Are you sick and tired of back or joint pain? If so, you're far from alone. The Canadian Chiropractic Association reports that around 11 million Canadians live with this type of pain every day.
The good news is that physiotherapy can help to restore movement, build strength, and reduce pain for many people with back and joint issues. An important tool in the modern physiotherapist's toolkit is class 4 laser therapy.
This might not be as well known as some other forms of treatment, but it's making a real difference in many people's lives. Let's take a closer look at what class 4 laser therapy is and how it could help to ease your pain.
Your body has amazing systems that it can use to heal itself. However, sometimes it needs a little external help to get these systems fired up and working to your benefit.
Class 4 laser therapy harnesses these processes using focused light. It stimulates a process called photobiomodulation (PBM).
A recent study found that laser photobiomodulation therapy is more effective than ultrasound. The study focused on the treatment of nonspecific low back pain.
Class 3 lasers do not produce heat but class 4 lasers do. Class 4 lasers are able to penetrate deeper and more efficiently than class 3 lasers. The laser stimulates the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
ATP is the source of energy for cells. When the cells are flooded with ATP the healing process speeds up. This helps patients to reduce their symptoms more quickly than other forms of therapy.
Class 4 laser therapy is useful in treating both short-term injuries and long-term health conditions. These include:
First, your physiotherapist will give you a pair of safety glasses. He or she will wear them as well. This is to protect your retinas from the high intensity of the laser.
The more serious the injury is the longer the treatment will take. The intensity of the laser may also be higher.
However, because class 4 lasers penetrate deeply and quickly, therapy sessions are typically brief. A superficial problem such as plantar fasciitis could be treated in just five minutes. Deeper tissue injuries or conditions, such as hip problems, may require up to twenty minutes.
If your injury is relatively superficial your therapist may use a contactless probe. This would be suitable for treating a sprained ankle or for joint pain treatment.
The probe will be held slightly away from the skin. They will treat the injury site, or site of pain, and the surrounding areas.
Treating the surrounding areas helps to reduce any inflammation that may be present in those areas. During the treatment, you will be able to see the light. The glasses will protect your eyes from any injury.
It's normal to feel some warmth during the treatment, but you will not feel burning heat.
The second type of probe is used to treat issues that are located deeper in the body. The therapist runs the probe along the skin. This compresses the tissues beneath and delivers concentrated light energy deep into the muscles.
Laser therapy for back pain uses this type of probe. The therapist may combine this with movement to ensure that the laser is able to penetrate as wide an area as possible.
Class 4 laser treatment is effective at reducing inflammation and pain in joints. It can stop muscle spasms, immediately alleviating pain. But as well as these noticeable effects it is also doing more work at the cellular level.
It supports tissue regeneration and bone repair. It can also improve the function of nerves and help them to regenerate. It boosts the production of collagen and even helps to promote the creation of new blood vessels.
The session you have with the physiotherapist is just the beginning. After you have left the clinic, your body will continue the repair work. This means that you can feel improvements in the days that follow.
If you've had a sports injury it can significantly speed up your recovery time. That's why the physiotherapists in major sports teams make use of class 4 laser therapy.
If you have a long-term condition, such as arthritis, laser therapy can provide ongoing pain relief.
Lasers can be scary for some people. You may have heard that lasers are inherently dangerous. The lasers used in class 4 laser therapy are much less powerful than other types, such as those used in surgery.
Physiotherapists undergo extensive training in how to use class 4 lasers safely. Both the therapist and patient must wear protective eyeglasses at all times. When basic safety precautions are followed, laser therapy is very safe.
You may also have heard that class 4 lasers do not penetrate to deeper tissues. This is not the case.
Your physiotherapist will vary the dosage depending on the severity and depth of your injury. Class 4 laser machines are calibrated to deliver light energy precisely to where it is needed the most. The surrounding area also benefits from the treatment which stimulates cell regeneration.
Class 4 laser therapy is a highly effective tool that physiotherapists to help relieve your pain.
Whether you have a short-term injury or a long-term condition, laser therapy can penetrate deep into the tissues of the body. It can provide ongoing relief at the cellular level. And yes, it really works!
At Awesome Physiotherapy, we have over 30 years of experience in helping our clients relieve their aches and pains. Our Richmond Hill physiotherapists are waiting to help you achieve better strength and mobility.
Call us at (905) 883-4081 or schedule an appointment online today!
Get drug-free and non-invasive back pain relief in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
(905) 883-4081
10350 Yonge St Suite 300, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 5K9
Call (905) 883-4081. Email pnphysio@bellnet.ca with any questions you may have regarding this website, or anything associated with it.
All Rights Reserved | Awesome Physiotherapy Of Richmond Hill