Unlike other therapies, Laser actually cures the cause of the pain which secondarily (and quickly) relieves the symptoms.

Pain relief can be substantial during the treatment due to the fact that LILT aids in the production and release of beta-endorphins (morphine like substances that inhibit the sensation of pain) and cortisol, a precursor to cortisone.

In the case of carpal tunnel caused by tenosynovitis LILT has been proven to reduce inflammation. Edema is also substantially reduced because the lymphatic system ducts (in which bad proteins are carried away) can double in size.

In the case of adhesions or muscles causing the impingement LILT increases the production of collagen (the building block of connective tissue) that is required to replace old tissue or repair tissue injuries. Laser not only increases blood flow to the area but has been shown to increase the formation of new capillaries in damaged tissue.

In most cases, patients' activities need not be restricted as healing continues while activity goes on.

BIOFLEX LOW INTENSITY LASER -  LASER heals at the cellular level. " It's like shining a ray of sunlight directly on injured cells inside the body and stimulating the cells to return to normal function." Dr. Leonard Rudnick, Laser Therapy

What is Laser Therapy?
Laser therapy is the use of monochromatic light emission from a low intensity laser diode (250 milliwatts or less) or an array of high intensity Super Luminous Diodes (providing total optical power in the 1000-2000 milliwatt range) to treat musculoskeletal injuries, chronic and degenerative conditions and to heal wounds. The light source is placed in contact with the skin allowing the photon energy to penetrate tissue, where it interacts with various intracellular biomolecules resulting in the restoration of normal cell function and enhancement of the body's healing processes.

What Is The Difference Between High Power And Low Intensity Laser Therapy?
High power, or thermal, lasers can produce a substantial amount of heat. This destructive potential makes high power laser a key player in industrial applications such as cutting and welding. Because thermal laser combines power and precision, it also has many beneficial uses in modern medicine. In surgical anti-tumor treatments, for example, the heat emitted by high intensity laser beams can be used to selectively destroy tissue. Incisions produced by the laser are antiseptic and hemorrhage is controlled. Unlike the thermal lasers, the low intensity laser beam is "soft power" and does not produce heat. Red and infra-red lasers with power outputs in the range from 10-2000 mW belong in this category.

What does Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT) do?

By affecting and reversing the offending pathology at the cellular level, laser therapy optimizes the restoration of injured tissues to normal function, thereby relieving painful symptoms. The beneficial effects of laser therapy are cumulative over the course of a series of treatments.

Clinical information

Short Term Effects

Production and release of beta-endorphins (these are morphine like substances produced by various cells in the body that inhibit the sensation of pain)

Cortisol production is increased (cortisol is the precursor of cortisone). This enables the body to combat the stress associated with trauma or the disease process

The short-term effect is significant in 5-10% of cases during or after the conclusion of the initial treatment, but is not as important as the long term or cumulative effect

Long Term or Cumulative Effect

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production is increased resulting in improved cellular metabolism
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) production, the protein building block of tissue is substantially increased
Neurotransmission is facilitated due to elevated levels of serotonin and acetylecholine
Mitochondrial activity is stimulated resulting in cell replication etc.
Modulation of macrophages, fibroblasts and other cells
Angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels)
Regulates cell membrane potential, essential in Na, Cl and K ion transfer (electrolyte balance)
Cytokines and other chemicals enhancing cellular communications are released

Other Effects

The immune response is stimulated
Lymphatic drainage is improved
The histamine response is positively altered
Production of growth hormone is increased
Stimulation of the healing processes is accompanied by relief of symptoms
It should be noted that many other positive physiological activities are modulated and extensive research is currently in progress to fully explore these changes.

Summary

Absorption as a result of photon bombardment of various bio-molecules in the cell results in the transformation of light into biochemical energy. This is a cumulative effect and requires sufficient stimulation in order to initiate response. Typically 5-20 treatments varying from 15-60 minutes in duration are required. The end result of low intensity laser irradiation is the restoration of normal function of the cell unit. Conversely, worldwide research to date has failed to record any negative effects from this process. It should be noted that normally functioning cells are not adversely affected by the irradiation. In contrast to other therapies, Low Intensity Laser Therapy is curative rather than simply modulating symptomatology. Continued research at Meditech and other laboratories should further enhance the effectiveness of this existing technology.

How does BioFlex compare with other conventional treatments?

For many years, rehabilitation therapies -- including ultrasound, interferential current and TENS -- have been used extensively throughout the world to treat pain and stimulate the healing processes. Unlike BioFlex, however, the healing effects of these treatments have been disappointing as they only modulate symptoms. These therapies are limited in effectiveness and in their range of applications (for example ultrasound should not be used over bony prominences, pins, plates and very acute injuries).

In contrast BioFlex laser is able to influence the pathology directly at the cellular level, resulting in therapeutic benefits that are more profound and generally curative. At best, alternative therapies act as counter-irritants, creating a transient increase in circulation and the release of endorphins, providing only temporary symptomatic relief.

What are the side effects ?

Unlike many pharmaceutical options, BioFlex is non toxic; unlike surgical procedures, it is non-traumatic and most important, BioFlex is non-invasive. There is a warming sensation reported by some patients; still others report mild discomfort following treatment, however this is very rare, occurring with less then 5% of our patients.

For more indepth information:    www.softclinic.ca/bioflex_laser.html      Links provided in the original article provide extensive information and research reports.