Fort Collins Cold Laser Therapy
(also called Soft Laser, Biostimulation, LLLT (low level laser therapy)
Laser: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
Cold laser therapy is non-invasive and drug free, and accelerates the healing process. Superficial skin tissue and deep tissues like muscles are penetrated by different wavelength frequencies. The Vectra Genesis Laser used on our office is designed to target specific tissues using specific wavelengths and frequencies. So, whether you have a joint, ligament or muscle problem in a knee, shoulder, wrist, or spine we have your number!
The goal of cold laser is to stimulate the body at the cellular level (biostimulation). Because cold laser is low power, the effects are biochemical. Tissues are not heated and therefore living tissue is not damaged. There are four distinct know effects that occur when using soft/cold laser therapy:
1) Increased Energy production: Inside each cell, structures called the mitochondria are responsible for generating the energy and “power” that is required for cell activity. These “powerhouse” machines are stimulated with the laser therapy to produce more energy in the form of the molecule ATP that is necessary for healing.
2) Increased Protein synthesis: Laser therapy promotes the development of protein, which are the building blocks of life and tissue such as bones, muscles, and cartilage. Every day under normal circumstances and especially when an injury or cell damage is present, the body must to replace damaged cells with healthy cells and tissue. Proteins are required to build and replace these tissues. Laser therapy is an accelerator for the healing process because is speeds up the time at which the body replaces tissue growth and cell replacement.
3) Pain relief and decreased inflammation: Laser therapy causes the body to increase endorphin release, and increase release of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Laser also suppresses nociceptor action (pain receptor cells) to their sensitivity to chemicals that trigger a pain response by the nervous system.
4) Strengthening the immune system: Laser increases the levels of lymphocyte (white blood cells) activity and through a mechanism called photomodulation of blood.
Not all cold lasers are created equal
The Vectra Genesis laser in our clinic is rated at 1040mW has five 850nm laser diodes to penetrate deeper tissue and four 670nm infrared diodes for superficial penetration for inflammatory conditions. Because our laser is of higher power in the 3B class of cold lasers, patients and providers wear protective eyewear glasses during treatment.
In comparison, other lasers may only have an infrared cluster and no actual laser diode. They are also frequently only 5 to 50mW of power. What this means to patients treated with a low power laser would need treatment for nearly an hour or more for a desired therapeutic effect. Such a long treatment time is impractical in most offices when in fact most offices treat with laser for only 30 seconds to several minutes.
If you can press on an area and it hurts, feels swollen, or does not move the way it should, there is a good chance that a Fort Collins cold laser therapy session can help you feel better.
Call our Fort Collins cold laser office at 1-970-493-3100 and schedule an appointment today. We offer a complimentary 20-minute consultation to determine if we can help you. Sit down with Dr. Gil and see how you feel working together. No strings, No pressure. No charge.
We are here to help you feel better. Whatever it takes!
Cold laser is an extremely effective tool for many applications and conditions:
Muscle disorders including fibromyalgia, low back pain, neck pain, muscle stiffness, tendonitis, muscle strain, shin splints, migraine and tension headaches, TMJ pain, rotator cuff, tennis elbow, golfers elbow, achilles tendon injuries, knee pain from ACL injuries
Nerve, bone and joint disorders including cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, knees, shoulders, and hands and feet, osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, rheumatoid arthritis, leg pain and numbness called sciatica or sciatic neuritis, arm pain and numbness brachial neuritis or brachial neuralgia