Cold Laser Therapy
Cold Laser Therapy is an innovative treatment for a variety of acute and chronic – often painful – conditions.
At IPA Physio Portland we are trained and certified in the use of the BioFlex laser system. We have multiple laser units and provide our clients with a friendly and comfortable environment for cold laser treatments.
General Overview
Laser light stimulates your cells to produce more energy
Accelerates your bodies natural healing processes
Restores normal cellular structure and function
Prevents future injury
What you will experience
Pain relief
Reduced inflammation & swelling
Restored mobility
Accelerated recovery from injury
Why Cold Laser Therapy
Heal the problem, stop masking the pain
Safe, drug-free and no side effects
Avoid or delay the need for surgery
Accelerate and strengthen the body’s natural healing mechanisms
How Light Helps Heal Your Body
Light plays a very important role in our existence as humans. Similar to how plant cells require light for photosynthesis, human cells absorb and are stimulated to create more energy when exposed to specific wavelengths of light.
Light therapy is not a new concept. Light has been and continues to be used to treat a wide number of medical conditions. Psoriasis and acne, for example, or seasonal affective disorder and tuberculosis were all treated using sunlight before the advent of medications. Many individuals with arthritis will testify that their pain reduces on a sunny day or while on a vacation to a sunny destination.
When we experience inflammation from an injury, energy production within the stressed cells slows down, limiting the cell’s ability to function normally. Reduced energy production reduces the cell’s capacity to function and endure additional stress. When cellular stress exceeds the energy production, the cell will die, triggering, and sustaining the inflammatory process. Furthermore, blood flow to these areas also gets interrupted restricting the ability of important nutrients to be delivered to cells that need to heal.
Injuries can linger or become chronic if the tissues get stuck in the cycle of cellular death and inflammation, perpetuating pain, muscle guarding and limited function of the affected region. When the tissues are exposed to the appropriate dose and wavelength of light, cellular energy production is restored, enhancing the cell’s ability to heal. The net effect is to restore the affected region to normal function and eliminate pain and increase range of motion without medications or surgery.
Cold laser therapy is a remarkable and breakthrough solution for musculoskeletal pain because it delivers a concentrated amount of healing light wavelengths directly to the target tissues. Tissues such as bones, ligaments, muscles, nerves and cartilage that would otherwise not be exposed to light can be treated with this technology. By delivering the specific, healing wavelengths of light, the overall power can be kept at a very low level which will not burn or otherwise harm the skin or other tissues.
The Science
Research conducted in the field of laser therapy has demonstrated time and time again that human cells heal better and faster when the right dosage and wavelengths of light energy get delivered to them.
Here are just a few of the published articles that scientifically demonstrate the amazing impact Cold Laser Therapy can have on your body!
How Does Bioflex Laser Therapy Work?
The Bioflex system delivers light based energy to cells helping to accelerate the body’s natural healing process at the cellular level. Injured cells are targeted resulting in elimination and prevention of pain, reduction of inflammation and swelling, and increased range of motion. Laser therapy does not mask the pain, it actively stimulates healing to resolve conditions for the long term.
The BioFlex System is a three step process using two different and very specific wavelengths of light administered by a trained laser therapist.
The first two steps utilize a light array consisting of over 240 superluminous light emitting diodes (LEDs). Step one delivers red light at 660 nanometers (the wavelength) of light which gets absorbed by cells of the skin and underlying shallow muscles layers. 660 nanometers has been shown to reduce pain sensitivity and improve blood flow.
The second step uses the same array to deliver near infrared light at 830 nm. This wavelength penetrates further to affect deeper layers of muscles, tendons and ligaments to reduce inflammation and heal damaged tissues. These steps can range from 6-20 minutes each.
The third step includes the use of a higher power laser wand to deliver 830 nm of light specifically over the source of pain. This light is highly concentrated and targets the deepest affected tissues, including bone. The wand will be placed on the skin for several seconds and then moved slightly to a new position, repeating this process for the prescribed amount of time. The movement helps to ensure that the entire surface area of injured tissues are treated.
In combination, these steps lead to the reduction and eventual elimination of pain by accelerating the healing process.
Visit the BioFlex Laser Therapy page to learn more about why we chose to partner with BioFlex instead of other brands of Cold Laser Therapy systems.
The Rehabilitation Experts
Laser Therapy In Comparison to Other Treatments
Benefits
- Nontoxic and noninvasive – no needles or scalpels needed!
- No negative side effects – avoid all side effects associated with pharmaceuticals
- Promotes natural cellular mechanisms and facilitates the bodies natural ability to heal itself
- Does not negatively impact the use of other medications – medications that promote photosensitivity are the exception
- Completely safe to use around pacemakers and artificial implants
- Postpone, even avoid surgery
- Even if surgery is needed, treating the area with laser prior to the procedure will accelerate your body’s ability to recover after the surgery. Using laser after surgery will also be a catalyst to your recovery
Things to Consider
- Laser therapy is not currently covered by insurance companies
- It takes longer than an injection to administer
- Multiple treatments are required
- Tattoos can negatively impact the effectiveness of the laser as the ink can heat up when exposed to the light
Benefits
- Help to reduce pain and inflammation
- Easily accessible and results are quick
Things to Consider
- Evidence is growing indicating that use of NSAIDs delays healing and increases recovery times
- Prolonged use can damage your liver or stomach causing ulcers, internal bleeding, nausea, headaches, constipation.
