Low-level laser therapy
Mechanism of Action:
The laser beam - developed by Maiman - is an extremely specialized form of coherent light beam, produced by medical laser devices for therapeutic use.
Characteristics:
- Monochromatic: light of a single, constant wavelength,
- Coherent: the photons participating in the radiation are in phase with each other,
- High power density.
Penetrating laser beams interact with cells and molecules within the cells. The excitation of light-sensitive molecules within the cells by light stimulates biochemical processes, which, due to their bioregulatory effects, lead to the following biological and clinical effects.
Biological Effects:
- Stimulation of cell regeneration (damaged cell metabolism is restored without affecting healthy cell activity),
- Stimulatory effect on the vascular system, improving capillary dilation and thus enhancing microcirculation,
- Stimulation of angiogenesis,
- Anti-inflammatory effect (accelerates regeneration, localizes inflammation, reduces pain and swelling, and significantly improves damaged function after the first treatments),
- Stimulation of the immune system (after low-level laser irradiation, the number and activity of immune cells measurably increase).
Clinical Effects:
Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxation, edema reduction, improved tissue circulation, thereby enhancing and accelerating metabolism, promoting tissue regeneration, and antibacterial effects. Advantages of low-level laser therapy: painless, relatively quick results, repeatable, enhances the effectiveness of other physiotherapy methods, applicable with prostheses made of any material, and can be used alongside pacemakers.
Treatment Procedure:
The patient lies comfortably on the treatment bed, exposing the joint to be treated, and receives the treatment with a laser shower head, which ensures coverage of a larger area.
Indications:
- Rheumatological diseases: acute and chronic inflammations affecting the spine, hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, and wrist,
- Improvement of functional disorders caused by degenerative changes,
- Pain relief, reduction of swelling, muscle spasm relief,
- Sports medicine, traumatology: acute pain relief, reduction of swelling, muscle spasm relief,
- Orthopedics: residual functional impairment or pain relief following prosthetic implantation or any other orthopedic surgery.
Contraindications:
Unexamined patient, unclear diagnosis, fever, direct irradiation of tumors, and during pregnancy, the lower abdomen and lumbar spine area.