Cold Laser Therapy

Cold Laser Therapy is also referred to as:

  • Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT)
  • Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)
  • Near-infrared irradiation photobiomodulation (NIR-PBM)

Cold Laser Therapy is an innovative treatment for a variety of acute and chronic – often painful – conditions.

At Solaj Wellness Centre we are BioFlex trained and certified. We have multiple laser units and provide our clients with a friendly and comfortable environment for cold laser treatments.

Laser light transfers energy to interior cells

  • Stimulates natural healing
  • Restores normal cellular structure and function
  • Prevents future injury

What you will experience:

  • Pain goes away
  • Reduced inflammation & swelling
  • Restored mobility

Why Cold Laser Therapy?

  • Healing, not just masking of pain
  • Safe, drug free & no side effects
  • Avoid or delay the need for surgery
  • Accelerate and strengthen the body’s natural healing mechanisms
   
The Concept Behind Cold Laser Therapy

The healing power of light

The concept of Cold Laser Therapy is actually quite simple. As humans, light plays a very important role in our existence. Similar to how plant cells require light for photosynthesis, our cells need light to power many of the normal processes that keep us healthy and happy. As long as we are exposed to enough regular sunlight, our skin absorbs the light we need and our cells can use it for many of their normal functions. If our cells are working normally, then our bodies are able to withstand different stresses from day to day activities and heal various ailments.

Light therapy is not a new concept. It has been and continues to be used by doctors to treat a wide variety of conditions. For example, light has shown to be effective for treating many skin conditions including psoriasis and acne, depression and even tuberculosis before there were medications. Most people who suffer from arthritis can attest to the fact that their pain usually reduces or even completely subsides during the summer months or on a vacation to a sunny destination.

Vitamin D, critical for keeping our bones healthy and strong, is created in our bodies by a process that requires sunlight. In places where there isn’t much sunlight available year round, people are usually encouraged to take vitamin D supplements during the darker months to help support their bones and prevent against bone-softening conditions such as rickets (in children) or osteoporosis.

When we experience pain or inflammation from a problem or injury in an area of our body, the normal cellular processes slow down and our body has trouble healing as a result. Blood flow to these areas also gets interrupted, which restricts the ability of important nutrients to be delivered to the cells that need to heal.

The science

Scientific research conducted over the last few decades has shown that human cells heal better and faster when the right wavelengths of light energy get delivered to them.

Cold Laser Therapy is a breakthrough solution for musculoskeletal pain because it shines a concentrated amount of only helpful wavelengths of light vital for healing (which are in the red and infrared parts of the spectrum) directly on targeted areas. This allows the bones, ligaments, and tissues deep inside our bodies to be exposed to the healthy light that otherwise cannot reach these areas. By delivering just the helpful parts of the light spectrum, the overall laser light power can be kept at very low and therefore very safe levels, which will not burn or otherwise harm the skin or any other tissues.

How Does Cold Laser Therapy Work?

Cold Laser Therapy delivers light based energy to cells, helping to accelerate the body’s natural healing process at the cellular level. It targets injured cells, resulting in elimination and prevention of pain, reduction of inflammation and swelling, and improved range of motion. Laser therapy does not just mask the pain, it actively stimulates healing to resolve musculoskeletal conditions for the long term.

Various depths reached by BioFlex Cold Laser Therapy

The BioFlex Cold Laser Therapy system is a three step process using three different and very specific wavelengths of light administered by a trained laser therapist.

The first step uses a red light pad at 660 nm, which gets absorbed by the cells of the skin and underlying superficial muscle layers, reducing sensitivity caused in those areas. The second step uses an infrared light pad at 840 nm, reaching deeper into the muscle layers as well as the tendons and ligaments to reduce inflammation and heal damaged tissues. The third step includes an infrared laser wand at 830 nm that is specifically placed over the source of pain. This light is very concentrated and targets the deepest affected tissues, including bone. In combination, these steps lead to the reduction and eventual elimination of pain and restored mobility.

Visit our BioFlex Cold Laser Therapy page to learn more about why we chose to use BioFlex instead of other brands of Cold Laser Therapy systems.

What to Expect

The number of suggested treatment sessions will depend on the type and severity of your condition. Typically, results may be experienced within 3-5 treatments. Full resolution can take anywhere from 5 to 30 treatments. For very severe or chronic conditions, it may be recommended to continue with maintenance treatments once every 1 to 3 months to maintain positive results.

Step 1 and Step 2 use different, but have similar looking pads. The pads are placed in one or more prescribed positions over the area to be treated. The first of these pads emits visible red light at a wavelength of 660 nm. The second pad emits invisible infrared light at a wavelength of 840 nm.

During the 3rd step a trained laser therapist uses a wand emitting a focused laser light at a wavelength of 830 nm pointing towards the interior cells to be treated. The laser therapist will gently place the laser wand on the skin for a few seconds and then slightly move the wand to a new position, repeating this process for the prescribed amount of treatment time. This movement is needed to ensure the laser wand’s narrowly focused beam of light reaches the entire area to be treated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe?

Yes. BioFlex Laser Therapy is non-toxic, non-invasive, and will not interact with any medications you may be taking. The laser can also be safely used over metal implants, pacemakers, and other devices.

What does it feel like?

The treatment is entirely painless. Some clients may experience a mild warmth and/or tingling sensation during the treatment. After the first or second treatment sessions, it is common to feel mild tenderness in the area, similar to what you feel after a day of housework or after a good workout. This happens because of increased blood flow and circulation to the treated areas.

What are the side effects?

