How It Works
Laser is an acronym standing for Light Amplification
by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Lasers exist just
about everywhere, but are used in health care as
either a surgical (i.e. “cutting”) laser or as a therapeutic laser. Within therapy lasers, there are low
level lasers and high intensity lasers. The higher intensity lasers (such as Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital’s Class IV/LiteCure unit) are more powerful - allowing greater depth of tissue penetration and shorter treatment times.
Simply put, laser is nothing but light. A very specific
wavelength of light (red and near infrared), but light
none the less. What is remarkable about laser therapy is that scientists recognized many years ago that
certain organelles within cells can respond to supplemental light. They are termed chromophores and
are present in just about all cells. When cells are
supplemented with light energy and this energy is
absorbed, several changes occur. Those effects are
split into photothermal (i.e. heating) and photochemical (i.e. biochemical). The photothermal effects generally produce some warmth during the treatments,
but most people/pets sense this as a pleasant sensation. Some people/pets with a high concentration of
pigment or melanin within their skin can get higher
skin temperatures due to greater absorption, but we
can manage this by simply moving the treatment
probe quickly over the skin. The healing is caused
by the photochemical effects.
Laser Therapy Benefits
Absorption of light energy by chromophores increases the cellular activity and “turns-on” healing cells.
In the process, laser therapy produces 10 primary
biologic benefits:
Relieves Pain (Analgesia) - this is done through
activation of acupuncture points, releasing the