Cold Laser Therapy has been granted to a select number of doctors in the United States to use on patients who are experiencing inflamed or extremely painful conditions in the soft tissue and joints. Traditional chiropractic care is used for many aches and pains, however some patients have extreme cases of tension or long-term injuries that require supplemental treatment as well. Dr. Stover is one of the select chiropractic doctors that have been approved to utilize Erchonia lasers for cold laser therapy.
Some conditions that patients may use cold therapy for are, but not limited to, pain due to :
- Arthritis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Sports Injuries
- Tendonitis
Cold laser therapy may also help with:
- Muscle and joint pain
- Stiffness
- Pain associated with muscle spasms
- Neck pain
- Lower back pain
- Wound healing
Cold laser works in a similar way that photosynthesis occurs in plants. The laser, which is about the size of a television remote, is placed upon the area of pain and held for several minutes, depending on the size of the area and amount of pain experienced. It then emits light waves to the affected area. The laser can emit light about 5 centimeters below the skin, penetrating into the layers of tissue fat beneath the dermis and epidermis. Once the light hits the affected areas, the damaged cells absorb the light (in a way similar to how a plant would absorb light to be transferred into energy) and over time, begin to heal the affected tissue.
Depending on the severity of the affected area, patients may need up to about thirty rounds of cold laser therapy. Some, lesser affected areas may begin to see lasting results in just a few treatments, though. The biggest advantage of cold laser therapy is that it is a non-invasive treatment. Some people spend thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars on surgeries and treatments that fulfill only short-term relief, as well as spend valuable time preparing and recovering from such surgeries and treatments. Cold laser therapy is a quick, painless and non-invasive form of therapy for those experiencing both acute and chronic pain. It also does not require the use of drugs or medication to supplement the treatment.
For those that are curious, cold laser therapy became FDA approved in 2002. It has gone through a variety of testing (though there is always more to be done) and is considered safe for patients seeking non-invasive pain relief. The only contraindication is that cold laser therapy not be used on the eyes, or for pregnant women. Pregnant women should seek alternative treatment until after giving birth, as not enough testing has been done to know the ramifications of cold laser therapy on growing babies and newborns.
If you have any questions about the treatment, or believe you would be a good candidate for cold laser therapy, give us a call. If you would like to come in for traditional chiropractic care and see if cold laser therapy would work for you, cal us today to make an appointment with Dr. Stover. We look forward to meeting you!
