How Low Level Laser Therapy Works
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Everything has their origin. And that does not exempt even low level laser therapy. Before it became popular, there were a lot of researches, studies and experimentation that were conducted. There were also many people involved why we are now able to enjoy the wonderful therapeutic results of low level laser therapy. They have done their significant share in discovering this kind of treatment to the different conditions of the body.
Albert Einstein (1879 to 1955) presented the first theory about laser. This paves the way for the other researches and the development of other studies for laser.
Laser stands for light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation. In 1960, the first laser was demonstrated. It was Theodore Maiman, a physicist has discovered a way on how a ruby crystal can emit a short-lived, intense and powerful beam of red light. This visible light is so strong that it was able to break a hole through many stacks of razor blades.
And on 1969, a Hungarian scientist named Endre Mester, presents publications of the findings of using residual or low intensity laser in medicine. They found out that this beam has a good effect in relieving pain, speeding up the healing process and producing less scar tissue.
The Science Behind Low Level Laser Therapy
Researchers conducted a study to expose tissue cultures to low level lasers. It shows that on these studies, the enzymes of the cells can easily absorb the energy that is being emitted by the low level laser light. The cell membrane absorbed the infrared light while the mitochondria absorb the red light. This absorption promotes the production of ATP or adenosine triphosphate. And since there are higher ATP, this promotes healthy cells.
Also, photons are present in all light. These photons are the waves in the light and they vary in frequency and wavelength. The body is absorbing the photon energy, which accelerate the process of healing.
Low level lasers are actually coherent and monochromatic. They are narrow and bright beams that have the tendency to hold their intensity until the body is able to absorb them. Light travels at a specific speed and oscillates forward while moving up and down. Light is measured in wavelengths. This wavelength stands for the different colors of the spectrum. The movement of the light from up and down while moving forward is the frequency of the wavelength. Longer waves have lesser frequency compared to shorter waves.
There have been more than 2500 studies made about laser therapy, to date. Every study differs from the other but it is important to note that more than 90 percent of these studies return a positive result for the use of laser therapy.
How Does It Work?
Low level laser therapy aims to photo-biostimulate the cells. This therapy actually excited the cells. Low level laser device transmits photons. The skin then is absorbing these photons. At most these laser devices can penetrate down into the body’s tissue at roughly 3 inches depth. Take note that this does not cause heat to damage the tissues.
Once this photons reaches the cells of the body, these beams can promotes a lot of cellular activities. It can ignite the production of enzymes, collagen substances so that the cells will function well. Also since there is a higher production of cells, this will help in speeding up the healing process while it ease the pain felt by the body.
Also, since the low level laser helps in producing collagen, this prevents the formation of scar tissues. Scar tissues are actually less elastic but since collagen production increases, possibility is that tissues will be produced with an elastic characteristic from the collagen.
This whole process works like the photosynthesis for plants. The plant is absorbing the sun and this energy is being used so that the plant will grow. The plant represents the body while the light from the sun represents the low level laser light. Once absorbed, it initiates very important cellular activities that speed up cell repair and cell production.
However, please remember that damaged cells can be repaired even without low level laser light. But then it is important to note that low level laser therapy will help speed up the process.
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