click here is a field where many practitioners get frustrated. In our clinic we view it on a regular basis as a lot of the more difficult cases can be found in after they have observed everyone else and a chiropractor is their last resort. Chronic pain doesn't always mean that we must do more, sometimes what seems like an extremely little treatment can produce marvelous results.
Take laser therapy for instance; it is just a popular treatment now from everything from foot fungus to weight loss. Now personally I haven't seen the studies that it's effective for all of the numerous uses people are finding for this but I do know from the research and from my own clinical experience that it is an effective therapy for pain management in conjunction with some of the more traditional methods like physical therapy, chiropractic, acute injury and chronic injury management protocols and dynamic neuromuscular stabilization.
Lasers for use in pain therapy are needs to gain recognition in this country. The FDA cleared Low Level Laser Therapy for use in pain, inflammation, and wound healing in 2002; however, the benefits of LLLT have already been recognized and successfully used overseas for many years. Studies show LLLT to reduce neck and back pain by as much as 70% without known side effects.
The theory is the laser excites the targeted cells in the injured tissue, causing the cells to distribute a signal that healing must take place in your community being treated. This signal travels throughout the bloodstream, connective tissues, and nervous system to significantly increase your body's response and healing time. Interestingly, researchers also have found that LLLT boosts healing throughout the body, not just in your community being treated.
Many would be surprised to discover that more isn't better with regards to LLLT; the effective dose is quite small. Typical treatments can take as little as 5 minutes and are administered many times per week over a course of two to three weeks for maximum and lasting effect. Inside our clinic it is probably the most used modalities. Often patient respond quickly with reduced subjective complaints, decreased muscle spasm, and increased ROM of the affected area. When you are suffering from carpal tunnel, neck and low back pain, tendonitis, knee pain or any number of painful conditions, give laser therapy a go to see if it is right for you.