Laser therapy is a non-invasive modality used for a variety of purposes, including pain management, inflammation control, and stimulation of healing. Lasers have been used in a number of medical fields as well, including optometry, dentistry, orthopaedics, and rehabilitation. With that in mind, “laser” treatment obviously must come in a number of styles, some more invasive (like surgical lasers) and some more gentle (as in low-intensity lasers). In fact, the general term “laser” is actually an acronym: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

In clinical rehabilitation practice, the type of laser therapy used is typically a Low-Intensity variety. This means the light emitted from the laser is gentle enough to be absorbed by the body without creating obvious physical change — no cuts!

A number of different wavelengths can be selected depending on the injury being treated. Some of these fall within the red light spectrum (you can see a “red” light created by the laser) while others are infrared (you do not see any obvious light created by the laser). Depending on the how long the laser is applied for, you may or may not even feel heat generated by the unit. At no time should a low-intensity laser application be painful!

Laser therapy is frequently combined with other therapy services during the same treatment. This is ideal because the goals of a laser treatment are supportive to other treatment techniques — anti-inflammation, pain control, and stimulation of healing.

In short, the low-intensity laser therapy used in our clinic is a non-invasive, painless, easily administered modality used to decrease inflammation, manage painful symptoms, and stimulate recovery from injury.