If you have an injury that causes pain and inflammation, you may benefit from working with a healthcare professional, like a physical therapist or chiropractor, to help you recover. Your therapist may use a variety of treatments to help decrease your pain and improve blood flow to inflamed tissue. One such treatment is called cold laser therapy. Cold laser therapy is also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT).
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This article helps you understand what cold laser therapy is and how it can be used to help treat injuries. It will also examine the research surrounding cold laser therapy to help you decide if it is something you should pursue for your specific injury.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
What Is Cold Laser Therapy?
Cold laser therapy is a type of treatment in which low-intensity light is applied to your body, typically over injured or inflamed tissue. The low-intensity light, referred to as "cold laser," is thought to improve blood flow and decrease pain and inflammation to injured tissues.
Cold laser therapy should not be confused with high-intensity laser that a surgeon may use to cut through tissues. The light-emitting diodes in cold laser therapy are not powerful enough to cut tissue, but they are strong enough to penetrate your skin and promote healing after injury.
How Cold Laser Therapy Works
Cold laser therapy uses light photons that are introduced to your skin with a wand that contains several light-emitting diodes. As the photons enter your skin and pass through injured tissue, chemical changes to the mitochondria of the cells occur, signaling them to increase the production of adenosine triphosphate. This is theorized to cause positive healing to those tissues.
But not just any light will work for this healing process to occur. Low-level laser therapy, typically at 600- to 1,000-nanometer wavelength, is best to increase blood flow and improve healing in injured tissues.
Types of Conditions Treated by Cold Therapy
Your healthcare provider may use cold laser therapy to treat a variety of conditions. These may include, but are not limited to:
Any soft tissue injury that causes pain or inflammation in your body may benefit from the use of cold laser therapy.
Pros and Cons of Cold Laser Therapy
When deciding to have cold last therapy for your injury, your healthcare provider should explain to you the goals of the treatment. Also, they should discuss with you the expected benefits and risks associated with cold laser therapy.
Pros of cold laser therapy include:
Risks to cold laser therapy are minimal, but you should understand them. Cons to having the procedure done may include:
Having realistic expectations of using cold laser therapy for your injury can help you make an informed decision as to whether to have the treatment or not.
What to Expect
If you and your healthcare provider choose to use cold laser therapy for your injury, it helps to understand what to expect during the treatment. During cold laser therapy, your affected body part will be exposed, and you and your healthcare provider may wear special goggles to shield your eyes during the treatment.
Then, a small wand with light-emitting diodes will be touched to your skin and held in place for a few seconds. The light will be applied to your affected skin and injury site for about 30 to 60 seconds.
You should not experience pain during treatment, and no heat is generated by the light. If you are experiencing any pain or symptoms, tell your provider, who may need to reposition your body or halt the treatment.
After treatment, you should also not feel pain or discomfort.
Many healthcare providers will have you perform gentle exercises for your condition to help improve the range of motion (capability of a joint to go through a spectrum of movements) and strength of your affected body part. Keep in mind that low-level laser therapy should be one part of your total rehab experience; research supports exercise and movement for many musculoskeletal injuries.
Effectiveness
When choosing to have cold laser therapy treatments, you should have an idea of the research surrounding the therapy. There is some research supporting the use of low-level lasers for back pain, neck pain, and tendonitis.
A meta-analysis (examining data from a large number of independent studies) found that cold laser treatments can have a positive effect on pain reduction in people with low back pain. The studies did not show an increase in functional movement, however.
Another meta-analysis found that joint pain can be lessened with the use of cold laser therapy. Again, no benefit was found of improving overall function in patients getting the treatment.
If you have tendonitis (inflammation of a tendon, which attaches muscle to bone) or tenosynovitis (inflammation of the tendon and the sheath surrounding it), your healthcare practitioner may choose to use laser therapy for you.
A meta-analysis of using cold laser therapy for tendinopathy concluded that "there is very-low-to-moderate quality evidence demonstrating that photobiomodulation (cold laser) has utility as a standalone and/or adjunct therapy for tendinopathy disorders."
