Therapeutic laser, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation, is a non-invasive medical treatment that utilizes low-level lasers or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to promote healing, reduce pain, and stimulate cellular activity. The laser-tissue interaction involves a complex cascade of biochemical and physiological events within the body’s cells. Here’s how therapeutic laser works:
- Reduction of Pain:
- Inflammation Reduction: Therapeutic laser helps reduce pain by decreasing inflammation in the treated area. It does this by modulating the release of pro-inflammatory molecules and inhibiting the production of free radicals.
- Pain Chemicals Inhibition: It can inhibit the release of certain chemicals, such as prostaglandins, bradykinin, and substance P, which are responsible for sensitizing nerve endings and causing pain.
- Nerve Conduction Modification: The laser can affect nerve conduction by blocking nerve signals involved in pain transmission. It helps reduce pain signals sent to the brain, leading to pain relief.
- Enhancement of Healing:
- Microcirculation Improvement: Therapeutic laser increases microcirculation by promoting the release of nitric oxide, a vasodilator, which relaxes blood vessel walls and enhances blood flow through smaller blood vessels (microvessels). Improved blood flow ensures better oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues and facilitates the removal of waste products.
- Stimulation of Cellular Activity: The laser stimulates cellular activity by enhancing the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of cells. This increased cellular energy can boost various cellular processes, including repair and regeneration.
- Growth Factors: Therapeutic laser has been shown to increase the production of growth factors, which play a key role in tissue repair and regeneration. Growth factors can stimulate the proliferation of cells and facilitate the healing process.
Overall, the therapeutic laser has a photobiomodulatory effect on cells. It doesn’t cause damage to tissues or generate heat, as high-intensity surgical lasers do. Instead, it uses specific wavelengths of light that are absorbed by cellular components, particularly the mitochondria (the cell’s “powerhouses”). This interaction triggers a series of beneficial cellular responses that promote pain reduction and accelerate healing processes in the body. Therapeutic laser is used in various medical fields, including physical therapy, sports medicine, orthopedics, and veterinary medicine, to treat a wide range of conditions, such as musculoskeletal injuries, wound healing, and chronic pain. Therapeutic laser has been incorporated into treatments that address diverse conditions including:
- Skin wounds
- Tendon and ligament injuries
- Trigger points
- Edema
- Lick granulomas
- Muscle injuries
- Nervous system injury and neurologic conditions
- Osteoarthritis
- Post-operative incisions and tissues
- Pain