Laser Therapy

Laser Therapy

The Healing Nature of Light
First developed over 30 years ago, laser therapy uses a specific type of light to penetrate the skin’s surface and underlying tissues to stimulate the body’s natural repair processes. The result is faster healing and reduced pain, swelling and inflammation.

Dr. Zacherl is dedicated to improving quality of life for those who experience pain, sports injuries and rehabilitative conditions. Chiropractic Solutions offers a natural, effective, non-invasive, drug-free laser therapy solutions that are FDA approved. Applying light produced by low level laser and superluminous diodes, triggers normal cellular functions that lead to faster wound healing, pain relief and accelerated functional recovery.

Laser Therapy has been used successfully to treat athletic injuries, acute & chronic conditions, repetitive strain disorders, tissue healing and much more. By providing the extra energy required for healing, the tissue is able to heal itself naturally. This innovative therapeutic alternative may also eliminate the need for painful, debilitating surgeries and drug therapies so often accompanied by harmful side effects.

Conditions That Can Benefit from Laser Therapy Treatment
Research has demonstrated that laser therapy can be used to effectively treat many conditions. Simulating the body’s natural repair processes using the healing nature of light has been proven particularly effective for certain conditions including:

Arthritis/rheumatism
Tendonitis, tennis and golfer's elbow
Repetitive Stress Injuries (i.e. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)
Neck and Lower back pain
Soft Tissue Injuries, Strains and Sprains
Migraine headaches
TMJ
Whiplash injuries
Disc problems

Exploring the Healing Effects of Laser Therapy
When cells are exposed to lasern energy cellular charges are induced to change the cell homeostasis. This entails a cascade of reactions influencing a number of components of the respiratory chain. (E.g. cytochromes and cytchrome oxidase) which are the primary laser acceptors or chromophores, resulting in absorption of therapeutic wavelengths. This causes short term activation of the respiratory chain, leading to changes in redox status and in turn the activation of enhanced synthesis of ATP. The laserns also affect hydrogen ion levels in the cell, in combination with increased ATP, affects the cell permeability and flow of sodium, potassium, and calcium. These changes are necessary to control the proliferative activity of the cell.

Some of the unique healing effects of Laser therapy include:

Increased cell metabolism
Improved localized blood circulation
Development of collagen and muscle tissue
Relief from acute and chronic pain
Reduced localized inflammation and edema
Stimulation for wound healing and tissue repair
Stimulation of the immune system
Stimulation of nerve function

Providing the Answers to the Most Common Questions
How does Laser Therapy work?

What is low level laser therapy?

What exactly is laser therapy?

Does laser therapy affect only the area being treated?

How is laser therapy treatments administered?

Is Laser therapy the only treatment required for healing?

How does Laser therapy work?
When the light penetrates the skin and underlying tissue, they are absorbed by the cell, and converted into energy, thereby the cell membrane permeability is altered, this triggers a cascade of cellular events including:

Stimulation of ATP
Stimulation of respiratory chain
Increased DNA and RNA synthesis
Increased levels of beta endorphins and serotonin
Enhanced collagen synthesis

Is Laser therapy the only treatment required for healing?
Laser/phototherapy can be used as a single therapy or adjunctive therapy in combination with other manual therapies or electro modalities such as acupuncture, ultrasound and massage therapy. Back to top

How are laser therapy treatments administered?
Laser/phototherapy devices are positioned directly on the skin with gentle pressure applied. Generally there is no discomfort or sensation associated with treatment. Various areas may be treated including:

Directly over the lesion or site of injury
Muscle insertion
Relevant trigger points or tender points
Nerve roots or superficial nerve trucks
Acupuncture points

Does laser therapy affect only the area being treated?
The affects of Laser therapy treatment can be:

Local: with a direct benefit over the affected injury.
Regional: with positive effects seen in the surrounding tissue.
Systemic: broader effects evident through increased cell membrane permeability and chemical mediators carried in the blood, lymphatic and nervous systems. Back to top

What exactly is laser therapy? As scientists have understood more about the nature of light and its positive effects on the body, new techniques and devices have been developed to use light as part of the healing process. This is referred to as low level laser therapy or laser therapy. Laser therapy is an umbrella term that can include light from low level lasers as well as superluminous diodes, also known as light emitting diodes (LEDS). Low level lasers, also known as cold laser light is compressed light, it is different from natural light in that it is one precise color. Lasers are coherent waves, synchronized, and monochromatic (a single wavelength). Therapeutic light energy can be produced by Low Level Laser Diodes (LLLD) and/or super luminous diodes (SLD). These diodes can be within the visible red to the near infrared and infrared electromagnetic spectrum.

