Laser Treatment Sessions

Low level laser therapy (LLLT) involves using low level lasers, also called cold lasers, to stimulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, and promote pain relief and healing. Laser therapy can be used to treat many types of musculoskeletal pain. The procedure is non-invasive, does not require drugs or surgery, and can be used in combination with other treatments, such as physical therapy and massage therapy.

Each laser treatment lasts about 5–10 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated. In some cases, patients experience pain relief after just one treatment session.

Laser therapy to treat acute pain (i.e., pain caused by an injury or medical procedure) may involve 1–6 daily laser therapy sessions. Chronic pain (e.g., tendonitis, back pain, neck pain, RSD/CRPS, carpal tunnel syndrome) may be treated 2–3 times per week for several weeks, and then once a week or once every other week to provide ongoing pain relief. Moderate to severe arthritis pain, inflammation, and joint stiffness may require 10–15 treatment sessions to produce significant results.

In laser pain management, light energy (photons) from a hand-held laser penetrates into the deep tissue of a painful area of the body to improve blood flow (circulation) and nerve function, reduce swelling and inflammation, and promote healthy tissue growth. During treatment, the patient and the health care team wear protective eye wear to reduce the risk for eye damage caused by laser light.

Patients may experience deep warmth and/or tingling during low level laser therapy. The procedure is painless and does not cause any known side effects. In some cases, LLLT can aggravate an older injury that has not completely healed or increase the patient's sensitivity to pain for a few days before producing the intended symptom relief. Because the effects of class IV lasers on cancer cells (i.e., malignant tumors) and unborn fetuses are unknown at this time, LLLT is not recommended for patients who have cancer or for women who are pregnant.