Therapeutic Effects of High
Power Laser Therapy (HPLT)
Numerous
clinical studies and research trials have been conducted on
the beneficial effects of laser therapy for a whole host of
clinical conditions. The following is a simplified list of the
more widely studied biological effects of Laser Therapy.
Laser Therapy Effect #1: Pain Relief
Laser
Therapy relieves pain through several different biological
mechanisms. 1) Laser Therapy blocks the pain signals
transmitted from injured parts of the body to the brain. This
decreases nerve sensitivity and significantly reduces the
perception of pain. 2) Laser Therapy also reduces pain by
decreasing inflammation and swelling. 3) Laser Therapy also
reduces pain by increasing the production and release of
endorphins and enkephalins which are natural pain-relieving
chemicals within our bodies.
Laser Therapy Effect #2: Improved Nerve
Function
Laser
light speeds up the process of nerve cell reconnection which
decreases the time necessary for nerve cells to heal after an
injury. Laser Therapy also increases the amplitude (strength)
of action potentials (signals sent along nerve fibers) which
improves overall nerve and muscle function. Both of these
reasons explain why Laser Therapy is so beneficial at reducing
the symptoms related to nerve injury – namely sharp pain,
numbness, tingling and burning.
Laser Therapy Effect #3: Inflammation
Reduction
Laser
Therapy causes the smaller arteries and lymph vessels of the
body to increase in size – a mechanism called vasodilation.
This increased vasodilation allows inflammation, swelling and
edema to be cleared away from injury sites more effectively.
Vasodilation of lymph vessels also promotes lymphatic drainage
which also aids in this vital healing process. Bruising is
often resolved more quickly as a result of this particular
biological effect.
Laser Therapy Effect #4: Faster Wound
Healing
Laser
therapy stimulates the production of fibroblasts which are the
building blocks needed to create collagen. Collagen is the
essential protein required to replace old tissue or to repair
damaged tissue. Because of this effect Laser Therapy is
effective at treating open wounds and burns.
Laser Therapy Effect #5: Accelerated Tissue
Repair and Cell Growth
Photons
of light emitted by therapeutic lasers penetrate deeply into
the tissues of the body to stimulate the production centers of
individual cells. This stimulation increases the energy
available to these cells causing them to absorb nutrients and
expel waste products more rapidly. This dramatically
accelerates the repair of injured tissue leading to faster
tendon, ligament and muscle healing.
Laser Therapy Effect #6: Improved Blood
Flow
Laser
Therapy significantly increases the formation of new
capillaries (tiny blood vessels) within damaged tissues. With
more capillaries bringing more blood to the injury site
healing is sped up, wounds are closed more rapidly and scar
tissue formation is reduced.
Laser Therapy Effect #7: Increased
Metabolic Activity
Laser
Therapy also has a profound impact on individual blood cells
that pass through the laser beam during treatment. The laser
light significantly increases the oxygen and nutrient load
capacity of the red blood cells (RBCs). This allows for
increased metabolic activity and production of certain
specific enzymes. Both of these effects can be felt across the
entire body and are not just limited to the area exposed to
the laser light.
Laser Therapy Effect #8: Reduced Formation
of Scar Tissue
Laser
Therapy reduces the formation of scar tissue (fibrous tissue)
following tissue damage related to cuts, burns and surgery.
Laser Therapy is able to reduce this formation by speeding up
the healing process, improving the blood flow to the injured
area and more effectively carrying away waste products – all
are mechanisms mentioned above. Faster healing always leads to
less scar tissue formation.
Laser Therapy Effect #9: Enhanced Immune
Function
Photons of laser light are directly absorbed by
chromophores (molecular enzymes within cells) that are
embedded within most cells of the body. This laser light
absorption activates a specific enzymatic process that
triggers the production of ATP. ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate)
is the single most important form of energy that powers ALL
chemical reactions within ALL cells of the body. Higher energy
production leads to faster and more efficient function –
especially true of immune-specific cells that are exposed to
Laser Therapy. This improved efficiency aids the immune system
in fighting off undesirable microbes and pathogens.
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