Interested in Laser Therapy Treatment in Portland?
Portland Wellness Care offers laser therapy to help alleviate chronic pain without the need for invasive treatments. As one of our many alternative therapies used for injury recovery and pain management, our doctors have extensive experience in offering laser therapy treatment to our patients. Serving a variety of injuries and illnesses, laser therapy may be the right solution for you.
Receive laser therapy treatment from specialists you can trust. Help reduce pain in muscles and joints with a technique that is minimally invasive, giving you peace of mind. Contact us today to learn more about our laser therapy services we offer.
Call us today at 971-379-2455
The Portland Wellness Care team is ready to administer the right treatment plan for you. We have decades worth of experience in treating all age groups with a wide range of illnesses and injuries. From diagnosis to recovery, our doctors and specialists are here to offer the very best medical services each step of the way.
Call us today at 971-379-2455
If you were injured in a car accident or were hit by a vehicle, you can have all of your laser therapy treatment paid for through your auto insurance. If are an insured drive in the state of Oregon, you possess PIP (Personal Injury Protection) insurance and are entitled to benefits that will cover the cost of laser therapy services. Please contact our clinic for more information regarding PIP insurance coverage for auto accident injury treatment.
*Every driver in Oregon is required to carry Personal Injury Protection insurance, frequently called PIP, of at least $15,000 in medical coverage. This coverage is Oregon’s version of no-fault insurance.
Benefits of Low Light Laser Therapy (Photobiomodulation)
Photobiomodulation is anti-inflammatory and increases inflammatory mediators such as macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes that accelerate and resolve the inflammatory process. Research has documented effects at reducing inflammation-producing cytokines such as Interleukin-1. At the same time, Photobiomodulation has been shown to reduce damaging free radical levels by increasing super oxidase dismutase (SOD) levels. This helps get painful inflammation under control by targeting the cells and enzymes that make inflammation worse.
Photobiomodulation provides an analgesic (anti-pain) benefit. It decreases nerve sensitivity by decreasing bradykinin; a pain eliciting chemical. It normalizes ion channels (cellular gatekeepers) and releases endorphins (the body’s natural pain reliever) and enkephalins from the brain and adrenal gland that produce an analgesic effect. Photobiomodulation also has a pain-blocking effect on certain nerve fibers and decreases nerve sensitivity.
Photobiomodulation provides an antiedemic effect, causing the blood vessels and the lymphatic vessels to widen in a process called vasodilation. The treated area undergoes a process of angiogenesis, or the growth of new small blood vessels. This allows more nutrients to be supplied to the injured area and also aids removal of waste from dead or damaged cells. Improving the drainage through the lymphatic vessels and veins also helps with removing the excessive swelling.
Photobiomodulation creates higher outputs of specific enzymes, greater oxygen and food particle loads for blood cells. This results in energizing cells and stimulates the right molecules in the target area while increasing tissue oxygenation, ATP (adenosine-triphosphate) synthesis (energy creation), and intercellular exchanges. This process increases the energy available to the cell so that the cell can take on nutrients faster and get rid of waste products. As a result, the cells of tendons, ligaments, nerves and muscles are repaired faster.
Photobiomodulation has a direct effect on the immune system by stimulation of immunoglobulins and lymphocytes. Laser energy is absorbed by chromophores (molecule enzymes) that react to the laser light. The enzyme flavanone-nucleotide is activated and starts the production of ATP (adenosine-triphosphate), which is the major carrier of cell energy and the energy source for all chemical reactions in the cells.
Photobiomodulation increases the proliferation of growth factors that promote neuronal sprouting and myelin formation for optimal nerve recovery. Nerves allow your brain to communicate with your body and your body to communicate with your brain. When your body is in pain, particularly if the pain is chronic, the nerves stop working as well. Slow recovery of nerve functions in damaged tissue can result in numbness and impaired limbs. Photobiomodulation helps improve nerve signal transmission and speeds up the process of nerve cell reconnection, increasing the amplitude of action potentials to optimize muscle action.
