LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY (LLLT)

What is Low Level Laser Therapy?

Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is also known as Cold Laser Therapy or Photobiomodulation Therapy. This uses light to boost the body’s natural healing ability in response to pain, inflammation, swelling and muscular spasm, whilst at the same time increasing oxygen levels to sick and injured cells. It is approved and registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

How does it work?

It is a gentle and pain free treatment that targets many conditions. When LLLT is applied to the skin, light is absorbed by the damaged cells. This in turn triggers a reaction in the mitochondria (the powerhouse of our cells) to produce more energy, stimulating the body’s immune response, and increasing blood supply to the damaged cells, increasing tissue repair, and reducing inflammation, swelling and pain. It targets the chronic inflammation to promote healing, which means the results are effective and long lasting.

The benefits of Low Level Laser Therapy may include:

* Pain relief

* Reduction of inflammation

* Reducing of swelling

* Improved blood circulation

* Boosting the immune system

* Increased joint flexibility

* Improved and faster wound healing

* Speeds up recovery time post injury/surgery

* Improves neurological function

* It is non-invasive, drug free pain relief

* The combination of LLLT and chiropractic may improve your results.

Many athletes now choose the benefits of Low Level Laser Therapy and find it may:

* Improve endurance

* Reduce the incidence of injury

* Reduce the chance of re-injury

* Speed up recovery time post injury

* Improve strength

* Reduce muscle fatigue

* Increase energy

Many conditions can be treated with Low Level Laser Therapy and it is part of our integrative approach:

* Neck and back pain & injuries

* Disk herniation

* Osteoarthritis

* Rheumatoid Arthritis

* Tinnitus

* Sinusitis

* Headaches

* Wound healing & scarring

* Fracture Healing

* Plantar Fasciitis

* Frozen shoulder

* Repetitive Strain Injuries

* Lymphedema

* Chronic Pain

* Sporting Injuries, including muscles, tendons & ligaments

* Improving athletic performance

* Increasing energy levels

* Pre & Post-surgical & dental care

* Peripheral nerve damage

* Help support sufferers of Autoimmune conditions

Low Level Laser Therapy has been found to stimulate the metabolic function of any cell in our body.

Low level laser irradiation stimulates mitochondrial membrane potential and disperses subnuclear promyelocytic leukemia protein.

Gavish L¹, Asher Y, Becker Y, Kleinman Y.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Low level laser irradiation (LLLI) is used to promote wound healing. Molecularly it is known to stimulate mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), cytokine secretion, and cell proliferation. This study was designed to determine the influence of LLLI on the kinetics of MMP stimulation and decay, specific cytokine gene expression, and subcellular localization of promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein on HaCaT human keratinocytes.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The cells were irradiated by a 780 nm titanium-sapphire (Ti-Sa) laser with 2 J/cm(2) energy density. MMP was monitored with Mitotracker, a mitochondrial voltage-sensitive fluorescent dye. Cytokine gene expression was carried out using semi-quantitative-reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Subcellular localization of PML protein, a cell-cycle checkpoint protein, was determined using immunofluorescent staining.

RESULTS:

The fluorescence intensity of MMP was increased immediately after the end of LLLI by 148 +/- 6% over control (P<0.001). Subsequently it decayed, reaching 51 +/- 14% of the control level (P < 0.01) within 200 minutes. This decay was characterized by an exponential curve (R = 0.96) with a lifetime of 79 +/- 36 minutes (P < 0.05). Following irradiation, the expression of interleukin-1alpha, interleukin-6, and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) genes were transiently upregulated; but the expression of the proinflammatory gene interleukin-1beta, was suppressed. The subnuclear distribution of PML was altered from discrete domains to its dispersed form within less than 1 hour after LLLI.

CONCLUSIONS:

These changes reflect a biostimulative boost that causes a shift of the cell from a quiescent to an activated stage in the cell cycle heralding proliferation and suppression of inflammation. Further characterization of MMP kinetics may provide a quantitative basis for assessment of the effect of LLLI in the clinical setting.

PMID:15611960

DOI:10.1002/lsm.20108

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