These properties allow laser light to penetrate the surface of the skin with no heating effect, no damage to the skin and no known side effects. Specific wavelengths and power levels result in different levels of penetration and cellular effects. Back to top

What is low level laser therapy?
There are two types of medical lasers: high power and low power. High power lasers are used to cut through tissue. Low-level lasers, on the other hand, are used to stimulate tissue repair through a process of bio-stimulation. The word "laser" is an acronym for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The theory was first described by Albert Einstein (1879-1955) who paved the way for the development of the therapeutic laser. The first low-level therapeutic laser was developed in 1962. By the end of the 1960's, Endre Mester in Hungary was reporting an improved healing of wounds through low-level laser radiation. Since then, scientists and doctors around the world have been using laser light to treat conditions which can affect all age groups.

Low level laser therapy is the application of red and near infrared light over injuries or wounds to improve soft tissue healing and relieve both acute and chronic pain. Low level therapy uses cold (subthermal) laser light energy to direct bio-stimulative light energy to the body's cells without injuring or damaging them in any way. The therapy is precise and accurate; and offers safe and effective treatment for a wide variety of conditions. The energy range of low level laser light lies between 1 and 500 mW (milliwatts), while for surgical lasers the energy range lies between 3000 and 10000 mW. Back to top

For additoinal FAQ's contact us.

Phototherapy has been used extensively in Europe for over thirty years. In a survey of physical therapists across the UK, the following findings are summarized from the results:

LLLT achieved the premiere overall ranking for relief of pain pared with other listed electro modalities
painful conditions figured prominently as "indications for laser therapy and as conditons identified as responding particularly well" to such treatment.
rated overall as effective for myofascial and post-operative pain.

Phototherapy is an accepted practice and has been the subject of over 2,500 scientific papers published worldwide. In North America it is gaining awareness and acceptance among both healthcare practitioners and consumers. The abstracts that follow speak to the positive effects of phototherapy.

Successful Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Wound Healing of Animal and Human Body Sport

LEPT for Musculoskeletal and Neuromuscular Disorders

LLLT for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Analgesic Therapy of Non-Invasive Laser of Plantar Fasciitis

LEPT for Whiplash Injury

Biological Effects of Laser Therapy and Other Modalities on Connective Tissue Repair

Successful Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
ABSTRACT
Successful management of female office workers with "repetitive stress injury" or "carpal tunnel syndrome" by a new treatment modality - application of Low Level Laser
E. Wong G LEE J. Zu CHERMAN and D.P. MASON

Western Heart Institute and St. Mary's Spine Center St. Mary's Medical Center. San Francisco, CA USA and Head and Neck Pain Center, Honolulu, HI USA

Abstract. Female office workers with desk jobs who are incapacitated by pain and tingling in the hands and fingers are often diagnosed by physicians as "repetitive stress injury" (RSI) or "carpal tunnel syndrome" (CTS). These patients usually have poor posture with their head and neck stooped forward and shoulders rounded; upon palpation, they have pain and tenderness at the spinous processes C5-T1 and the medial angle of the scapula. In 35 such patients we focused the treatment primarily at the posterior neck are and not the wrists and hands. A low-level laser (100 mW) was used and directed at the tips of the spinous processes C5-T1. The laser rapidly alleviated the pain and tingling in the arms, hands and fingers, and diminished tenderness at the involved spinous processes. Thereby, it has become apparent that many patients labeled as having RSI or CTS have predominantly cervical radicular dysfunction resulting in pain to the upper extremities which can be managed by low level laser. Successful long-term management involves treating the soft tissue lesions in the neck combined with correcting the abnormal head, neck and shoulder posture by taping, cervical collars, and clavicle harness as well as improved work ergonomics.
Manuscript received: July, 1997 Accepted for publication: September, 1997 LASER THERAPY, 1997:9: 131-136

