Low-level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has been used to treat a variety of conditions for decades. LLLT, also known as cold laser therapy, involves a high-frequency laser that has a low energy output.
The technology used in this kind of therapy has been applied for many years in several forms. It has been used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, blemishes on the skin, and for reducing pain. The energy output in laser devices can be adjusted for different treatments. This means that the laser can be adjusted to put out just enough energy to make a physiological change that is needed or desired however, it won’t emit enough energy to damage tissue.
These kinds of lasers are also known as cold lasers for cold laser therapy sessions. These are basically the same thing. The only difference is what kind of condition is being treated, the kind of laser equipment and the intensity of the laser being used.
Benefits of LLLT
When most people think of lasers, they associate them with dangerous weapons or devices meant to cause injury or harm. This kind of therapy has been used as a non-invasive form of surgery. In many cases, it’s carried out as a substitute to invasive surgical procedures.
Less Pain Medication
Since there is very minimal discomfort associated with the use of these kinds of lasers, there is often no need for doctors to prescribe pain medications. Pain medications can be dangerous, especially in those with a tendency towards addictive behaviour. The recent problems with pain medication addiction and deadly overdoses have caused more doctors to become wary of prescribing them when there is a healthier and safer alternative.
Less Risk of Infection
When a patient is treated for neck pain with LLLT, there is little room for a chance of an infection. Sometimes prolonged and unexplainable pain in the neck can be a symptom of a more serious condition than just sore muscles and spinal misalignment. When pain in the neck is treated with laser therapy, it will also increase blood circulation.
Reduces Inflammation and Pain
LLLT has the benefit of increasing the circulation in the treated area. This means that necessary nutrients are being brought into the treated area by way of the red blood cells and that harmful toxins are being transported away from the treated area.
One of the better reasons for choosing to go with this kind of therapy is its ability to treat neck pain that occurs for reasons that are as yet unspecified. It’s safe enough to reduce pain and inflammation in the neck without the fear of worsening or exacerbating the causes of pain and inflammation.
Seniors
When treating pain in seniors, laser treatment can be very beneficial. Seniors suffering from neck and joint pain due to arthritis have experienced substantial relief without the need for other therapies.
Since laser treatments are safe enough to be administered as often as is necessary, it’s well suited for elderly chronic pain sufferers. Chronic pain is classified as any pain that is persistent and lasts for weeks or years. Many of the elderly suffer from chronic pain in the neck, joints, and muscles that can be relieved with regular low-level laser treatments.
Low-Level Laser Treatments Healing Properties
Cellular regeneration and the healing of muscular tissue is supported and maintained by adenosine triphosphate or ATP. In short, ATP is a nucleotide that is responsible for containing or carrying energy in the cells. This is the energy that is so badly needed for the regeneration of cells and the healing of injuries, whether they are neck-related or otherwise.
When to See a Doctor for Neck Pain
Sometimes pain in the neck can be due to a minor issue. There are so many ways the neck muscles can be strained during a workday. This is true if your job involves physical labor or sitting at a desk all day. At times, clerical or administrative jobs that require sitting at a desk can lead to severe neck pain.
Other symptoms to look out for include, but are not limited to:
- Tiredness or fatigue
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Lightheadedness
- Muscle contractions in the shoulders and upper back
Neck injuries can be severe and get worse over time if they are not treated. It’s also critical for a doctor to examine the neck for spinal injury. If you have a hard time walking or urinating along with neck-related pain after an injury, that is a sure sign of a spinal injury.
For more information on how Low-Level Laser Therapy can help treat your neck pain, contact Focus Physiotherapy. Focus Physiotherapy has 6 convenient physiotherapy clinic locations in the Greater Toronto Area: Etobicoke, Mississauga, Brampton, Bolton, North York and York. Please click one of the locations below for contact information, directions and hours of operation. We look forward to speaking with you.