Occasionally some people experience a minor exacerbation of symptoms for a period of time after treatment, typically lasting no more than 24 hours. Otherwise, no known negative side effects have been reported.

Is there exposure to harmful radiation?

No. BioFlex Laser Therapy does not use harmful radiation. It uses specific wavelengths of light (660nm, 830nm & 840nm) to heal targeted areas. If you have read the word “radiation” associated with cold laser therapy, it is referring to the transmission of energy from light to the cells.

How many treatments will I need?

After your initial assessment, you will be presented with an individualized treatment plan that is aimed at helping you achieve the best results. The number of suggested treatment sessions will depend on the condition being treated. Typically, results may be experienced within 3-5 treatments. Full resolution can take anywhere from 5 to 30 treatments. Most conditions can resolve fully with cold laser therapy. For chronic conditions, such as osteoarthritis or degenerative disc disease, it may be recommended to continue with maintenance treatments once every 1 to 3 months to maintain positive results.

Why is it called Cold Laser Therapy?

Cold Laser Therapy is also known as Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT) or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), and formally called Near-infrared irradiation photobiomodulation (NIR-PBM). The words Cold, Low Level or Low Intensity indicate that this type of laser therapy uses light energy levels that are low enough so it can not burn tissue. Hot lasers, or high intensity lasers produce more light energy and are often used to cut or cauterize tissue. An example of this would be the lasers used for hair removal. Not all lasers used for soft tissue and joint issues are cold lasers. There are some hot lasers used for this purpose, however, the treatment is applied differently than the cold lasers and can damage tissues if not applied correctly. We call it Cold Laser Therapy, simply because we find that term easier to remember and less of a mouthful to say than the other terms. :-)

When should I begin Cold Laser Therapy treatments?

It is never too early or too late to begin laser therapy treatments. It is best to start laser therapy as soon as you sustain an injury to kick start the healing process and prevent it from becoming a chronic condition.

How long are the treatments?

The length of a BioFlex Laser Therapy treatment is approximately 30-60 minutes, depending on the area and condition being treated.

What regulatory approvals does BioFlex have?

BioFlex has been cleared by the FDA and Health Canada. The CE mark of approval has also been obtained and the manufacturing standards of UL and ISO have been met.

Why are you using the BioFlex Cold Laser Therapy system?

We believe that many – if not most – of the wide variety of commercially offered technologies can lead to good healing results when used and applied correctly. However,  we consider BioFlex to be the most comprehensive system on the market today. Read more ...
Cold Laser Therapy vs. Other Types of Treatments

Over The Counter and Prescription Medications

On the Plus Side
  • Can reduce pain and may be able to reduce inflammation
  • Results are often immediate
However…
  • Pain and inflammation relief is generally temporary, so one typically needs to take those medications for prolonged periods of time
  • Can control symptoms but does not heal the damaged tissues
  • Some individuals experience undesirable side effects including gastrointestinal issues such as stomach ulcers, intestinal bleeding, nausea, vomiting, constipation, sleepiness, headache and dizziness
  • Some of the stronger medications can include narcotics (codeine, morphine & oxycodone) and opioids (tramadol) with their associated dependency dangers
  • Some of the more effective medications interact negatively with other (potentially vital) medications for other conditions (e.g. heart conditions)

Cortisone (corticosteroid) Injections

On the Plus Side
  • Mimics naturally occurring cortisone, which controls inflammation in the body
  • First injection can provide immediate short term relief
However…
  • Results wear off over a relatively short period of time and additional injections are commonly not as effective
  • Weakens and breaks down joint cartilage, ligaments and tendons
  • Scar tissue builds up in affected joints causing limited mobility, inflammation and pain

Physiotherapy

On the Plus Side
  • Helps to improve mobility, flexibility and strength through strategies including exercises, hands-on therapies and relaxation techniques
  • Works on the muscles surrounding the affected joints with the goal of improving overall mobility
  • Strengthening areas that may be weak can be very helpful in the overall process of reducing pain and improving quality of life
However…
  • There is no direct effect on the cells of the damaged or inflamed tissues

Surgery

On the Plus Side
  • Typically covered through MSP
  • With some extremely chronic and severe conditions, surgery may be the best treatment choice
However…
  • A very drastic and invasive procedure which is commonly unnecessary
  • Delayed and painful recovery time interfering with work, exercise, and daily activities
  • Dangerous due to complications with anesthetics and risk of infections

Cold Laser Therapy

On the Plus Side
  • Triggers and accelerates genuine and natural healing processes at cellular level
  • Non invasive – (no scalpels or syringes!)
  • No side effects or interaction with drugs
  • Safe around pacemakers and other implants, since the treatment delivers only light waves
  • Some individuals find they can postpone or even avoid surgery
  • Even if surgery is necessary, cold laser therapy ahead of surgery stimulates the cells to heal faster right after surgery – even more so, when cold laser treatment is also applied after surgery
  • After initial series of treatments, only occasional “refresher” treatments are needed
However…
  • Is (not yet) covered as widely under public healthcare insurance as some other forms of treatment – however many group or extended medical plans facilitate coverage under chiropractic or other auxiliary care
  • Takes longer to administer than cortisone injections or taking medications
  • Individuals with large tattoos over affected areas may be difficult to treat, because some tattoo inks heat up uncomfortably

Clinical Studies

To learn more about how BioFlex Cold Laser Therapy has helped relieved pain from various musculoskeletal conditions, feel free to download the following clinical studies.

Cold Laser Therapy for the Treatment of Arthritic Knees (PDF)

Cold Laser Therapy for Treating Degenerating Discs (PDF)

Cold Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (PDF)