Wound Healing of Animal and Human Body Sport
ABSTRACT

An open clinical study of Low Energy Photon Therapy (LEPT) for musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders Salansky N (1992) presented at the Society of Photo-Optical Engineers (SPIE) in Los Angeles, CA, January 21-23, 1992. And published in the SPIE 1992; Vol. 1643 Laser Surgery: pp. 240-250.

OBJECTIVES: A review of the published scientific literature and a priori clinical evidence indicated that LEPT could potentially be effective in relieving pain associated with chronic musculoskeletal conditions and neuromuscular disorders. Of particular interest were situations where chronic conditions (e.g. degenerative joint disease) did not respond to conventional forms of therapy (e.g. physiotherapy modalities such as TENS, ultrasound, etc. as well as pharmaceuticals such as NSAIDs). Chronic was defined as a condition that has persisted for more than 6 months since its onset. The objectives of the study were to verify efficacy of LEPT in relieving such chronic pain and to develop recommendations related for conducting a follow-up double blind study.

METHODS: The study was an open clinical trial that included 215 patients (86 males and 129 females, average age 60.3 years of age) suffering from chronic musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders. All patients had either failed to respond to conventional treatment modalities such as medications, conventional physiotherapy (TENS, ultrasound), or achieved only minor improvements.
All patients were treated with 3-5 times per week with low energy photon therapy. A full course of treatment consisted of 8-12 sessions.

The outcome of the treatment was measured by relative degree of morning stiffness, range of motion, swelling, drug consumption and pain level, using a self-report visual analog scale (“VAS”). These measures were classified by degree of improvement as:

Significant improvement (SI) was defined as an improvement in all evaluation criteria ³ 75%.
Improvement (I) was an improvement in all evaluation criteria ³ 50%, but, < 75%.
Marginal improvement (MI) was an improvement in 2 – 5 of the evaluation criteria by ³ 25 %, but < 50%.

RESULTS: Sixteen (16) patients dropped out of the study, leaving 199 who completed the full course of treatment. Eleven (11) patients opted out for personal reasons and five (5) patients experienced aggravation of their preexisting conditions, which did not appear to be related to the treatment.

Overall results for the residual sample indicate that 129 patients (65%) with chronic musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions experienced improvement or significant improvement after LEPT. This is remarkable considering these patients previously had been unresponsive to any other forms of therapy. IN addition, 30% of patients reported they had discontinued the use of analgesics and decreased their use of NSAIDS during the course of the study.

Degree of improvement by nature of conditions treated with LEPT is reported in the following table:

Condition treated No. Significant Marginal No
of patients Improvement & Improvement Effect
Improvement

Osteoarthritis 54(100%) 37 (68%) 9 (17%) 8 (15%)
Soft Tissue
Conditions 69 (100%) 47 (68%) 16 (23%) 6 (9%)
Degenerative
Disk Disease 62 (100%) 37 (67%) 14 (22%) 11(18%)
Neuromuscular
Conditions 14 (100%) 8 (57%) 4 (29%) 2 (14%)
All Conditions
Combined 199 (100%) 129 (65%) 43 (22%) 27(13%)

LEPT for Musculoskeletal and Neuromuscular Disorders
ABSTRACT A randomized, controlled study of Low Energy Photon Therapy (LEPT) for whiplash injury Salansky N (1995) presented at the 8th International Symposium of Physical Medicine Research Foundation, Banff, Canada, October 13-15, 1995.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of Low Level Energy Photon Therapy for extensor neck muscle recovery and a consequent improvement of nighttime sleep in comparison with results achieved through chiropractic manipulation and exercise. Based on evidence of over 10,000 scientific papers published around the world, it is commonly understood that most, if not all, traumas arising from motor vehicle accidents (”MVA”) have a whiplash component.

