The Cold Laser: The Most Versatile Healthcare Tool of the 21st Century

This promising tool is called the cold laser, the soft laser, the low-power laser, or the low level laser.  The term laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emissions of Radiation.  All lasers emit coherent, focused light that travels in a narrow beam in one direction.

• High Power, “hot” lasers have shorter wavelengths, which have catabolic effects that can deliberately destroy tissue in cauterizing and surgical applications
• Low Power, “soft”, “cool”, or “cold” lasers have longer wavelengths that have anabolic effects that promote rapid reduction of pain, accelerate healing time, and accelerate growth and repair

Cold lasers or low-level laser therapy (LLLT) have stimulative effects rather than destructive ones.  It may be the perfect conjunctive tool for chiropractic treatments and myofascial release. Clinical applications of the cold laser have included acute and chronic pain reduction, inflammation reduction, enhanced tissue healing, and cell regeneration.  The results have shown very rapid pain reduction and accelerated recovery times, far exceeding conventional methods.

Laser therapy aims to photo-biostimulate chemically damaged cells via specific wavelengths of light.  When cells are chemically damaged they stimulate the pain cycle.  Laser excites the kinetic energy within cells by transmitting healing stimuli known as photons.

The skin absorbs these photons via a photo-chemical effect, not photo-thermal; therefore, it does not cause heat damage to the tissues.  Once photons reach the cells of the body, they promote a cascade of cellular activities.  Laser therapy light can ignite the production of enzymes, stimulate mitochondria, increase vasodilation and lymphatic drainage, ATP synthesis, and elevate collagen formation substances to prevent the formation of scar tissues.  This is a critical step in reducing long term disabling chronic myofascial pain syndromes.  Other formative cells are also positively influenced and immune enhancing effects are increased in the number of macrophages.  Simply stated, laser enables patients to get out of pain faster and heal at the same time.

For over 20 years, clinicians found that laser therapy treats a variety of conditions including:

•  Acute and Chronic Pain
•  Arthritis
•  Back Pain
•  Bursitis
•  Carpal Tunnel
•  Fibromyalgia
•  Ligament Sprains
•  Muscle Strain
•  Soft Tissue Injuries
•  Tendonitis
•  Tennis Elbow

Erchonia Laser Treatment Decrease pain and inflammation and increase range of motion

The Erchonia XLR8 Laser is used to enhance tissue recovery, effective in accelerating a reduction in inflammation, and significantly advance/speed up injury healing time.  Low Level Laser Therapy promotes healing in many conditions, including chronic/acute pain, and other joint and neurological conditions.

Erchonia’s lasers made history by becoming the first to receive FDA market clearance for the treatment of chronic pain and increasing range of motion, proven through two double blind IRB studies.  The Erchonia Lasers are the most advanced lasers on the market, with their sleek revolutionary design, patented line generated beam, and the ability to program independent frequencies in all of their family of lasers.  It has been found to be extremely beneficial for enhancing and accelerating wound healing and reducing acute inflammation.

Unlike high power lasers that use heat and destroy tissue, low energy lasers affect the cellular energy of the underlying tissue.  Hot lasers have a thermal effect and have an output of 1MW or above.  Cold (or) Low Level Lasers do not have a thermal effect on tissue: lasers that stimulate biological function have an output below 10mw- milliwatts (ten- one thousands of a watt).

With over 200 clinical studies – many of which are double-blind, placebo-controlled – and in excess of 2000 published articles on LLLT (low-level laser therapy), this innovative technology has a well-documented research and application history.  Having grown far beyond its distant Institutional Review Board (IRB) and experimental treatment status, LLLT is now being considered a therapy of choice for difficult pain management challenges such as fibromyalgia and myofascial pain.

Low Level Laser Therapy is FDA-cleared to successfully treat many conditions such as acute and chronic pain reduction, repetitive use disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome, soft tissue strains and sprains, inflammation reduction, enhanced tissue wound healing, and cell regeneration.

Benefits of Laser Therapy:

• Non-Toxic
• Virtually No Contra-Indications
• Non-Invasive
• Easy to Apply
• No Side Effects or Pain
• Very Safe
• Highly Effective for Patient (more than 90% efficacy)
• Superior Alternative to: Analgesics, NSAID’s, Other Medications, Other Modalities
• Reduces Need for Surgery

Neck and Shoulder Pain

A variety of low level lasers are proven to be effective in reducing and eliminating acute and chronic pain in the neck & shoulders. Many patients find that this solution is a much more effective and immediate alternative to traditional pain medications. Combined with forms of chiropractic and therapy, the Erchonia lasers can help patients lead a normal, active, and healthy life without debilitating pain.

For more information on the Erchonia laser, please visit: www.erchonia.com