Light at low power
Cold laser therapy, also called low-level laser therapy or photobiomodulation, uses red and near-infrared light at power levels far below surgical or cosmetic lasers. The light passes into the tissue without heating it. The working idea is that cells absorb some of that light and respond to it, which may influence local circulation, inflammation and repair. It is studied for tendon pain, joint pain and nerve pain, and research is ongoing.
What a session involves
You sit or lie comfortably while the handpiece is held against the skin or moved slowly over the area: over a sore tendon, along a nerve, or point by point along a channel. The laser part of a visit is short, and it is usually combined with needling in the same appointment.
Where we use it
- Tendons and joints. Alongside needling in tendonitis, tennis elbow and arthritis, where a sore joint may not welcome much mechanical work.
- The jaw and face. Over the chewing muscles in TMJ, an area some people find hard to needle.
- Nerve pain. Along the course of a nerve in nerve pain and carpal tunnel, with electro-acupuncture where steady stimulation helps.
- Needle-sensitive points. Light on points in place of a needle, as a gentler option.
When we do not use it
Laser is not shone into the eyes, over the abdomen or low back in pregnancy, over a known or suspected cancer, over the thyroid, or over an area injected with steroids recently. Let us know about medications or conditions that make you sensitive to light. It is supportive care and does not replace the evaluation or treatment your physician provides.
Questions people ask
Does cold laser therapy hurt?
No. Most people feel nothing at all, or a faint warmth from the handpiece resting on the skin. There is no recovery time afterward.
Is it safe for my eyes?
The beam must never be pointed into the eyes, so you and we wear protective glasses while the laser is on, and it is not aimed at the eye itself.
Can laser be used instead of needles?
On some points it can. Light on an acupuncture point, sometimes called laser acupuncture, is one option for people who are very sensitive to needles or for an area too tender to needle.
