Laser Therapy

At Olympic Spine & Sports Therapy, cold laser
therapy is one more powerful tool that is
available for your integrated care plan.

The effects of light on cellular function have been known since 1880. However, the clinical benefits of laser energy were only discovered in 1967. Since the late 1970s laser treatment for pain has been widely used in Europe and Asia. Now since its FDA approval in 2001, cold laser therapy is quickly gaining popularity in the United States.

What is Low Level Laser Therapy?

Low-level laser therapy is the application of red and near infrared light over injuries or wounds to improve soft tissue healing and relieve both acute and chronic pain. Low-level therapy uses cold (sub-thermal) laser light energy to direct bio-stimulative light energy to the body’s cells without injuring or damaging them in any way. The therapy is precise and accurate; and offers safe and effective treatment for a wide variety of conditions. The energy range of low level laser light lies between 1 and 2,000 mW (milliwatts), while for surgical lasers the energy range lies between 3000 and 10000 mW. The Apollo we use is a 2,000 mW unit.

How does Low Level Laser Therapy work?

Low-level lasers supply energy to the body in the form of non-thermal photons of light. Light is transmitted through the skin’s layers (the dermis, epidermis and the subcutaneous tissue or tissue fat under the skin) at all wavelengths in the visible range. However, light waves in the near infrared ranges penetrate the deepest of all light waves in the visible spectrum.

When low level laser light waves penetrate deeply into the skin, they optimize the immune responses of our blood. This has both anti-inflammatory and immune supportive effects. It is a scientific fact that light transmitted to the blood in this way has positive effects throughout the whole body, supplying vital oxygen and energy to every cell.

The physiological effects of
Low Level Laser Therapy:

1.    Bio-stimulation
2.    Improved metabolism
3.    Increase of cell metabolism
4.    Improved blood circulation and vasodilation
5.    Analgesic effect
6.    Anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effects
7.    Stimulation of wound healing

How does Low Level Laser Therapy
(LLLT) benefit users?

• Relieves acute and chronic pain
• Increases the speed, quality and tensile strength of tissue repair
• Increases blood supply
• Stimulates the immune system
• Stimulates nerve function
• Develops collagen and muscle tissue
• Helps generate new and healthy cells and tissue
• Promotes faster wound healing and clot formation
• Reduces inflammation

Recent research studies for soft tissue injuries (muscle, ligament and joint) show that patients who received cold laser therapy in addition to their other treatment demonstrated a 40–50% faster rate of repair and greater strength of the injured tissues when treatment was completed. The evidence is compelling. Cold Laser therapy is a safe and effective modality that is destined to play an important role in the future of health care.

Scientific Evidence

There are thousands of published studies that describe the therapeutic effects of cold laser therapy, including more than one hundred highly objective, scientific trials that have demonstrated its clinical effectiveness. The following is a list of conditions that have shown successful outcomes in recent studies:

• Soft tissue injuries
• Tendinitis
• Headache
• Sprains/strains
• Back and neck pain
• Sciatica
• Repetitive strain injuries
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Bursitis
• Chondromalacia patellae
• Muscle pain
• Herniated disc
• Plantar fasciitis
• Tennis elbow
• Skin problems
• Arthritis
• Nerve pain
• Jaw pain/TMJ
• Herpes (Shingles)
• RSD (CRPS)
• Whiplash
• Bell’s palsy
• Non-healing wounds
• Fractures
• Lymphedema
• Peripheral neuropathy

Ron's Story

No More Back Pain and I Can Finally Sleep!

Before I started receiving treatment at Olympic Spine & Sports Therapy, I was unable to participate in hiking, snow skiing, and working out due to my back pain. I couldn’t even sleep through the night. My job was in jeopardy because I couldn’t perform the tasks I was assigned. Now, after eleven months of treatment, my life is somewhat back to normal! I no longer have back pain. I am able to sleep, go to the gym, hike, and I am working at a very physically demanding job!   — Ron S., Everett