A friend of mine recently told me her dermatologist was using Laser Light Therapy to successfully treat her eczema. I wasn’t surprised. With its time-efficiency and broad range of applications, Laser Light Therapy is one of the most popular treatment modalities in physical therapy. Physical therapists use laser light therapy to great effect with a multitude of diagnoses including arthritis, neuropathy, muscle strains, fractures, pain reduction and TMJ.

How Laser Light Therapy Works

Laser Light therapy uses very short wavelengths of light (600-1000 nm) to penetrate human tissue in order to facilitate healing of tissue, reduction in pain and swelling. Particles called photons assemble in waveforms to make light. The light transmits through the skin's layers (the dermis, epidermis and the subcutaneous tissue or tissue fat under the skin) at all wavelengths in the visible range. However, light waves in the near infrared ranges penetrate the deepest of all light waves in the visible spectrum. When low level laser light waves penetrate deeply into the skin, they optimize the immune responses of our blood. This has both anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. It has been found that light transmitted to the blood through light therapy has positive effective through-out the whole body, supplying vital oxygen and energy to every cell.

The type of light utilized in physical therapy is most commonly red or near infrared light. These forms of light are found on the electromagnetic spectrum just above visible light. Numerous studies have found that the photons, especially those found in the red or near infrared spectrum, have healing properties at the cellular level, meaning the photons are absorbed by the cell. The cell then uses these photons to make additional ATP, adenosine triphosphate, which creates the body’s energy. This additional energy accelerates the body’s natural healing processes.

Part of the reason Laser Light Therapy is popular as a treatment modality, aside from its therapeutic benefits, is treatments usually last 5 minutes or less, are non-invasive and are pain-free. And while light therapy treatments are usually performed two to three times a week, most people have noticed improvements with their first or second treatment. My friend noticed a significant reduction in her eczema symptoms after her first treatment.

Benefits Of Laser Light Therapy

When receiving a laser light treatment, the physical therapist places a small wand over the affected area administering the light. The wand will be held over the skin for a predetermined amount of time with the patient coming back 2-3 times a week to treat the affected area. During the painless treatment, laser energy increases circulation; drawing water, oxygen, and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved.

It’s exciting that other practitioners in the medical field are realizing the benefits of laser light therapy. When patients are experiencing pain or uncomfortable symptoms, time is always of the essence as they seek relief immediately. With tools like Laser Light Therapy, practitioners are able to deliver those results at incredible speed.

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