Photobiomodulation penetrates deep into tissue and stimulates cellular reproduction and growth that result in the repair of damaged muscle fibers and activation of myogenic satellite cells that lead to regeneration of muscle tissue.
Photobiomodulation increases collagen production that allows proper alignment and remodeling of collagen, which reduces the formation of scar tissue following tissue damage from repetitive motion injuries, cuts, scratches, bums or surgery. By getting treatment early, it can prevent the buildup of scar tissue and is beneficial for torn ligaments, tendons or muscles, or post-surgery. With less tissue scarring, there is reduced chronic pain often associated with scars.
Photobiomodulation produces an increase in chondrocyte and collagen production. This allows improved cartilage deposition and joint function.
Photobiomodulation stimulates fibroblast development in damaged tissue. Fibroblasts are the building blocks of collagen, which is predominant in wound healing. Collagen is the essential protein required to replace old tissue or to repair tissue injuries. Additionally, greater strength of new tissue (better tensile strength) occurs that protects against further breakdown or tissue damage.
Photobiomodulation creates proliferation of osteocytes and remodeling of bone extracellular matrix resulting in accelerated bone repair.
Photobiomodulation is effective in eliminating painful trigger points. It is also another treatment option of stimulating acupuncture points without the discomfort associated with needling.
How Laser Therapy Works
All light is composed of photons: small packets of light energy in the form of waves with a defined frequency and wavelength. However, not all light is the same. Different wavelengths of light represent different colors on the light spectrum. When light is projected as a single, coherent wavelength where the waves travel parallel to each other, it’s considered laser light.
Laser light is much more intense than regular white light and has a multitude of applications from scanning barcodes to treating pain, inflammation, and more within human (and animal) bodies.Laser therapy is when laser light is tuned to specific wavelengths and frequencies and applied to an organism in order to stimulate metabolic processes at the cellular level.Laser light holds its intensity until it is absorbed by a medium; in the case of laser therapy, the medium is the body.
The photon energy of laser light can effectively penetrate the skin and underlying structures, which accelerates the body’s natural healing process. Laser therapy utilizes the wavelengths and frequencies of visible red and near infrared (NIR) light to treat a variety of conditions at their source within the body through safe, non-invasive, and painless procedures.
Studies have shown that when tissue cultures are irradiated by lasers, enzymes within cells absorb energy from laser light. Visible red light and near infrared (NIR) are absorbed within the mitochondria and the cell membrane. This produces higher ATP levels and boosts DNA production, leading to an increase in cellular health and energy.
Therefore, when applied as treatment, lasers have been shown to reduce pain and inflammation as well as stimulate nerve regeneration, muscle relaxation, and immune system response. Lasers have no effect on normal tissues because photons of light are only absorbed and utilized by the cells that need them.
Chromophores are components of various cells and subcellular organelles which absorb light. The stimulation of chromophores on mitochondrial membranes incites the production of ATP.
Frequently Asked Questions
Laser therapy is a therapeutic use of infrared light waves that safely penetrate the patient’s skin and induce a regenerative healing response. Learn more about laser therapy in our article ‘What is Laser Therapy?‘.
Yes! Class 4 laser therapy has been successfully used clinically for several years. Recent research shows that laser therapy can reduce pain, and increase tissue injury recovery time and healing.
All light is composed of photons: small packets of light energy in the form of waves with a defined frequency and wavelength. However, not all light is the same. Different wavelengths of light represent different colors on the light spectrum. When light is projected as a single, coherent wavelength where the waves travel parallel to each other, it’s considered laser light.
Laser light is much more intense than regular white light and has a multitude of applications from scanning barcodes to treating pain, inflammation, and more within human (and animal) bodies.Laser therapy is when laser light is tuned to specific wavelengths and frequencies and applied to an organism in order to stimulate metabolic processes at the cellular level.Laser light holds its intensity until it is absorbed by a medium; in the case of laser therapy, the medium is the body.
