Cold Laser Therapy
Introduction to Low-Level Laser Therapy (“LLLT”) Technology
Medical researchers began using laser biostimulation in the late 1960’s with low-powered laser beams that produced non-thermal effects on human tissue. The first reported cases involved slow-healing ulcers. The efficacy of this low-level laser therapy, or “LLLT,” is substantiated by objective research that continues (See “Studies” below).
Laser wavelengths between 820 nanometers (nm) and 840 nm have an extremely low absorption rates in human tissue. This means that laser light penetrates deeply at those frequencies. Experimenting clinicians found that an 830 nm laser is optimal for treating chronic pain. An example of how LLLT works involves soft tissue trauma. These types of injuries consist of damage to the deep, sensitive layers of tissue beneath the epidermis, including muscular, neural, lymphatic, and vascular tissue. The human body normally reacts to this soft tissue trauma by “splinting” the injury with edema, a thin or watery fluid in tissue spaces or cell interstices. However, excess edema causes swelling that inhibits movement of the damaged tissue. These injuries result in two types of pain. The first is actual traumatic pain from the injury itself, and the second pain is from the swelling that results. LLLT focuses first on the lymphatic system which maintains the body’s fluid balance, while the laser light also helps absorb the excess edema. LLLT thus provides relief in two ways. MicroLight has FDA clearance for devices under both the “NHN” and “ILY” classifications.The MicroLight ML830® was cleared by the FDA for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. This clearance followed a double-blind study on carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) that was conducted at General Motors.
STUDIES:
Introduction to Low-Level Laser Therapy (“LLLT”) Technology
Medical researchers began using laser biostimulation in the late 1960’s with low-powered laser beams that produced non-thermal effects on human tissue. The first reported cases involved slow-healing ulcers. The efficacy of this low-level laser therapy, or “LLLT,” is substantiated by objective research that continues (See “Studies” below).
Laser wavelengths between 820 nanometers (nm) and 840 nm have an extremely low absorption rates in human tissue. This means that laser light penetrates deeply at those frequencies. Experimenting clinicians found that an 830 nm laser is optimal for treating chronic pain. An example of how LLLT works involves soft tissue trauma. These types of injuries consist of damage to the deep, sensitive layers of tissue beneath the epidermis, including muscular, neural, lymphatic, and vascular tissue. The human body normally reacts to this soft tissue trauma by “splinting” the injury with edema, a thin or watery fluid in tissue spaces or cell interstices. However, excess edema causes swelling that inhibits movement of the damaged tissue. These injuries result in two types of pain. The first is actual traumatic pain from the injury itself, and the second pain is from the swelling that results. LLLT focuses first on the lymphatic system which maintains the body’s fluid balance, while the laser light also helps absorb the excess edema. LLLT thus provides relief in two ways. MicroLight has FDA clearance for devices under both the “NHN” and “ILY” classifications.The MicroLight ML830® was cleared by the FDA for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. This clearance followed a double-blind study on carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) that was conducted at General Motors.
STUDIES:
- Low Level Laser Therapy For Trigger Point Release. Clinical Report on 11,000 trigger point releases using the ML830 Laser. Benard E. Filner Board Certified Anesthesiologists. Pain Management (2006) 10-Volume 6 Issue 7.
- Low level laser therapy for tendinopathy. Evidence of a dose-response pattern
Bjordal J M, Couppe´ C, Ljunggren E
Physical Therapy Reviews (2001) 6: 91-99 - The clinical efficacy of low-power laser therapy on pain and function in cervical osteoarthritis.
Oezdemir F, Birtane M, Kokino S
Clinical Rheumatology (2001) 20(3): 181-184 - Efficacy of low power laser therapy in fibromyalgia: a single-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Gur A, Karakoc M, Nas K, Cevik R, Sarac J, Demir E.
Lasers in Medical Science (2002) 17(1):57-61. - Comparison between low level laser therapy, transcutaneous electro-neural stimulation, visible incoherent polarised light and placebo in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis: A pilot clinical study on 120 patients
Simunovic Z and Trobonjaca T
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (2002) Supplement 14, Atlanta, Georgia - Noninvasive laser neurolysis in carpal tunnel syndrome
Weintraub MI, MD, FACP
Muscle Nerve (1997) 20:1029-1031. - Treatment of repetitive use carpal tunnel syndrome
Smith CF, Vangsness CT, Anderson T & Good W (1995)
Proceedings SPINE (1995) 2395; 658-661. - Children Diseases
- Lifestyle & Weight Counseling
Dr. Lee received training and certification in the principles of Low Level Laser Therapy from the American Society of Laser Therapy in 2002. Dr. Lee exclusively uses the ML 830 cold laser.