How Does Laser Therapy Work?

Understand the process and benefits of laser therapy treatment.

How does laser therapy treatment work?

Laser therapy uses focused light tuned to specific wavelengths to reduce trouble areas. The intense light is strong enough to shape diamonds and cut steel but with the right wavelengths reduces pain. In addition, doctors can use the lights with precision by focusing on a small area, allowing them to avoid damaging the surrounding tissue. 

Concentrated light can accelerate healing in damaged tissues while also relaxing muscles and stimulating nerve regeneration. The laser then penetrates the body to act like an x-ray to achieve the necessary settings to help reduce problem areas. The treatment also goes by the names of phototherapy or photobiomodulation and causes a chain of physiological reactions to damaged tissue. 

Next, laser therapy can help shrink or destroy tumors, relieve cancer symptoms, remove kidney stones, remove part of the prostate, repair a detached retina, improve vision, treat alopecia hair loss, and treat pain. Furthermore, lasers can seal nerve endings to reduce pain, blood vessels, and lymph vessels. 

The treatments can work on the skin too. Many people use laser therapy to remove warts, moles, birthmarks, and sunspots. Also, it can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, blemishes, and scars and remove tattoos or hair. Lasers can even help with teeth whitening. All this with no pain and minimal discomfort!

Finally, the best advantage of laser therapy treatment is it can reduce pain and inflammation. Additionally, it works on both acute and chronic conditions with customized plans for optimal versatility. The treatments are fast, too, taking up very little time in your day, leaving you with tons of benefits and very little downside. 

 

Is deep tissue laser therapy safe?

Yes, deep tissue laser therapy offers a safe treatment plan for a variety of problems. The vast majority of patients experience no conflicts from the treatments. It’s considered a safe alternative to traditional painkillers and surgical interventions in most cases. 

While safe and painless, some people still experience some side effects, but these are often minor. A smaller percentage of patients may experience bleeding, infection, pain, scarring, or skin color changes. If lasers are used for surgery, the risks include pneumonia, confusion, heart attack, and stroke. 

Moreover, laser therapy is cleared by the FDA and includes strict standards to keep patients safe. The therapy allows your body to use its own healing power to promote healing, making this a unique and safe treatment. Check with your doctor to make sure their clinic operates under FDA guidelines. 

 

Does laser therapy actually work?

Studies show laser therapy is actually effective, as do patient testimonials. Not only can the treatments be targeted to specific conditions, but they can cut down downtime and recovery. Lasers are the newest technology with not just promising results but impressive results. Many people have experienced improvements in arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, muscle strains, neck and shoulder pain, plantar fasciitis, ligament pain, and much more. 

If you are looking for a non-invasive treatment ready to help cure a variety of ailments, then you should look into laser therapy. Even better, the treatments do not require medications that often come with side effects, and it’s a cost-effective alternative to both surgical and non-surgical approaches. Basically, laser therapy comes with tons of benefits and virtually no complications. 

 

How often can you have cold laser therapy?

Cold laser therapy requires multiple treatments, anywhere from eight to 30 sessions, depending on the area and severity of the condition. Your doctor will come up with a specific treatment plan and discuss it with you before starting treatment. You will need to take budget into consideration as the treatments can be expensive. Check with your insurance company to find out if they cover treatment and can help cover the cost to help get you pain-free. 

 

How long does it take for cold laser therapy to work?

Each treatment only takes a few minutes, but you will need a minimum of eight sessions to see results. Therefore, you may not know for at least a month if the treatments are effective for you. Keep in mind most patients do not see a difference after just one or two sessions and will likely need several before it helps with any condition. 

Often, patients need to visit the doctor two to four times a week for at least a month before an effect takes place. Additionally, the treatment at first may aggravate older injuries, but this is short-term and should disappear after a few days. While the treatments take time, the results are long-lasting and targeted to your needs. 

Cold laser therapy can potentially treat weight loss, quit smoking, and improve hair growth. It can also treat migraines, high blood pressure, and wrinkles, but these claims have not been proven yet. Do some research about what conditions cold laser therapy works on before making a decision to go forward. 

Keep in mind it’s best to go at least two to three times a week to see results faster. You can actually go up to five times a week if your doctor’s office has the availability and you can afford the price. Check with your doctor, as they will likely have a plan tailored to you and your targeted area. Spacing out the session too long can affect the final result, though, and cause you to believe the treatments are in effect. Wait until you can afford to do the treatments in a shorter time frame for the best results. 

 

Does laser treatment work for arthritis?

Laser therapy has inconsistent results for osteoarthritis. However, for rheumatoid arthritis, laser treatment is extremely effective. It can reduce pain by up to seventy percent and reduce morning stiffness along with hand flexibility. Unfortunately, laser therapy cannot help with joint function, range of motion, or joint swelling. 

One of the benefits of laser treatment for arthritis is there are no side effects or downtime. However, it can take a few treatments before you see results. Expect to see results after about four weeks, including decreased pain and morning stiffness. Talk to your doctor about the symptoms that are bothering you to determine if laser treatment will work for your needs. 

Over time, we hope to see larger studies showing the efficacy of laser treatment for different forms of arthritis. However, those with general arthritis, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Additionally, you may find relief trying different versions of laser therapy, such as deep tissues laser therapy or cold laser therapy. 

 

Is laser treatment good for back pain?

Studies of laser treatment are unclear; however, they do not take into consideration the different reasons behind back pay. Furthermore, what works for one patient may not work for another as each person has a different cause of back pain. Many doctors use low-level laser therapy to treat chronic back pain and found the treatments effective at reducing pain in the short term for up to three months, but the reduction in pain was limited. 

Some people respond better to the treatment than others, meaning it could work well for one person and not as well for another person. If the back pain stems from spinal disc issues, then laser therapy may be more effective. Speak to your doctor to find out if laser therapy will be able to help with your specific back issues.  

 

Does laser treatment work for sciatica?

Laser treatments can treat sciatica along with disk problems by directly reducing the inflammation of the nerve root and accelerating the body’s natural reabsorption of the disk material. You can expect between three to five sessions of therapy, each between five and ten minutes long. By boosting your body’s natural healing, the effects take place over time and without any side effects, downtime, or medication. 

Studies have found laser therapy to be extremely beneficial to reduce sciatica pain as it’s often caused by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or a bone spur on the spine. These problems can put pressure on the sciatic, never leaving a sharp shooting pain. Treatments can help to completely eliminate sciatica pain. 

 

Why choose Portland Wellness Care for physical therapy?

Portland Wellness Care offers cold laser therapy near you to help reduce pain in muscles and joints with minimally invasive treatment. Additionally, we work with several insurance companies to work with a variety of customers. 

More importantly, we use a variety of integrated medical resources to serve customers. By incorporating a variety of treatment options, we can help you to stay well with both western and eastern treatments, including acupuncture therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic therapy, and much more. 

We offer a wide range of professionals to help with several treatment options to find what will work best for you. Our team offers decades of experience to treat common illnesses and injuries. Schedule an appointment today to find out if laser therapy is the best option for you with a free consultation.

 

Conclusion

Laser therapy offers an impressive option for those suffering from a range of health issues. Not only is the treatment non-invasive but also pain-free with little to no downtime. However, the treatments can be pricey and do not work for every type of pain. Make an appointment today with Portland Wellness Care to find out if laser therapy treatment can work for you and help you live a happier pain-free life.

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Portland Wellness Care offers free consultations for patients who have questions, such as: What is the best treatment plan for me? What services will help me most? What the out-of-pocket costs might I incurred? How long will my treatment plan last?
or call us today at (971) 379-2455
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