Bottom Line
There is a mixed bag of scientific research indicating that cold laser therapy may be beneficial for pain relief in certain conditions. However, it may not be effective in improving function in musculoskeletal conditions. (And maybe the placebo effect is at play with some studies. Perhaps improvements in pain were found due to the patient getting any sort of treatment for their condition.)
Have a discussion with your healthcare provider before starting any cold laser treatments for your condition.
There is some evidence that cold laser therapy helps decrease pain, but improvements in functional mobility are not typically seen with cold laser therapy as a standalone treatment.
Summary
If you are suffering from pain or limited motion due to a soft tissue, joint, or tendon injury, you may benefit from working with a physical therapist to return to normal activity. Your therapist may use a variety of treatments, and one may be cold laser therapy.
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Cold laser therapy, also known as low-level light therapy, is a therapeutic modality used to improve healing and blood flow to injured tissues. It is a painless procedure, and it may be done as part of a well-rounded rehab program including exercise and functional mobility.
Cold laser therapy is a painless procedure involving the introduction of light of specific wavelengths to injured tissues. The light creates a photobiomodulation effect, increasing blood flow and speeding cellular processes to improve healing. If you are injured, ask your physician if cold laser therapy is right for your specific condition.
A Word From Verywell
Experiencing chronic pain affects every area of life. Thankfully, there are many different options to help reduce and manage pain. While research regarding cold laser treatments is limited, published data indicate that it may decrease pain for certain conditions, but it may not do much to improve function.
Pain management is usually multifaceted, so talk to your healthcare provider about additional rehabilitation techniques. They may decide to combine cold laser therapy with other treatments, including a physical therapy routine, medications, and different medical procedures.
How much does cold laser therapy cost?
A typical session of cold laser therapy costs between $75 and $100 and most insurance plans do not cover the service, as it is considered experimental.
Learn More
The Definition of Medical Necessity in Health Insurance
How long does it take for cold laser therapy to work?
Most people experience some relief after three to five sessions of cold laser therapy. Some conditions require up to 20 treatments to achieve full effectiveness.
9-Minute Read
Are you a healthcare professional seeking to enhance your medical practice with an innovative and patient-friendly therapeutic approach? Do you find yourself weary of the burdensome costs and invasiveness often associated with conventional medical treatments, along with the extensive list of accompanying side effects?
Imagine incorporating a breakthrough therapy that not only proves remarkably cost-effective, but also stands as a non-invasive and painless alternative to pharmaceuticals and surgical interventions, as well as other common forms of treatment that we will discuss throughout this article.
Welcome to the world of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT). This revolutionary treatment holds the potential to transform your medical practice and redefine patient care standards.
LLLT harnesses the power of low-intensity lasers to stimulate the body's natural healing processes. It has potential to promote tissue regeneration and enhance overall well-being. The remarkable potential of LLLT lies in its ability to provide safe and effective relief from pain and discomfort. A great benefit is it is also without the risks and inconveniences commonly associated with other treatments.
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As medical professionals, it is important to shape a future of medicine that is not only more effective, but also cost-effective. By embracing LLLT, we can unlock the significant advantages it offers in terms of both patient outcomes and financial considerations. This therapy has the potential to revolutionize our approach to healing and improve the well-being of our patients.
LLLT in Comparison to Other Treatments
In today's healthcare landscape, cost-effective treatment options hold significant importance. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has emerged as a promising and economically viable alternative for medical practices in some cases.
Related: Cold Laser Therapy for Neck & Shoulder Pain
By comparing LLLT to various treatment options such as pharmaceutical treatments, surgical procedures, physiotherapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, and cryotherapy, we can gain insights into its cost-effectiveness and how it outperforms or complements existing approaches.
Pharmaceutical Treatments
Low-level laser therapy offers doctors a more cost-effective approach compared to pharmaceuticals, firstly, because it reduces medication expenses. It can serve as an alternative to expensive pharmaceutical drugs. This can lead to significant cost savings in terms of medication procurement and inventory management. Additionally, LLLT requires lower administration costs, as trained staff can perform the therapy under the supervision of doctors, allowing physicians to allocate their time to other essential medical tasks.