The photon energy of laser light can effectively penetrate the skin and underlying structures, which accelerates the body’s natural healing process. Laser therapy utilizes the wavelengths and frequencies of visible red and near infrared (NIR) light to treat a variety of conditions at their source within the body through safe, non-invasive, and painless procedures.
Photochemical Action
Studies have shown that when tissue cultures are irradiated by lasers, enzymes within cells absorb energy from laser light. Visible red light and near infrared (NIR) are absorbed within the mitochondria and the cell membrane. This produces higher ATP levels and boosts DNA production, leading to an increase in cellular health and energy.
Therefore, when applied as treatment, lasers have been shown to reduce pain and inflammation as well as stimulate nerve regeneration, muscle relaxation, and immune system response. Lasers have no effect on normal tissues because photons of light are only absorbed and utilized by the cells that need them.
Role of Chromophores
Chromophores are components of various cells and subcellular organelles which absorb light. The stimulation of chromophores on mitochondrial membranes incites the production of ATP.
This results in:
Some insurance covers this therapy at no cost to the patient. When not covered by insurance, laser therapy treatments typically range from $80-$100 a session.
Laser therapy in physical medicine is a modality used in conjunction with other physical therapies to enhance tissue healing and injury recovery, reduce pain and improve patient outcomes.
Laser therapy benefits vary. In patients with more chronic injury, more laser therapy is needed and the effects are shorter. Typically, effects can last for several days.
While receiving laser therapy, warmth is the primary side effect. Laser therapy can also lead to mild soreness occasionally.
It depends on the condition and severity being treated. Often the benefits from laser therapy can last long term.
Yes! Laser therapy is a very safe and fast treatment modality. Protective eyewear is always utilized at PWC during laser treatment to ensure safety.
Reduce inflammation, reduce pain, improve vascularity, increase metabolic activity, improve nerve function and regeneration, muscle tissue repair and regeneration, reduce scar tissues, increase cartilage production, accelerate wound healing, and accelerate bone repair.
Laser therapy reduces pain by decreasing cellular inflammation markers and reducing pain receptor activity at the cellular level.
WC and MVA insurance does. Most private insurances do not currently.
Yes, in the same way it is effective for other joint tissue, laser therapy can help reduce pain and inflammation associated with lower back injuries.
There is no data to say laser therapy directly helps those with spinal stenosis. Indirectly, laser therapy may help decrease inflammation and pain in someone with stenosis, improving function.
Laser therapy can be effective for nerve pain, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, radiculopathy, and peripheral neuropathies.
Laser therapy can be very effective for arthritic conditions. This depends on duration and severity of the patient’s arthritis.
No. A mild warmth is the most common side effect of laser therapy.
Typically, we encourage patients to avoid icing the area after laser therapy the same day to encourage and enhance the body’s healing and immune response.
Yes. Laser therapy can be very effective for knee pain.
Yes. Laser therapy can be very effective for knee pain. It can help ease pain of knee osteoarthritis and increase knee joint function.
The amount of laser therapy depends on the patient and the severity of the injury. Sometimes as little as 3 sessions are needed for desired therapeutic effects to be reached. More severe or chronic injuries may require more laser therapy treatments.
Portland Wellness Care’s Providers are up to date on the most recent laser therapy research, have a state of the art class 4 laser therapy machine, and have used it clinically for several years. We provide extensive knowledge and expertise on using laser therapy and can help personalize treatment plans per the individual patient.
How does Laser Therapy Reduce Pain?
The localized and systemic increase of this endogenous peptide, after laser therapy irradiation has been clinically reported in multiple studies, to promote pain reduction.
Nitric oxide has both a direct and indirect impact on pain sensation. As a neurotransmitter, it is essential for normal nerve cell action potential in impulse transmission activity. And indirectly, the vasodilation effect of nitric oxide can enhance nerve cell perfusion and oxygenation.
