Cold Laser Therapy

Cold Laser Therapy in Mississauga

Cold laser therapy is a type of treatment in which low-intensity light is applied to your body, typically over injured or inflamed tissue. It is also commonly called low-level laser therapy.

Cold laser therapy uses light photons that are introduced to your skin with a wand that contains several light-emitting diodes. As the photons enter your skin and pass through injured tissue, chemical changes to the mitochondria of the cells occur, signaling them to increase the production of adenosine triphosphate. This is theorized to cause positive healing to those tissues.

But not just any light will work for this healing process to occur. Low-level laser therapy, typically at 600- to 1,000-nanometer wavelength, is best to increase blood flow and improve healing in injured tissues.

Cold low level laser therapy 808nm of the knee

While cold laser therapy is safe for most individuals, your chiropractor will assess your specific situation to determine if cold laser therapy is right for you. It may not be recommended if you have one of the following conditions:

malignant tumors
hyperthyreosis (too much thyroid hormone)
exposure to abdomen during pregnancy
any exposure to retina
fever or infectious diseases
exposure to the gonads
heavy blood loss
certain blood diseases

We are firm believers in research and in validation so that our patients get the best possible treatment for their condition. The research for cold laser therapy is growing every year, and here are some known benefits:

Improvement in pain control in those with chronic pain and osteoarthritis (FULL ARTICLE)
Improvement in pain control in a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions (FULL ARTICLE)
Improvement in pain, but not function in chronic low back pain patients (FULL ARTICLE)
Long term improvement in pain in acute neck pain patients after treatment (Abstract)

During cold laser therapy, your affected body part will be exposed, and you and your healthcare provider may wear special goggles to shield your eyes during the treatment.

Then, a small wand with light-emitting diodes will be touched to your skin and held in place. The light will be applied to your affected skin and injury site for about 1 to 5 minutes. You should not experience pain during treatment, and no heat is generated by the light. If you are experiencing any pain or symptoms, tell your provider, who may need to reposition your body or halt the treatment.