Laser Therapy

What is Laser therapy?

Laser therapy improves tissue repair, reduces pain and inflammation by means of applying a focussed beam of light to the surface of the body.

Treatment sessions take between 10 – 30 minutes and should be applied two or more times per week.

Laser therapy has been used for many years on sports injuries, arthritic joints, sprains, back and neck pain.

Many high level sports people rely on laser therapy as part of their training and rehabilitation programmes.

How does it work?

There are two mechanisms of action for laser mediated pain relief:

Anti inflammatory

Within each cell there are light sensitive chemicals.

Some of these are located within the mitochondria (the power stations for each cell).

By applying light of a suitable frequency, in a suitable brightness, for a suitable length of time it is possible to encourage the mitochondria to generate more ATP (the chemical that powers cellular function) and to reduce the burden of 'free radicals'.

A cascade of metabolic effects is triggered within the cell leading to a reduction in inflammatory chemicals.

The net effect is to encourage the cell's natural repair process, to reduce inflammation and to reduce pain.

Painkilling

Laser therapy can create a blockade of pain signalling nerves.

This effect is temporary and reversible but scientific research shows that with repeated treatment, even chronic pain can be reduced for up to 22 weeks following laser therapy.