About Laser Therapy

Greek and Egyptian cultures were the first to use light as a form of healing certain ailments. Today, medical experts use a more sophisticated version of that same technique in the form of laser therapy to safely treat and heal numerous medical conditions without the invasive procedure of surgery.

What Is Laser Therapy?

• A non-invasive procedure, laser therapy is a state-of-the-art treatment using low-intensity lasers (no more than 250 milliwatts) or high intensity lasers (1,000 to 2,000 milliwatts) to deliver light for the treatment of certain medical conditions. The laser is placed on the area to be treated, releasing photon energy into the skin's tissue. On contact, this energy reacts with intracellular bio-molecules, converting into biochemical energy and producing a more normal cell function. Laser therapy is particularly effective in the treatment of degenerative and chronic diseases, as well as musculoskeletal injuries. Laser therapy also aides in the body's natural healing process.

Advantages of Low-Intensity Laser Therapy

• Aside from the fact that low intensity laser therapy is a safe and much more desirable alternative than going under the knife, this low level of laser therapy is extremely effective with a cure rate of about 95 percent and produces no irritating side effects. The low intensity laser therapy treatment is easy to administer and is non-toxic to the patient. Low intensity laser therapy is the most widely used however, in more advanced medical procedures, physicians may use the high intensity laser therapy which penetrates more deeply, actually cutting into the skin's tissues.

Conditions Treated With Laser Therapy

• Laser therapy is used to treat a variety of both internal and external medical conditions including bursitis, plantar fasciitis, venous status (vein therapy), burns, wounds, osteoarthritis, eczema, psoriasis, dermal ulcers, shingles and gout. Laser therapy is also used in dental procedures, specifically by oral surgeons and has proven effective in recent years with improving eyesight.

Why Laser Therapy Works

• Laser therapy promotes the production of beta-endorphins into the body -- substances produced in cells that dull the body's ability to feel pain. Laser therapy also increases cortisol which helps the patient's body deal with stress when facing disease or trauma. In addition, laser therapy increases cellular metabolism, as well as the protein building blocks in tissues, stimulates cell regeneration, and elevates levels of serotonin.

Costs of Laser Therapy

• The costs associated with laser therapy treatment varies widely depending on the procedure, but in most cases can be comparable to the costs of surgery. Laser therapy is generally covered under most insurance plans when deemed medically necessary.