Low-Level Laser Therapy

Soft laser therapy or low-level laser therapy (LLLT; synonyms: cold-light laser therapy, low-energy laser, soft laser) is a complementary medicine procedure performed with the help of a laser that has a low power density. The therapy belongs to the subfield of light therapy. Due to its low power, the laser does not develop any thermal effect on the skin and therefore, if approved according to the medical device regulations, it is free of side effects and painless. Soft laser therapy is said to have a stimulating effect on tissue and cells. Therefore, the laser device is also called a biostimulation laser. Low-level laser therapy belongs to the complementary medical procedures. It is used for the following diseases.

Indications (areas of application)

  • Osteoarthritis (joint wear) – gonarthrosis (knee joint arthrosis).
  • Dermatoses (skin conditions):
    • Acne (e.g., acne vulgaris).
    • Eczema
    • Herpes simplex
  • Dorsalgia (back pain)
  • Inflammation of various kinds, including rheumatic diseases.
  • Fibromyalgia (fibromyalgia syndrome) – syndrome, which can lead to chronic pain (at least 3 months) in several regions of the body.
  • Cosmetic treatments
  • Lumbar pain (lumbago)
  • Myogeloses – nodular or bulge-shaped, clearly circumscribed hardening in the muscles (colloquially also called hard tension).
  • Neuralgia – pain in the supply area of a nerve.
  • Sports injuries – muscle tear and muscle injuries; tendon injuries.
  • Tennis elbow (epicondylitis humeri radialis), golfer’s elbow (epicondylitis humeri ulnaris).
  • Burns
  • Wound healing disorders – e.g. ulcus cruris (open ulcer on the lower leg).
  • Use in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) – eg tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
  • Use in dentistry – e.g. gag reflex suppression; pain reduction; tissue regeneration.

The procedure

Normal light, such as that from a light bulb, consists of a complex composition of light of different wavelengths or colors and directions of propagation. A laser, on the other hand, produces light with very specific properties:

  • Monochromatic: The light is monochromatic, which means it has only one specific wavelength or color.
  • Coherence: the light is coherent, it oscillates in the same phase or synchronous.
  • Low divergence: the light is bundled and sent in a defined direction. In addition, all rays run almost parallel.

All these properties enable the special effects of soft laser therapy (“Low-level laser therapy” (LLLT); 635-830 nm), which is primarily stimulating and strengthens the self-healing powers of the organism. In addition, the effect is attributed to the activation of the cell’s own energy potentials by the coherent laser radiation. According to the underlying theory, the cells would again “vibrate at an orderly level”. The following modes of action are known:

  • Increase in the activity of mitochondria by about 150% – The mitochondria are also called power plants of the cell, in them the molecule ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is synthesized, which is to be seen as an energy currency and is consumed, for example, during muscle contraction.
  • Increased formation of collagen fibers – collagen is a structural protein that provides stability to tissue, bone and cartilage.
  • Increase in concentration of enzymes – enzymes are the biocatalysts of the cell and allow many chemical reactions to occur in the first place.
  • Acceleration of lymphatic drainage – The lymphatic system forms a drainage system that returns water and metabolic products from the periphery (arms and legs) to the bloodstream. If the lymphatic vessels are destroyed, edema (water retention in the tissues) can occur.
  • Pain relief due toantiphlogistic effect (anti-inflammatory effect).
  • Improved blood flow through neovascularization (new formation of blood vessels).
  • Improvement of wound healing
  • Significant increase in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA, English : DNA for deoxyribonucleic acid) – this molecule forms the genetic material and is essential for protein biosynthesis, that is, for the formation of new protein building blocks.

Due to the stimulating effect on a large number of regulatory or synthesizing processes, a number of treatment options arise. The exact form of therapy depends on the individuality of the patient and his disease. The method is a useful complement to conventional medical procedures. The duration of therapy varies greatly depending on the application and lasts approximately 10-30 minutes. Further notes

Benefit

Low-level laser therapy leads to the regeneration of cells and has antiphlogistic (anti-inflammatory) and analgesic (analgesic) effects. Furthermore, this stimulates the immune system and thus promotes wound healing.