At Farmingdale Physical Therapy West, our mission is to deliver fast, effective pain relief to our patients. In addition, we maintain a commitment to restoring mobility, naturally activating the body’s healing responses and ultimately: improving quality of life. When dealing with acute or chronic injuries, it can often be debilitating and interfere with work and hobbies. Therefore, we utilize some of the most state-of-the-art treatment techniques to counteract pain and deliver swift healing. One of the most innovative treatments we offer our patients is laser therapy.
What Is Laser Therapy?
Laser therapy is a unique treatment that harnesses potent laser light to stimulate a reaction called photobiomodulation (PBM). PBM involves photons penetrating tissue and interacting with the mitochondria’s cytochrome-c complex. As a result, a natural, biological cascade ensues. This induces a sharp increase in cellular metabolism, pain reduction, less muscle spasms, and better microcirculation to affected tissue. Like all of our treatments, laser therapy has FDA approval and is a natural, non-invasive, medication-free option for fast pain relief.
A laser (which stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) projects light which operators can calibrate or tune to specific wavelengths. Therefore, it can adjust or focus into incredibly powerful beams. In fact, laser light can become so intense that some use it to slice materials like steel or diamonds. However, in a physical therapy setting, lasers allow technicians to apply treatment at an advanced degree of precision. In addition, with laser therapy, patients experience less pain, swelling and scarring than with traditional treatments.
How Does Laser Therapy Work?
Throughout laser therapy, patients expose their skin to photons. Essentially, photons are light particles that transmit electromagnetic radiation. A percentage or our cells (the mitochondrion) absorb photons. As a result, our mitochondria then advance adenosine triphosphate production.
This helps to instigate our body’s natural cellular processes. Many of our bodily tissues, particularly our muscles, contain many mitochondria due to their need perpetual need for energy. Additionally, laser therapy streamlines tissue healing and greatly improves circulation. Furthermore, it can effectively treat both acute and chronic injuries, plus significantly improve post-activity recovery.
The Benefits of Laser Therapy
First and foremost, laser therapy can effectively provide pain relief without any negative side effects. Also, it’s important to note that patients report steadfast, long-lasting pain relief following treatment. In addition, countless patients ask whether the actual sensation of the laser is painful or unpleasant. In fact, the truth is that it’s quite the opposite.
Laser therapy can create either no sensation at all or illicit a gentle, soothing and comforting warmth. Of course, the feeling depends on the strength of the necessary laser. Many laser therapy patients enjoy the experience. And those being treated with high-power lasers consistently report an instant, rapid pain reduction. If you’re dealing with chronic pain, this will feel particularly distinctive.
Laser therapy treatments are also not time consuming. Usually, they last about 5-10 minutes, depending on the injury’s severity. Regardless, this makes laser therapy an essential option for anyone with a hectic schedule.
Of course, like all of our treatment options, laser therapy shares another very important benefit. It provides a natural healing alternative to surgeries and prescription pain medications.
What Can Laser Therapy Treat?
We can apply laser therapy to treat a variety of injuries, pains and aches, like:
- Knee pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Elbow & joint pain
- Upper & lower back pain
- Sciatica
- Arthritis
- Sports injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Plantar fasciitis
Laser Therapy on Farmingdale Physical Therapy West
To schedule a consultation, contact Farmingdale Physical Therapy West at 516-731-3583. No matter what your injury or ailment may be, we’ll collaborate closely with you to carefully develop an individual treatment plan designed to fulfill each of your specific needs.
