun’s general radiance. That focused light increases the energy output of each cell’s solar panel.

Once the light is inside the cell, it is converted to energy. This additional energy speeds up the body’s natural healing process.

Why Use LILT?

There are many benefits in the use of Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT). As mentioned before, LILT increases the energy to the cells, increasing the body’s ability to heal itself.
LILT is not an invasive treatment. This means that during your treatment you will not have to stay in a hospital, and recovery time can be diminished. This also means there will be no cutting and no subsequent scarring.

Low Intensity Laser Therapy is also safe. One reason this treatment is favored over others is due to the various health benefits. But like all other medical procedures, there is risk if the treatment is misused or abused.

  • Short-term Benefits: One of the short-term benefits of laser therapy is the release of morphine-like endorphins that help to control pain and body aches. In 5-10% of cases, patients see a marked improvement after the first visit.
  • Long-term Benefits: The long-term benefits are seen at the cellular level, but felt throughout the body. The photons used in the process allow the cells to create additional ATP, the battery of the cell. This activity stimulates the development of new cells. What that means for you on a non-cellular level is that your immune system is more active. Additionally, growth hormones are increased, which are accompanied by relief from pain and discomfort.

Who Needs LILT?

The uses of this treatment range in scope and effectiveness. The following is a list of possible applications of Low Intensity Laser Therapy:

  • Combat Inflammation: Inflammation is caused by different things, but it is essentially the body’s response to stimulation. Those who suffer from conditions like tendonitis, bursitis, or any tissue inflammation are candidates for LILT.
  • Controlling Pain: As we age we begin to have aches and pains. Lower backs, knees, and other muscles and joints begin toned additional help in the recovery process.
  • Repairing Tissues: LILT has been reported to increase healing while repairing tissue, both directly and indirectly.

While not all areas of medicine have been explored with the use of LILT, in the field of physical therapy, the treatment has shown to decrease recovery time.

Some sports-related injuries that can positively benefit from LILT are:

  • Strains, sprains, and tendonitis
  • Heel cushion pain
  • Jumper’s knee
  • Runner’s knee
  • Golfers elbow
  • Tennis elbow

Additional areas where LILT can be used effectively are:

  • Venous stasis ulcers
  • Diabetic foot ulcers
  • Chemical and thermal burns
  • Back pain
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Sciatica
  • Neuralgia

Unless someone finds the elusive “fountain of youth,” we are all going to go through the aging process. We can all expect to have different kinds of aches and pains.Low Intensity Laser Therapy drastically increases the ability of the body’s natural immune system. If you are suffering from musculoskeletal issues and are looking for a non-invasive, safe, and convenient way to treat your symptoms, contact your local medical professional today and schedule an appointment. Don’t live with the pain any longer.

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