Low Level Laser Therapy

The future is here!

Our office now offers revolutionary low level laser therapy (often called LLLT or “cold laser” therapy) for the treatment of acute and chronic muscle, joint, nerve, and soft-tissue conditions.

Low level laser therapy is the application of a highly focused light beam (laser) directly to painful or injured tissues to initiate a “photobiomodulation” effect. Let’s break down that word: “photo” means light; “bio” means life; “modulation” means regulation or control. So, photobiomodulation is the use of light energy to control life (more specifically cells). What it really means is, laser light is absorbed by the cell producing a boost of energy that increases cell activity, increases circulation, reduces inflammation, promotes quicker healing, and decreases pain.

This type of laser is in use with virtually all professional sports teams, Olympic teams, and large college athletic departments.

All lasers are not created equally

Lasers are divided into 5 classes based on their power. Class 1, 2, 3a, 3b, and 4. Class 1 and 2 are the lowest intensity lasers, are readily available to the public, and are present in laser pointers and bar code scanners. Class 3a and 3b are somewhat more powerful and were the original therapeutic lasers but are now considered low-power with regard to healthcare applications. Class 4 are the most intense and include a wide array of lasers from therapeutic to surgical. Class 4 are shown to be the most effective and efficient, and therefore are the most studied and researched class. Our laser device is a Class 4. This high power allows a more concentrated dosage, which leads to shorter treatment times.

Good for both acute and chronic conditions

Since laser therapy affects both healthy and damaged cells (and the tissues that support them) it can be effective for both acute (sudden/severe) and chronic (longer-standing, lower intensity) conditions. Acute conditions tend to respond more quickly, where chronic conditions make take more time to affect noticeable and lasting improvement.

What does treatment feel like?

The only noticeable sensation will be from the pressure of the applicator head on your body. Some people experience a sense of warmth, but that is not from the lasers themselves. It is from the process of generating the light beam in the applicator. Typically, you will feel nothing else.

How long does it take?

Treatment times can vary from as little as 2 minutes to as long as 10-15, depending on the area(s) being treated and the length of time the problem has existed. A treatment regimen can be as little as three sessions, or as many as 10-12. We will do our best to estimate your treatment times and duration, but individual patient responses vary based on a number of variables.

Low Level Laser Therapy Athens | (423) 745-8500