Cold Laser Light Therapy

Monochromatic (a single wavelength in the 635 to 970 nm range)
Coherent (traveling in a straight non-diverging line)
Has a wavelength in red portion of the electromagnetic spectrum (cold)
Polarized (concentrating it energy as a defined spot)
Low power level (ranging from 10 to 7500 mw)

Unlike high-power medical laser, which are widely used to safety cut and remove tissue, the Low Level Laser penetrates the surface of the skin with no heating effect or damage. The energy is directed deep into effected area stimulating the body's cell which convert the energy into chemical energy to promote natural healing.

Cold lasers are often compared to " acupuncture with a laser beams." In most LLL treatments the laser beam is use to stimulate the body's acupoints or damanged area in an attempt to increase the blood supply to parts of the body. The energy from the laser may penetrate as deep as 2 inches into the body based on the power of the laser and other variables.

Cold Laser Therapy is considered an alternative Therapy like Acupuncture. Traditional medicine still more severe treatment options like Ultrasound And Tens. These treatments provide releif for many patients every years and may be used on combination with cold laser treatment for even better results.

Currently there are over 25 different cold lasers that have been cleared by the FDA for various types of treatments. Cold laser have been in use around the world for over 30 years and have been in use in the US for over 10 years, mostly in the veterinary field. Low level laser therapy has been proven completely safe in over 3000 worldwide studies. The wavelength of the laser light ranges from 635 to 970 nanometers. The power level of medical grade cold lasers ranges from 10 milliwatts to 7500 milliwatts. This energy can be created using one or an array of laser diodes. An array of lasers allows a wider treatment area. Since finding the troubled spot deep inside the tissue is "educated guess", it can be very useful to cover a larger area with an array. This increased the probability of energizing the problem area and also helps increase the energy in the area surrounding the problem area.

Comparison of Cold Laser, Acupuncture, Ultrasound And Tens Therapies

The following table compares several "alternative" therapies and tries to make distinctions for each technology. All these therapies are appropriate for some patients and all should be considered for dealing with special health issues. The information is presented here for general purposes. You should consult a local practitioner to help select the best therapy for your specific health problems.

..	Cold Laser	Acupuncture	Ultrasound	Electrical Stimulation
Pain Control	Joint, Head, Migraines, Muscular	Joint, Head, Migraines, Muscular	Joint, Muscular	Muscular
Benefits	Increase circulation, faster healing. May reduce inflammation. May permanently eliminate acute and chronic pain	Increase circulation, faster healing. May permanently eliminate acute and chronic pain	High-energy sound waves penetrate deep into tissue to cause tissue/muscle warming, increased vessel vasodilatation and increase circulation. Short-term changes in cell membrane permeability.	The electrical currents produce a mild current that can prevent pain messages from being transmitted to the brain. May raise the level of endorphins (natural pain killers produced by the brain).
Tissues Affected	Absorbed by all tissues including skin, subcutaneous, tendons, muscles, nerves and blood	Direct tissue contact, may result in bruising and bleeding	Absorbed by white connective tissue	Muscle tissue only
Treatment Times	2-6 Minutes	20-60 Minutes	5-8 Minutes	15-20 Minutes
Body Contact	Dry contact	Penetration of skin	Requires gel or water medium	Requires Electrodes
Patient Comfort	Soft sensation or no sensation	May experience pain or spasms while needles are in place	Discomfort with excess heating of tissues (especially is not moving electrode)	Mild to severe discomfort with tingling and potential burning
Use On Children	Ok for use on children	Usually limited to acupressure	Use caution	Use extreme caution
Patient Restrictions	Do not use over suspicious or cancerous lesions, or on pregnant women	Do not use on suspicious or cancerous lesions, or on pregnant women	Not for use with patients with circulation or neuropath conditions, pacemakers, cancer, or pregnant women	Not for use with patients with circulation or neuropath conditions, pacemakers, cancer, or pregnant women
Cautions	Eye protection Required	Proper sanitary procedures require since skin is broken	Potential tissue damage	Potential for burns and blisters Potential for cardiac arrhythmia. Electrode placement is critical
Administration	Very little training required for safe operation. No License require for lower power levels.	Therapy must be performed by a well-trained professional to be safe and effective.	Therapy must be performed by a well-trained professional to be safe and effective.	Can be self administered but require proper training to be safe and effective.
Notes:	Also called Low Level Laser (LLL) Can be used in conjunction with other therapies	Can be used in conjunction with other therapies		"TENS" is the acronym for T ranscutaneous E lectrical N erve S timulation.

There is significant overlap between these therapies. In some cases, it may be best to use more than one therapy to maximize healing and shorted your recovery period. Always consult a professional when evaluating therapy options including cold laser therapy.