Low Level Laser Therapy

Low level laser, also known as Photobiomodulation or cold laser therapy, is a form of light emitting therapy used to inhibit inflammation and pain and also promote tissue repair and healing. The light is non thermal (therefore cold) which triggers biochemical changes at the cellular level.

It has been shown conclusively in the research that the following conditions respond well to LLLT:

• Sprains/strains
• Post surgical pain
• Whiplash injury
• Muscular related back pain
• Cervical or lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica)
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Frozen Shoulder
• Tendinitis
• Chronic neck and back pain
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome
• Carpal Tunnel syndrome
• Post tibial fracture surgery

Additionally, there is some evidence that LLLT can assist with neuropathic pain such as post herpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy.

DWhen considering a treatment plan for LLLT, we have FOUR target points:

1. The site of injury to promote healing, remodelling or reduce inflammation
2. The adjacent lymph noes in order to reduce any associated oedema
3. The local nerve endings for pain relief
4. Any associated muscular trigger points surrounding the injury

Treatment times start at 4 minutes but can take anywhere up to 20 minutes. The rule of thumb with treatment plans are the decade rule (1 treatment per 10 years of life) for the initial inhibitory phase with up to 5-10 treatments for tissue repair. Following your initial treatment, I construct a recommended treatment plan based on current research and protocols.

LLLT is FDA approved in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. As this is a CLASS 1 laser (which is super pulsed) there are no risks associated with the laser. However, I do ask that you wear laser protective glasses during the treatment as an extra precaution. Some patients who have a chronic complaint may experience a small increase in their pain after the first session but this usually subsides within 24 hours.

LLLT has been used for over 40 years and there are no known side effects from the therapy. There are however some situations where it can’t be used and this can be discussed at your initial consultation.

Treatments sessions are $102 for your initial consultation and first laser treatment (40 minutes)

Following laser sessions are purchased in packs of 5 or 10 at $47.00 per session

You are able to use Afterpay or a direct debit for these packs and if you purchase a 10 pack, it comes with a 10% discount (essentially 1 session is free)

If you would like chiropractic care on top of your laser therapy, this is an additional $58.00

*Please note, you may be eligible for health fund rebates but you would need to clarify with your health fund.

Yes there is a multitude of promising research in the area of LLLT. Please feel free to look at the following published articles looking at some of the common complaints we see in Chiropractic:

Chronic Back Pain:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4704537/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7118512/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260821629_Effect_of_low-level_pulsed_laser_890-nm_on_lumbar_spondylolisthesis_a_case_report

Chronic Neck Pain/migraine:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)61522-1/fulltext
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266675071_APPLYING_OF_LOW_LEVEL_LASER_THERAPY_LLLT_FOR_PAIN_MANAGEMENT_IN_MIGRAINE

Chronic Joint disorders/Osteoarthritis:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0004951414601276

Essentially, the mitochondria within a cell are the power houses and convert oxygen into ATP (energy). When a cell becomes hypoxic or injured, ATP can no longer be produced and eventually the cell will die. This is because there is a build-up of Nitric Oxide within the cell (NO) blocks any ATP production and thus functioning of the cell.

The process of light therapy has been shown to actually break the mitochondrial inhibition of ATP production which occurs following cell injury. LLLT has also been shown to produce a shift in the cell redox potential for greater oxidation and so this is how LLLT can really assist in the initial acute injury of the cell.

Furthermore, LLLT has shown to increase cell reproduction of fibroblasts (the little guys who help break down scar tissue). This is where LLLT can assist in tissue repair and healing

For more information on this, you can read the following article:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4743666/

References:
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Low_Level_Laser_Therapy