Since Bradykinins elicit pain by stimulating nociceptive afferents in the skin and viscera, mitigation of elevated levels through laser therapy can result in pain reduction.
Photobiomodulation promotes normalization in Ca++, NA+ and K+ concentrations, resulting in pain reduction as a result of these ion concentration shifts.
The pain blocking effect of therapeutic lasers can be pronounced, particularly in low-velocity neural pathways, such as non-myelinated afferent axons from nociceptors. Laser irradiation suppresses the excitation of these fibers in the afferent sensory pathway.
Healthy nerve cells tend to operate at about -70 mV, and fire at about -20 mV. Compromised cell membranes have a lowered threshold as their resting potentials average around this -20 mV range. That means that normal non-noxious activities produce pain. Laser therapy can help restore the action potential closer to the normal -70 mV range.
By increasing the available acetylcholine, Laser Therapy helps in normalizing nerve signal transmission in the autonomic, somatic and sensory neural pathways.
Several studies have documented the ability of laser therapy to induce axonal sprouting and some nerve regeneration in damaged nerve tissues. Where pain sensation is being magnified due to nerve structure damage, cell regeneration and sprouting may assist in reducing pain.
How does Laser Therapy Reduce Inflammation?
Ca++, Na+, and K+ concentrations, as well as the proton gradient over the mitochondrial membrane, are positively influenced. This is accomplished in part, by the production of beneficial Reactive Oxygen Species aka (ROS). These ROS modulate intracellular Ca++ concentrations and laser therapy improves Ca++ uptake in the mitochondria.
ATP production and synthesis are significantly enhanced, contributing to cellular repair, reproduction, and functional ability. Photonic stimulation of Cytochrome c Oxidase, a chromophore found in the mitochondria of cells, plays a major role in this rapid increase in the production and synthesis of ATP.
Vasodilation is stimulated via an increase in Histamine, Nitric Oxide (NO), and Serotonin levels, resulting in reduction of ischemia and improved perfusion. Laser-mediated vasodilation enhances the transport of nutrients and oxygen to the damaged cells and facilitates the repair and removal of cellular debris.
Beneficial acceleration of leukocytic activity, resulting in enhanced removal of non-viable cellular and tissue components. Thus allowing for a more rapid repair and regeneration process.
Prostaglandins have a vasodilating and anti-inflammatory action.
Laser irradiation has a reducing effect on this pro-inflammatory cytokine that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
In addition to increasing the number of lymphocytes, laser irradiation mediates the action of both lymphatic helper T-cells and suppressor T-cells in the inflammatory response. Along with laser modification of beta cell activity, the entire lymphatic response is beneficially affected by laser therapy.
Both blood capillaries and lymphatic capillaries have been clinically documented to undergo significant increase and regeneration in the presence of laser irradiation.
Areas of inflammation typically demonstrate temperature variations, with the inflamed portion having an elevated temperature. Laser therapy has been shown to accelerate temperature normalization, demonstrating a beneficial influence on the inflammatory process.
Laser stimulated increases in cytokine SOD levels interact with other anti-inflammatory processes to accelerate the termination of the inflammatory process.
Laser therapy has been shown to lower the serum levels of these inflammation markers, particularly in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Dr. Chase G. Waters
Dr. Scott A. Cathcart
Devin Babat
Any Questions? We’re here to help
Portland Wellness Care
4160 NE Sandy Blvd Suite 1100. Portland, OR 97212
Call Us: (971) 379-2455
Fax Us: (503) 477-9958
E-Mail Us: contact@portlandwellnesscare.com
Open Hours
By stimulating specific points in the body various modalities and techniques, acupuncture can alleviate pain and restore dysfunction. A practitioner will stimulate specific points in the body that are associated with healing and harmonizing.
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.
Laser therapy emits light that stimulates healing in the body and helps with a variety of ailments.
Portland Wellness Care