LLLT offers doctors a cost-effective treatment option with a lower risk of adverse events compared to pharmaceuticals. By incorporating LLLT into their practice, doctors can increase patient throughput through shorter sessions and potentially reduce the need for prolonged pharmaceutical treatments or surgeries. This is the path to long-term cost savings. The approach enhances patient outcomes while optimizing resource allocation.
Surgical Treatments
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) provides doctors with a cost-effective alternative to surgical treatments. By opting for LLLT, doctors can avoid the high expenses associated with surgical interventions, including operating rooms, anesthesia, and post-operative care. LLLT also carries a lower risk of complications, reducing expenses related to managing complications and providing follow-up care.
Related: Why You Should Use Low-Level Lasers for Chronic Pain at Your Practice
With shorter sessions and fewer resources required, LLLT enables doctors to efficiently treat more patients.
Additionally, LLLT eliminates the costs associated with hospital stays and post-operative rehabilitation, leading to long-term cost savings. By incorporating LLLT into their practice, doctors can deliver cost-effective care while minimizing the financial burdens associated with surgical treatments.
Physiotherapy
LLLT eliminates the need for expensive and time-consuming manual therapy and reduces the costs associated with manual therapy equipment. With shorter treatment sessions and fewer resources required, LLLT enables doctors to efficiently treat more patients within a given timeframe.
By incorporating LLLT into their practice, doctors can provide cost-effective care while optimizing resource allocation and enhancing patient outcomes.
Acupuncture
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can be a more cost-effective option for doctors compared to acupuncture for several reasons. By eliminating the need for needle insertion, LLLT reduces the expenses associated with acupuncture needles and related supplies. LLLT also requires less time and resources than lengthy acupuncture treatments. Doctors can treat more patients within a given timeframe (a common advantage LLLT presents over other forms of treatment).
Related: How Laser Therapy Helps Athletes Physically and Mentally
Additionally, LLLT offers a standardized treatment approach, ensuring consistency and potentially reducing variability in treatment costs. It can also be performed by trained staff under the supervision of doctors. This allows physicians to allocate their time to other essential medical tasks reducing labor costs.
Cryotherapy
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) offers doctors a more targeted and efficient treatment approach compared to cryotherapy. By providing specific relief to targeted areas of the body, LLLT reduces the need for extensive treatments for widespread pain management. This targeted approach not only accelerates recovery time but also allows for shorter patient treatment durations, creating more bandwidth for medical practitioners to attend to other important tasks.
LLLT is a popular option for individuals seeking an effective way to manage excess fat storage without invasive procedures. By understanding the complex processes of how the body stores and metabolizes fat, individuals can make informed decisions about their health and consider LLLT as a viable option for managing unwanted body composition changes. With the help of healthcare professionals, patients can achieve their desired body composition and improve their overall health and well-being.
LLLT's speed and precision in targeted recovery are indeed significant factors, but its benefits extend further to encompass flexibility and seamless integration into medical practices. Incorporating LLLT does not require significant investment or overhead costs. Doctors can easily merge this therapy into their existing practice without major disruptions or financial costs.
Patient Outcomes is Priority
Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is recognized as an effective therapy for a wide range of symptoms, including back pain and plantar fasciitis. The cost-effectiveness of LLLT compared to other treatments has been well-documented. However, it is important to note that medical professionals do not discourage the use of multiple therapies simultaneously. The primary goal is to provide optimal care for patients. If that involves incorporating various treatments, it is encouraged.
Each patient is unique, and their treatment plan should be tailored to their individual needs and responses. By integrating LLLT alongside other therapies, healthcare providers can maximize the potential benefits and deliver comprehensive care.
Discover the benefits of Low-Level Laser Therapy (3LT®) by Erchonia, a world leader in the field of 3LT® technology. Learn how 3LT® can help reduce the need for prescription opioids for chronic low back pain, the science behind 3LT® and the difference between visible lasers and infrared lasers.
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Related: Red Light Therapy: Dispelling Laser Myths with Basic Photochemistry
Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov//