Laser Light Therapy
A Low-level Laser with Adjustable Pulsed Frequencies
A higher end therapeutic low level laser is used to stimulate the acupuncture meridians and areas of pain. This unit is a class IIIA visible laser device and is therefore deemed by the FDA as a nonsignificant risk medical device. This is not the type of laser that cuts or burns, yet it is more advanced than similar units of 5mW, 635 nm low level lasers because it allows pulsed frequencies from 1 to 1 million hertz to be chosen, thereby increasing its effectiveness in targeting different ailments, whether it is general pain, inflammation or infections. This allows faster recovery time as the circulation and lymphatic drainage of the area is targeted more specifically.
How is Laser Light Different?
Laser light is different from other light modalities in that it is coherent. That means that it has minimum divergence and maximum parallelism over distance, whereas regular light scatters over a distance. This permits it to be directed at the body in a more concentrated dosage, with less light reflecting off of the skin surface. A deeper penetration into the affected tissue is the result. However, the low level lasers produce therapeutic effects by its biochemical effect, rather than a thermal effect, and cannot damage living cells.
How does it Work?
It essentially triggers a cell’s innate metabolism. The laser emits light energy, or photons (the smallest unit of light energy) that transfers into the cell. This transfer of energy from light into a living cell causes an effect called photobiomodulation. This means that some biological effect has occurred as the photon energy transfers to a photon acceptor on the cell, called a chromophore. Biological chromophores are amino acids, nucleic acids, mitochondrial enzymes, hemoglobin, melanin, serotonin, etc., and are found throughout living tissue. Since this is not a thermal effect, the cells’ homeostatic metabolic state is not overridden. Instead, it only helps to add the proper stimulation to bring about a more balanced state.