Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)
Beyond Red Light Therapy
Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), is a treatment modality that utilizes specific wavelengths of light to interact with tissue. Researchers suggest that LLLT may have the ability to help various acute and chronic conditions, help eliminate pain, and swelling, reduce spasms and increase functionality, and help accelerate the healing process. LLLT covers a range of non-invasive therapeutic aspects, and specialists use it as a red light near-infrared wave with a length of 600 to 1000 nm and 5 to 500 mW. Low-Level Lasers can penetrate deep into the skin, which means that the skin’s surface does not get damaged.
Research suggests that Low-Level lasers may produce analgesia and healing acceleration for various clinical conditions. The study indicates that the bio-stimulatory healing effect of LLLT may include treating chronic pain usually associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, tissue injuries, and severe wounds. Skin rejuvenation also may be another usage of laser therapy.
ARRC LED’s patent-pending formulations add a 528nm Green to the traditional Red/NIR mix found in LLLT. Green has been called ‘The new red’ as recent studies have shown extraordinary benefits, often outpacing reds.
History
Hungarian physician and surgeon Endre Mester discovered the biological effects of low-power lasers, which occurred a few years after the 1960 ruby and helium-neon laser. Mester accidentally discovered that Low-Level ruby laser light might have the ability to regrow hair. Mester found that during an attempt to replicate an experiment that showed that such lasers could reduce tumors in mice. It failed to affect the tumors, but Mester noticed that in the places where he had shaved the mice, the hair grew back more quickly on the treated mice than on those in the control group. Mester called this approach “laser biostimulation’,” but it soon became known as “Low-Level Laser Therapy.” With the adaptation of light-emitting diodes by those studying this approach, it became known as “Low-Level Light Therapy,” and to resolve confusion around the exact meaning of “Low-Level,” it adopted the term “Photobiomodulation.”
Benefits
There is considerable evidence about LLLT usage for treating conditions like wound healing, tuberculosis, pain, tinnitus, epicondylitis, smoking cessation, Achilles tendinitis, back pain, plantar heel pain, and Carpal tunnel syndrome, and the primary Raynaud’s phenomenon.
Nervous System Complications
Brain Photobiomodulation research in intracranial photobiomodulation has suggested that the use of infrared or near-infrared light may have the ability to promote cell repair. Near-infrared waves can pass through the human skull and the cerebral cortex, which could receive a small amount of energy. The abundant mitochondria in neurons are the primary near-infrared and infrared wave energy receptors. Subsequently, increased ATP production, CMP activity, and oxidative activation work to prevent cell death during ischemic failure, brain injury, and neurodegeneration.
ARRC LED utilizes frequencies to augment the efficacy of our brain protocols.
Skin And Mucosal Disorders
LLLT shows promising results that it can be a helpful method for treating injuries, especially skin burns. The mechanism of laser action on biological tissues is mainly related to stimulating cytochrome oxidase release and activating intracellular cascade reactions. It also increases intracellular and molecular synthesis and subsequently increases the synthesis of RNA and DNA, increasing cell proliferation and migration in the restoration of injured tissue. However, there are some controversies regarding the application parameters of LLLT in treating skin burns.
Side effects
Studies have found that Low-Level Laser Therapy does not have serious side effects when used correctly and at the correct dosage. However, Low-Level Laser Therapy should not be used over any suspicious cancerous lesions, or carcinoma, over the thyroid, in pregnant women. Also, there should not be direct irradiation of the eyes, as the laser can cause permanent damage to the eyes.
- Pregnancy: Pregnancy is a contraindication and women who are currently or trying to become pregnant should use LLLT.
- Eyes: Do not aim laser beams into the eyes; everyone present should wear appropriate safety spectacles.
- Cancer: Do not treat any known primary carcinoma or secondary metastasis over the site unless the patient is undergoing chemotherapy when LLLT can be used to reduce side effects such as mucositis. LLLT can be considered in terminally-ill cancer patients for palliative relief.
- People with epilepsy: Be aware that low frequency pulsed visible light (<30Hz) might trigger a seizure in photosensitive epileptic patients. The patients exposed to LLLT reported the adverse effects to be no different from those exposed to placebo devices in trials.
Research
Since 1967, over 2,500 clinical studies have been published worldwide, and many of these studies are double-blinded and placebo-controlled. They have demonstrated Low-Level Laser Therapy as a possible pain relief method. However, many of these studies were done with small groups, so more extensive studies must be completed to determine the full effects of LLLt. For example, one issue that needs to be studied further is that there does not appear to be a uniform standard regarding the dose and number of treatments.
The effectiveness of Low-Level Therapy for neck pain was recently reviewed by an initiative conducted by a multidisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians. They concluded that Low-Level Laser Therapy could be a beneficial treatment for certain types of neck pain. These include pain that causes little or no interference with daily activities and pain that limit daily activities, compared to radiculopathy (arm pain) or severe pathology.
Sources:
Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring
The Use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) For Musculoskeletal Pain
Low-Level Laser Therapy Frequently Asked Question
What is LLLT?
LLLT (Low-Level Laser Therapy) is an emerging Light treatment modality that shows positive results in treating various conditions such as pain and cell.
How does LLLT work?
The mechanism of work on biological tissues is mainly related to stimulating cytochrome oxidase release and activating intracellular cascade reactions.
