When most people think of medical lasers, they think of lasers being used as scalpels to vaporize tissue, for cauterization of blood vessels, or for delicate eye surgeries. These types of lasers are high power lasers also known as “hot” lasers, but there is a widening theraputic field for Low Level Laser Therapy, aka, Low Laser Light Therapy . Some are referring to lower level laser as “cold” laser. I tend to shy away from using this term because it always leads to a patient saying “It doesn’t feel cold. Is it on?” Another term for this is Photobiostimulation, this is a correct term, but a mouthful. As you might imagine, Laser Therapy is the most common label for this new therapy.
Low Level Laser was first found to have positive effects on biological tissues in the 1960s. The technology was fine tuned and tested in a wide variety of ways and in a wide variety of conditions, from cancer to simple soft tissue wounds. The first laser cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration was in February of 2002 for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Presently this has been expanded to include: temporary increase in local blood circulation, temporary relief of minor muscle and joint aches, pains and stiffness, relaxation of muscle, and for minor pain and stiffness associated with arthritis.
There are over 3000 scientific papers published and available for review on the National Institute of Health’s web page. Literally hundreds of double blind and randomized controlled studies have been done to date. Here is a short list of who is successful using laser therapy: The Navy SEALS and the U.S. Nuclear Sub Corp. The United States Army and Air Force are both experimenting with laser therapy for wound healing. NASA has been investigating and using laser therapy for years. The Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital is the world’s largest academic research facility dedicated to investigating the effects of light on humans. Earlier this year, the Naval Hospital research facility in Bethesda, Maryland was working towards ending paralysis from spinal cord trauma with laser therapy. They have already successfully reconnected transected spinal cords of 10 mice with 100% recovery. They indicated that the first human trials should be started within a year.