Top 10 Health Benefits of Low-level Laser Therapy

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT), also known as cold laser therapy or photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, is a non-invasive, low-intensity light therapy that has been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to stimulate healing. In contrast to standard lasers often used in surgery to apply intense heat to make incisions, the light intensity in LLLT is too low to heat the body’s tissues.

What’s cold laser therapy? Cold laser therapy is low-intensity laser therapy that stimulates healing while using low levels of light. The technique is called “cold” laser therapy because the low levels of light aren’t enough to heat your body’s tissue. The level of light is low when compared to other forms of laser therapy, such as those used to destroy tumors and coagulate tissue. Surgical and aesthetic lasers heat the tissue being treated. True to its name, cold laser therapy does not. Cold laser therapy is also known as:

• low-level laser therapy (LLLT)
• low-power laser therapy (LPLT)
• soft laser biostimulation
• photobiomodulation

1. Alleviates pain (analgesic): Low-level laser therapy alleviates pain in the following ways:

• Partially blocks pain signals from nerves to the brain
• Decreases nerve sensitivity
• Reduces inflammation (see No. 3 below)
• Stimulates the production of high levels of pain-killing chemicals including endorphins, enkephalins, and opioids in the brain and adrenal glands
• Stimulates muscle trigger points and acupuncture points non-invasively to relax contracted muscle fibers

3. Reduces inflammation: Low-level laser therapy dilates blood vessels and activates the lymphatic system to drain swollen areas that are the result of trauma or inflammation.

4. Accelerates cell growth and tissue repair: Low-intensity light penetrates deep into tissues to accelerate cell reproduction and growth and increase energy availability to cells. It enhances cell metabolism by increasing adenosine triphosphate (ADP) production, which improves cell nutrition and waste elimination, which is especially effective in repairing tendons, ligaments, and muscles. It also stimulates fibroblast development in damaged tissue (fibroblasts are the building blocks of collage, the essential protein required to replace old tissue or repair tissue injuries), making LLLT especially helpful in treating burns and open wounds.

5. Enhances vascular activity: Low-level laser therapy speeds the healing process, closes wounds more quickly, and reduces scarring in two ways:

• Significantly increases the formation of new capillaries in damaged tissue
• Dilates blood vessels (increases their diameter), thereby improving the flow of blood to damaged tissues

6. Increases metabolic activity: Low-level laser therapy stimulates higher outputs of specific pro-healing enzymes in blood cells, along with improved oxygen and nutrient delivery.

7. Reduces formation of scar tissue: Low-level laser therapy reduces the formation of fibrous (scar) tissue from cuts, scratches, burns, or surgery.

8. Enhances nerve regeneration and function: Low-level laser therapy speeds up the process of axonal regeneration and nerve cell reconnection.

9. Supports immune system function: Low-level laser therapy directly affects immune function by stimulating the production of immunoglobulins and lymphocytes and by improving the ease of penetration of white blood cells into damaged tissue.

10. Reduces reliance on medications: Low-level laser therapy is considered a safe, natural, and effective alternative therapy that may help reduce or eliminate the need for opioids and other analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and other medications that may have undesirable side effects.

• Musculoskeletal injuries and pain: Sprains (muscles and ligaments), tendonitis, bursitis, tennis elbow, neck pain, lower back pain, knee pain, muscle spasms, joint swelling.
  

• Inflammation: Inflamed gums, carpal tunnel syndrome, and inflammation caused by autoimmune conditions (such as rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia).
  

• Wound healing: For wounds that resist treatment, such as those related to diabetes.
  

• Detoxification, fat loss, and weight management: When used as a complimentary element of an integrative plan of care, low-level laser therapy — like the protocol now available with Dr. D — may aid the body in eliminating excess fat that could be contributing to dysfunction or chronic illness.
  

• Acupuncture: For patients who are uncomfortable with needles.
  

• Skin rejuvenation: Acne, psoriasis, burns, vitiligo, dermatitis, rashes, edema (swelling).