As the name suggests Cold Laser Therapy is a form of laser therapy that does not heat the tissues. With a low intensity (wavelength between 660 nm and 905 nm) it is a short procedure that causes no heat, vibration, pain, or even sound. It is a well-known procedure widely used for pain relief, inflammation, and skin regeneration. Due to its low intensity, it penetrates only the skin and across soft/hard tissue hence causing almost no complications.
Cold Laser Therapy Is Used By-
Dentists
Oral inflammations are treated by soft laser bio-stimulation. It is also used to treat mouth ulcerations. It is an effective and safe procedure to heal oral diseases and is hence widely used and preferred.
Dermatologists
Cold laser is used for a wide range of skin diseases. From severe cases of psoriasis and burns to mild skin problems like acne scars, Low Power Laser Therapy (LPLT) is used to heal all diseases that require skin rejuvenation. Just like dentists, dermatologists also use it for inflammatory diseases like Edema and Eczema.
Orthopaedics
Various sorts of bursitis (, tendonitis, and a few kinds of arthritis can cause sharp pain that cannot be cured externally and requires light laser penetration. Cold Laser proves to be very effective in such cases
Physiotherapists
Several physiotherapists resort to using Cold Laser Therapy as it is a fast and effective procedure for various chronic pain. It is also popular amongst sports medicine practitioners as it is used to cure various diseases popular among Athletes. Some of the diseases treated by LPLT are Tennis Elbow and Achilles tendons. ligament sprains, muscle strains, and pain caused due to muscle spasms.
Acupuncturists
Recently the use of cold lasers was known to be used for patients who weren’t comfortable with the use of needles. The acupoints are stimulated to obtain similar results to pierced needles. It is not a widely used practice in the acupuncture community.
Neurologists
Cold laser procedures are said to be proven effective for Neuropathic pain. Research says that Cold laser may be used to heal Brain injuries alongside curing diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s in near future.
Other medicinal uses
Inflammation caused by autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and wounds that take a long time to heal due to various reasons such as lack of platelets and diabetes is cured by doctors using LPLT. Cold laser therapy can also help people with acute or chronic pain caused from conditions such as fibromyalgia and carpal tunnKel syndrome.
Shortcomings
Despite being widely used in various branches of medicine, Cold Laser Therapy also has its shortcomings.
Regardless of being a painless procedure, it takes several rounds of such Therapy sessions to experience relief and recovery. Due to it being an extremely slow healing procedure, not many can completely trust the procedure.
Another shortcoming is the cost of the procedure. Cold Laser Therapy is often considered a cosmetic procedure and hence may not be covered by medical insurance. Again, this may not be the case everywhere.
There isn’t enough research available regarding the effect of low-level laser on unborn babies, hence cold laser therapy sessions are said to be avoided by pregnant women.
Cold Laser Therapy has gained a lot of popularity in recent days. As mentioned previously, it is very often considered a cosmetic procedure. Due to being known for its effective skin rejuvenating functions, cold laser products are now available for purchase in the cosmetic market. Laser products are even marketed to help with weight loss, migraines, hair growth, and anti-aging. But one must stay careful as the claims aren’t always substantiated.
In conclusion
Cold Laser Therapy is an essential part of the medical field. Even though there isn’t much information related to its effectiveness and safety it is proven to be a good alternative for non-invasive procedures. One must make sure to always opt for professionals when wishing to undergo such procedures.
Q1. How many days/sessions does it take to see results from Cold laser procedures?
Ans: It can take at least 30 sessions to experience clear results.
Q2. How must one prepare for a session?
Ans: There are no preparatory measures required to be taken before a Cold Laser Therapy session.
Q3. Where can one get Cold Laser Therapy?
Ans: Nowadays, one can get the procedure done in the comfort of their own house.
Q4. What are other names for Cold Laser Therapy?
Ans: Cold Laser Therapy is also known as Low Power Laser Therapy (LPLT), Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), Soft Laser Bio-stimulation and Photo biomodulation.
