LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY FOR SPORTS INJURIES by Robert Silverman, DC Sports injury rehabilitation is all about getting back in the game quickly and with optimal health. A relatively new tool for the treatment of sports injuries is finding universal success. And doing so at the speed of light. Trauma from sports injuries causes damage to the cells that make up soft tissues. These damaged cells release chemicals that provoke a natural inflammatory response in the body, which results in redness, swelling, warmth, and pain in the injured area. Persistent or recurrent inflammation can predispose athletes to early onset arthritis or degenerative changes in their joints. The application of low level laser therapy (LLLT) reduces short-term inflammation. Additionally, laser therapy significantly lowers the risk of arthritis, which frequently arises from sports injuries. Laser therapy is used by professional sports teams and athletes to treat inflammation, provide deep tissue therapy, and accelerate pain relief to help minimize downtime. For the last decade, LLLT has revolutionized treatment in the professional sports world including the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, the U.S. cycle team, Ironman competitors, Road Runners Club of America, college athletes, former Olympic athletes, and elite CrossFitters. How It Works LLLT works to photobiostimulate chemically damaged cells via specific wavelengths (e.g., 635 nm) of coherent light.1-4 Coherence means that the light photons propagate in the same direction, amplitude, and phase. This maximizes the depth of photon penetration to trigger a biological response.5 In contrast, an LED (light-emitting diode), which scatters light, is less effective at deep penetration.6 The cell membranes within the skin absorb photons by way of a photochemical effect that is not photothermal; therefore, LLLT does not cause heat damage to the tissue.7 When cells are chemically damaged through injury, they stimulate the pain cycle. LLLT excites kinetic energy within the cells by transmitting healing stimuli in the form of photons. Once photons reach the cells of the body, they promote a cascade of cellular activities. LLLT can ignite the production of enzymes, stimulate mitochondria, increase vasodilation and lymphatic drainage, promote ATP synthesis, and elevate collagen formation to prevent or decrease the formation of scar tissue.8 This is a critical step in reducing chronic and disabling myofascial pain syndromes. Simply put, LLLT enables athletes to feel relief faster and heal at the same time. COME FEEL THE DIFFERENCE OF LOW LEVEL LASER WITH YOU R INJURIES.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 23:14:04 +0000
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