RESULTS: The randomized, controlled study involved 54 subjects (29 females and 25 males, ranging in age from 23-64 years), each of whom had suffered whiplash injury after a motor vehicle accident. The subjects were randomly allocated to three treatment groups, Group I - 17 – chiropractic manipulation therapy (“CMT”),
Group II - 18 – CMT + Exercise (“Ex”), and Group III - 19 – CMT + Ex and LEPT.

The statistical analysis of results indicated that Group III subjects achieved a greater improvement in neck extension muscle strength, at a much more rapid rated compared to both Groups I & II (p.01). This indicates that LEPT assisted in reducing recovery time.

In whiplash injury, a patient can lose 20% of muscle strength in the neck extensor muscle. Neck extensor muscle strength improved by 9% after CMT only (not significant) and by 15% after a program of CMT + Ex. However, with the addition of LEPT, the extensor muscle strength was statistically significant at 24%. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference in the rate of recovery was noted between the groups. The LEPT group demonstrated recovery (to the higher level) after only 4 weeks of therapy, compared to 8 weeks for the CMT + Ex Group.

Additionally, LEPT also helped to extend the patient’s uninterrupted sleep after injury in comparison with the two other Groups.

LLLT for Rheumatoid Arthritis
ABSTRACT

Low Powered Laser Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Lindsay Agambar, KE Herbert, DL Scott
Inflammation and Arthritis Group, Department of Rheumatology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London.

British Society for Rheumatology IXth Annual General Meeting, 1998

There are very few prospective controlled randomized trials of physiotherapy methods of treatment in arthritis. When new modalities of physical therapy become available it is especially important they are evaluated in this way. Low powered laser treatment is a novel form of local treatment that can be used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Placebo therapy can be given with specially adapted equipment. We used such an approach to examine the efficacy of laser therapy for RA knee joints using a double blind trial design.

A multi-head laser was used with optical light for direction finding and laser light (at 820nm) for therapy. Two leads were used for the study (coded A and B) but apparently identical to the operator, one was fully operational; the other gave optical light only. We studied 40 RA patients randomized to receive active or placebo low powered laser treatment. Where possible both knees were treated. Patients were assessed initially, at 3 and 6 weeks of therapy, and after treatment had been completed. Six variables were measured: flexion, extension, strength, stiffness, pain and overall grading of knee arthritis. Active therapy led to significant improvements in strength (p=0.003, unpaired t-test) and decreased pain (p=.058) compared to placebo treatment. Active treatment also led to fewer persistently flexed knees (22%) compared to controls (62%) and a greater number of normally graded knees (97.5%) compared to controls (73%); but were significant by Chi-squared testing (p<0.025 and <0.005 respectively).

This study shows randomized controlled studies of physiotherapy are possible; using such an approach low powered laser therapy appears an effective treatment for RA knees.

Analgesic Therapy of Non-Invasive Laser of Plantar Fasciitis
ABSTRACT

Possibilities of the Analgesic Therapy of Ultrasound and Non-invasive Laser of Plantar Fasciitis

Hana Hronkova, Leos Navratil, Jiri Skopek, Jaroslava Kymplova

Laser Partner Clinicexperience No. 21, 19.12.2000

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of the two therapeutical approaches, ultrasound and low level laser used in patients suffering from calcar calcanei-plantar fasciitis.

METHODS: 171 patients with calcar calcanei and plantar faciitis diagnosed with the x-ray were divided into four groups.

Group A
60 patients treated with ultrasound therapy (UST). Ultrasound with the output of 1 W per cm2 was applied for 5 minutes in each of 10 applications and the head of device pointed to the place of maximum pain;

Group B
61 patients were treated with low level laser therapy (LLLT) without any additional treatment including pharmacotherapy. Laser with 870 nm of wavelength, output of 200 mW, was applied on the place of maximum pain. Energy density of 9 J/cm2 in the series of 10 laser applications every other day was used.

Group C
8 patients where previous UST had no or minimal effect and therefore LLLT was subsequently applied the same way as in the group B. Laser was applied not earlier than 14 days after the ultrasound.