- Over 103,000 hospitalizations and 16,500 deaths per year are associated NSAID use.
- Some stronger medications can include narcotics and opioids with their associated dangers of dependency
- Some of the more effective medications interact negatively with other (potentially vital) medications for other conditions (e.g. heart conditions)
Benefits
- Cortisone is a synthetic version of cortisol, a steroid produced by the body’s adrenal glands. In large quantities, cortisol suppresses the immune system’s inflammatory and allergic responses. Cortisone medications mimic the action of cortisol but tend to be more powerful.
- Results are often experienced in short time and tend to last several days to months
Things to Consider
- Results wear off over a relatively short period of time and additional injections are commonly not as effective
- Weakens and breaks down bone, joint cartilage, ligaments and tendons accelerating the degenerative cascade of the tissue
- Scar tissue builds up in affected joints causing limited mobility, inflammation and pain
Benefits
- Physical Therapy is highly effective in the ability to improve mobility, flexibility and strength through strategies including exercises, hands-on therapies and relaxation techniques
- Works on the muscles surrounding the affected joints with the goal of improving overall mobility
- Strengthening areas that may be weak and can be very helpful in the overall process of reducing pain and improving quality of life
Things to Consider
- There is no direct effect on the cells of the damaged tissues. Rather stress is taken off these vulnerable areas.
Benefits
- Typically covered through MSP
- With some extremely chronic and severe conditions, surgery may be the best treatment choice
Things to Consider
- A very drastic and invasive procedure which is commonly unnecessary
- Delayed and painful recovery time interfering with work, exercise, and daily activities
- Dangerous due to complications with anesthetics and risk of infections
- Laser Therapy
-
Benefits
- Nontoxic and noninvasive – no needles or scalpels needed!
- No negative side effects – avoid all side effects associated with pharmaceuticals
- Promotes natural cellular mechanisms and facilitates the bodies natural ability to heal itself
- Does not negatively impact the use of other medications – medications that promote photosensitivity are the exception
- Completely safe to use around pacemakers and artificial implants
- Postpone, even avoid surgery
- Even if surgery is needed, treating the area with laser prior to the procedure will accelerate your body’s ability to recover after the surgery. Using laser after surgery will also be a catalyst to your recovery
Things to Consider
- Laser therapy is not currently covered by insurance companies
- It takes longer than an injection to administer
- Multiple treatments are required
- Tattoos can negatively impact the effectiveness of the laser as the ink can heat up when exposed to the light
- Over the Counter Pain Medications
-
Benefits
- Help to reduce pain and inflammation
- Easily accessible and results are quick
Things to Consider
- Evidence is growing indicating that use of NSAIDs delays healing and increases recovery times
- Prolonged use can damage your liver or stomach causing ulcers, internal bleeding, nausea, headaches, constipation.
- Over 103,000 hospitalizations and 16,500 deaths per year are associated NSAID use.
- Some stronger medications can include narcotics and opioids with their associated dangers of dependency
- Some of the more effective medications interact negatively with other (potentially vital) medications for other conditions (e.g. heart conditions)
- Cortisone
-
Benefits
- Cortisone is a synthetic version of cortisol, a steroid produced by the body’s adrenal glands. In large quantities, cortisol suppresses the immune system’s inflammatory and allergic responses. Cortisone medications mimic the action of cortisol but tend to be more powerful.
- Results are often experienced in short time and tend to last several days to months
Things to Consider
- Results wear off over a relatively short period of time and additional injections are commonly not as effective
- Weakens and breaks down bone, joint cartilage, ligaments and tendons accelerating the degenerative cascade of the tissue
- Scar tissue builds up in affected joints causing limited mobility, inflammation and pain
- Physical Therapy
-
Benefits
- Physical Therapy is highly effective in the ability to improve mobility, flexibility and strength through strategies including exercises, hands-on therapies and relaxation techniques
- Works on the muscles surrounding the affected joints with the goal of improving overall mobility
- Strengthening areas that may be weak and can be very helpful in the overall process of reducing pain and improving quality of life
Things to Consider
- There is no direct effect on the cells of the damaged tissues. Rather stress is taken off these vulnerable areas.
- Surgery
-
Benefits
- Typically covered through MSP
- With some extremely chronic and severe conditions, surgery may be the best treatment choice
Things to Consider
- A very drastic and invasive procedure which is commonly unnecessary
- Delayed and painful recovery time interfering with work, exercise, and daily activities
- Dangerous due to complications with anesthetics and risk of infections
Discover Your Potential
Call IPA Physio Portland now to schedule your free 15-minute consultation, or fill out the contact form to get your free copy of our Cold Laser Therapy Brochure and more information on how Laser Therapy can change your life!