Laser Therapy in Sports Medicine

Sports medicine options are becoming increasingly popular with professional athletes and die-hard couch potatoes alike. Regardless of your activity level, these treatment options can help your body perform more efficiently. Athletic programs from the collegiate to professional level all over the US have made laser therapy a standard treatment protocol in their sports medicine arsenal, and most doctors offer some forms of treatment related to the practice. Here are just a few of the MANY key benefits that have made Photobiomodulation-PBM (laser therapy) such an effective addition to sports medicine.

Cellular Repair

The draw of sports medicine for most people is to remain as active as possible while healing. Laser therapy allows for better management of conditions while keeping patients engaged in activities that will not hinder their healing process.

Light energy in specific wavelengths can stimulate fibroblast development in damaged tissue. Fibroblasts are the building blocks of collagen, which is the essential protein required to replace old tissue or to repair tissue injuries.

PBM also has an anti-inflammatory effect on tissue. We’ve mentioned that it promotes vasodilation in other posts, but it also activates the lymphatic drainage system which drains swollen areas. This reaction helps reduce swelling caused by inflammation or bruising. Due to the nature of vasodilation, these effects can also help relieve “tight” sensations through muscles and tendons by increasing the supply of nutrients to the area.

Currently, blind studies are also being done on the effects of PBM in decreasing muscle fatigue.

Pain Management

The world of pain management can sometimes feel… limited. Go to treatment options often include topical, oral, or injectable medications with multiple side effects. Examples like cortisone or NSAIDS designed to fight pain and inflammation are but a few.

Laser therapy promotes several pain management mechanisms in tissue. By utilizing the analgesic effect of light energy laser therapy promotes the production of high levels of pain-killing chemicals like endorphins and enkephalin from the brain and adrenal gland. Light energy also affects nerve cells and can block transmissions by nerve cells to decrease sensitivity and pain. 

Side Effects

Many traditional forms of therapy (such as injections, and prescription medications) come with a list of side effects or possible reactions between differing medications, and in some cases can weaken tissue over time with extended use (steroid injections). Laser therapy is one of the few non-invasive, safe treatment options available today. Most patients don’t even feel any sensation at treatment. 

Conditions treated include:

Arthritis

Burns

Bursitis

Cuts

Fractures

Joint Pain (i.e.., ankle, back, knee)

Muscle Sprain / Strain/ Fatigue

Neuritis

Neuropathy

Plantar Fasciitis / Heel Pain

Post-Surgical Healing / Pain Management

Scarring

Tendonitis

Wound Healing

Treatments

Other therapies can also sometimes be used in conjunction with laser therapy. These can include icing, stretching, and even specialized tapings. Remember, any sports medicine related, or laser therapy treatments should always be performed under the direct supervision of your recommending doctor.

As always, we hope this information is helpful, and if you’d like more information regarding what laser therapy can do for you contact our office. We’re also on Facebook and Twitter @TripodLaser.

Laser Therapy Guide

The world of laser therapy can be a confusing place. Terms like class IV, cold laser therapy (CLT), low-level laser therapy (LLLT), and even photobiomodulation (PBM) are all over the internet and can make digesting information about therapeutic laser treatment hard. In this blog post we’ll be attempting to answer some common questions, point out important information to look for, and hopefully provide you with enough basic laser knowledge to ensure you get the most out of your laser therapy experience as possible.

Are there different types of Laser Therapy?

We’re often asked what CLT, LLLT, and PBM mean, so we’ll begin with defining those terms. Class IV describes the classification of lasers that are used in laser therapy. These lasers are typically higher powered and allow for better tissue penetration than class I-III lasers, which are found in your home, office, or manufacturing.

When laser therapy first became available for human use many terms were coined to describe the therapy process. These terms included cold laser therapy and low-level laser therapy. As with most devices, once laser therapy became available to the public, a rash of late-night devices hit infomercials everywhere claiming to fall under these categories. This influx of inferior machines spurred the need in the laser world for clear barriers in what laser therapy is and can do. Photobiomodulation is now considered the appropriate term for the use of laser therapy on tissue.

What is Laser Therapy and what does it do?

 Laser therapy is the non-invasive, non-thermal application of light energy to stimulate cells. Once stimulated by the near-infrared light, cells in the affected area generate more energy and undergo self-repair. There are no known negative side effects from the use of PBM on cells.

When looking into laser therapy remember that not all laser devices are created equal. It’s important to use a PBM provider that utilizes a class IV laser that works somewhere between 808-908nm wavelengths. These ranges are great for not only tissue regeneration, but also in managing inflammation, and pain relief.

Can I be treated if I don’t have a diagnosis?

Laser therapy should always be performed by knowledgeable staff and under the direct supervision of a physician. Currently, some establishments do not require a diagnosis before treatment begins. Doing so is a bit like shooting at a target blindfolded. Treatment protocols for conditions vary widely in time, intensity, and technique. Having a diagnosis before treatment is essential in evaluating the efficacy of a treatment protocol for the patient, and in understanding how to manage that treatment for the best possible results.

What kind of training is required to perform laser therapy?

Right now several states including Michigan do not require certification for laser therapy technicians. So how do you ensure you’re receiving the best treatment and care possible? Ask about requirements for your state and the technician’s experience, and if the same technician will be performing each treatment. Typical training for laser therapy includes topics such as laser history and theory, application of techniques, and courses on common conditions treated as well as basic healing, bandaging, and wound care in some cases.

As always if you have any questions, or would like to see us tackle a specific topic, please leave us a comment below. We hope you found this information helpful, and we look forward to helping you #livepainfree.

6 Benefits of Laser Therapy you didn't know about

At Tripod Laser Services our goal is to educate the community about laser therapy. So we’ve compiled a handy list of the top six benefits of laser therapy that most people aren’t aware of. Before we dive into the list you need to know what laser therapy is. Laser therapy is referred to as Photobiomodulation, and is a form of physical therapy that uses light energy to affect tissue, and is often used instead of injections and other medications. Currently, laser therapy is used to help manage conditions like arthritis, wound healing, and acute injuries like ankle sprains.

Now that we’re on the same page, on to the good stuff:

6. Laser therapy can help reduce the formation of fibrous tissue (scar tissue) following tissue damage from cuts, scratches, burns or a surgery.

5. Studies have shown that when participating in Photobiomodulation the tissue in treatment areas increase vascular activity, and vasodilation which is an increase in the diameter of blood vessels to allow better blood flow. This helps speed up the healing process to allow wounds to close more quickly and with less scarring.

4. Laser therapy doesn’t just affect damaged tissue; it can also help improve nerve function as well. Light energy helps speed nerve cell reconnection and regeneration. Nerve’s typically regenerate at an extremely slow rate, much slower than tissue.

3. Laser therapy promotes several pain management mechanisms in tissue. By utilizing the analgesic effect of light energy laser therapy promotes the production of high levels of pain killing chemicals like endorphins, and enkephalin from the brain and adrenal gland. As mentioned before, light energy also affects nerve cells, and when discussing pain can help block transmissions by nerve cells to decrease sensitivity and pain.

2. Light energy has a direct effect on immunoregulation. Laser therapy utilizes light to increase the production of ATP in tissue which is a major carrier and energy source for all chemical reactions in your cells.

1. Photobiomodulation also has an anti-inflammatory effect on tissue. We’ve mentioned that it promotes vasodialation before, but it also activates the lymphatic drainage system which drains swollen areas. This reaction helps reduce swelling caused by inflammation or bruising.

For more information on the many benefits of laser therapy follow us on Facebook @TripodLaser, and remember— why live with pain, if you don’t have to?