Group D (Control)
In this group of 52 patients the sham laser radiation (no laser beam) was applied whereas patient and personnel could not identify whether the laser was shamed or not. This group is used as control “placebo” group.

The effectiveness of the treatment was determined according to the evaluation of the patient using certain criteria described in the table.

RESULTS: The complete disappearance of pain was seen in 50% of patients, partial improvement in 16.6% and no effect in 33.3% of patients treated with US.

In group B, where LLLT has been used, 64% of patients described disappearance of pain, 26% with improvement and in 10% of patients this therapy brought no effect.

In the group C of previous UST and subsequent use of LLLT, 75% of patients evaluated their treatment as successful. In 25% however, laser had no effect.

Summarily, 69 patients were treated with LLLT from which 67% described complete pain relief, 20% partial improvement and in 13% laser brought no effect.

In the group D there were 50 patients treated with sham laser and full effect was seen in 18% of them, partially reduced pain in 42% and without any effect in 40%

DISCUSSION and CONCLUSION
The results show that the LLLT is a good therapeutical approach in the treatment of pain in patients suffering from calcar-calcanei – plantar faciitis. The treatment with laser was significantly more successful then the ultrasound therapy, which is currently the most common therapy used for plantar fasciitis.

LEPT for Whiplash Injury
ABSTRACT
A randomized, controlled study of Low Energy Photon Therapy (LEPT) for whiplash injury

Salansky N (1995)

presented at the 8th International Symposium of Physical Medicine Research Foundation, Banff, Canada, October 13-15, 1995.

In whiplash injury, a patient can lose 20% of muscle strength in the neck extensor muscle. Neck extensor muscle strength improved by 9% after CMT only (not significant) and by 15% after a program of CMT + Ex. However, with the addition of LEPT, the extensor muscle strength was statistically significant at 24%.
Furthermore, a statistically significant difference in the rate of recovery was noted between the groups. The LEPT group demonstrated recovery (to the higher level) after only 4 weeks of therapy, compared to 8 weeks for the CMT + Ex Group.

Additionally, LEPT also helped to extend the patient’s uninterrupted sleep after injury in comparison with the two other Groups.

Biological Effects of Laser Therapy and Other Modalities on Connective Tissue Repair
ABSTRACT
The biological effects of laser therapy and other physical modalities on connective tissue repair processes

Chukuka S. Enwemeka, P.T., Ph.D., FACSM, G. Kesava Reddy, Ph.D.,

Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences,
University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160-7601, USA

Connective tissue injuries, such as tendon rupture and ligamentous strains, are common. Unlike most soft tissues that require 7-10 days to heal, primary healing of tendons and other dense connective tissues take as much as 6 - 8 weeks during which they are inevitably protected in immobilization casts to avoid re-injury. Such long periods of immobilization impair functional rehabilitation and predispose a multitude of complications that could be minimized if healing is quickened and the duration of cast immobilization reduced. In separate studies, we tested the hypothesis that early function, ultrasound, 632.8 nm He-Ne laser, and 904 nm Ga-As laser, when used singly or in combination, promote healing of experimentally severed and repaired rabbit Achilles tendons as evidenced by biochemical, biomechanical, and morphological indices of healing. Our results demonstrate that: (1) appropriate doses of each modality, i.e., early functional activities, ultrasound, He-Ne and Ga-As laser therapy augment collagen synthesis, modulate maturation of newly synthesized collagen, and overall, enhance the biomechanical characteristics of the repaired tendons. (2) Combinations of either of the two lasers with early function and either ultrasound or electrical stimulation further promote collagen synthesis when compared to functional activities alone. However, the biomechanical effects measured in tendons receiving the multi-therapy were similar, i.e., not better than the earlier single modality trials. Although tissue repair processes in humans may differ from that of rabbits, these findings suggest that human cases of connective tissue injuries, e.g., Achilles tendon rupture, may benefit from appropriate doses of He-Ne laser, Ga-As laser, and other therapeutic modalities, when used singly or in combination. Our recent meta-analysis of the laser therapy literature further corroborates these findings.