Low Level Laser Therapy FAQs
Chiropractor West Hills, CA


Why Laser Therapy?

free cold laser treatment If you are looking for painless, drug-free, non-intrusive treatment for a wide variety of injuries, pain syndromes and neurological conditions, low level laser therapy (LLLT), also known as cool laser, may be just what you're looking for.

Cool laser treatment can help speed healing of wounds, injuries and conditions up to 60 percent faster, reducing the cost of treatment and the duration of pain. In parts of Europe, it has become the treatment of choice for neck injuries (such as whiplash), carpal tunnel and shingles.

What Is Laser Therapy?

Low level laser therapy is a painless, sterile, non-invasive, drug-free treatment which uses accurately measured, non-thermal (cool) photons of light on the treatment area. The light waves penetrate into the skin and tissues without heating it, optimizing the immune responses of our blood.

It is used to treat a variety of pain syndromes, injuries, wounds, fractures and neurological conditions. Laser therapy can be used any time:

  • Pain control without drugs is needed or desired
  • When conventional therapies have been ineffective
  • When healing from injuries needs to be accelerated

How Does Laser Light Heal?

Low level laser therapy stimulates both anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects at the same time. It is a scientific fact that light transmitted to the blood in this way has a positive effective throughout the whole body, supplying vital oxygen and energy to every cell.

As far back as the days of Hippocrates, light therapy was used effectively for many conditions. Light therapy has come a long way since then. Today's cool lasers use specific wavelengths of light and precisely measured doses of energy, something that is not possible with other light sources.

How Do Low-Level Lasers Boost Immune Response?

Low-level lasers supply energy to the body in the form of non-thermal photons of light. When light waves penetrate deeply into the skin and surrounding tissues, they optimize the immune responses of the blood. The effects are both anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive.

Scientifically, it is a fact that light transmitted to the blood in this way has positive effective throughout the entire body, supplying vital oxygen and energy to every cell.

Is Laser Therapy Painful?

Laser therapy is completely painless for most people. A small percentage of the population (3-5 percent) reports feeling a tingling sensation in the treatment area or along the nerve pathway. Some people feel a slight sensation of warmth. However, the majority of people feel nothing during treatment.

Unlike surgical lasers, low level laser therapy does not heat or damage tissue. On the contrary, the light from the laser stimulates the body to produce beneficial effects.

What Can I Expect During a Laser Therapy Treatment Session?

Because the laser penetrates so deeply, treatments can only last a maximum of 3 minutes (other less powerful laser units take 20 minutes per session) No creams, gels or ointments need to be applied during treatment. No pulsating shocks are felt (as in electric muscle stimulation). Essentially, all you need to do is relax and receive the treatment.

How Soon Can I Expect Results?

Approximately 75-80 percent of patients notice an immediate improvement in their condition following treatment. Whether you notice immediate improvement or not depends on the type of condition and the length of time the condition has been present.

Typically, the more chronic or severe the condition, the longer the body takes to respond. The majority of conditions treated will take anywhere from 4-5 or 10-18 treatments. Once again, the number of treatments you need depends upon the severity of the condition and how long you've had it.

As to be expected, there are some conditions that can't be completely resolved but can be helped, improved and maintained with laser therapy. If your condition does not change immediately, don't despair - it may take 3-4 sessions before a noticeable change is experienced.

What Conditions Does Cold Laser Therapy Treat?

Many acute and chronic conditions may be improved or eliminated with laser. Here are just some of the conditions it treats:
  • Arthritis
  • Back and neck pain
  • Bursitis
  • Carpal Tunnel
  • Injuries
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Fractures
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • Migraine Headaches
  • Muscle strains, sprains, contusions
  • Neck Pain/Whiplash
  • Neuritis
  • Plantar Fascitis
  • Post Surgical Pain
  • Prolapsed Disc
  • Pulled Ligaments
  • Post-Operative Pain
  • Repetitive Stress
  • Spondylosis
  • Tendonitis
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Swelling
  • TMJ Pain/Dysfunction
  • Wound Healing
  • … and many other pains and ailments

Where are you located?

Our chiropractor office is in West Hills/Woodland Hills, CA, in the greater Los Angeles area.

See the Click here for address, contact information, map and driving directions.