Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy (SWT) uses focused acoustic sound waves, delivered through the skin with a handheld device, to address pain in muscles, tendons and joints. It is offered at our Irvine clinic.
Service
Cold Laser Therapy
Cold laser therapy, also called red light therapy or low-level laser therapy, is used for muscle and nerve pain from sprains, bursitis, tendonitis, and more. A handheld device delivers non-heating light to the injured area.
What is Cold Laser Therapy?
Cold laser therapy uses a Class III laser to deliver light to injured tissue. It is mainly used to help reduce inflammation, which is a common source of pain after sprains, strains, and tendon or bursa irritation.
When tissue is injured or not getting enough oxygen and nutrients, healing can slow down. Over time, a thick band of scar tissue can form across a muscle and limit how freely it moves and your natural range of motion.
At KOH Physical Therapy Lab, cold laser therapy is used as one part of an individualized plan, often alongside other treatments such as shockwave therapy, kinesiology taping, fascia stretching, and Active Release Technique.
Benefits
Benefits of cold laser therapy
- May help reduce inflammation in an injured area
- May support circulation to the treated tissue, bringing fresh blood flow that helps the body heal
- May help break up scar tissue that limits movement
- Can complement hands-on soft tissue work within the same visit
- May help ease pain from muscle and nerve irritation as part of a broader plan
Who it is for
Who it may be right for
- Neck sprain or strain (cervical)
- Low back sprain or strain (lumbar)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (wrist pain)
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
- Rotator cuff tendinitis (shoulder pain)
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
- Knee pain around the kneecap (patellofemoral disorders)
- Plantar fasciitis (foot pain)
- Bursitis and tendonitis
- Arthritis pain and stiffness
- Fibromyalgia
- Jaw pain (TMJ dysfunction)
The technique
How does cold laser therapy work?
Your physical therapist holds a handheld device over the injured area for anywhere from about 30 seconds to several minutes, depending on the size of the area.
The laser gives off non-heating light that passes through the layers of the skin and can reach about 2 to 5 centimeters below the surface. There it is absorbed by light-sensitive parts of the cells, which is thought to start a series of changes that help injured tissue return to normal.
Treatment
How often is cold laser therapy used?
Treatment times are usually under 5 minutes, so cold laser therapy fits well alongside traditional soft tissue treatments in the same visit. It is typically given 2 to 3 times per week, and your therapist sets the schedule for your condition.
Research
Research and FDA clearance
Low-level laser therapy has been used around the world for more than twenty years and has been studied across a wide range of conditions. In the United States, low-level laser devices have FDA clearance for the temporary relief of pain and stiffness, including pain and stiffness associated with arthritis.
Results vary from person to person, and your therapist uses cold laser therapy as one part of a plan that includes hands-on care and exercise.
Related
Related services
Kinesiology Taping
Kinesiology therapeutic taping uses an elastic tape applied to specific areas of the body to support muscles, tendons, and ligaments, help relieve pain and swelling, and support athletic performance.
Fascial Stretching
Fascia stretching therapy is therapist-assisted stretching and mobility work for plantar fasciitis, neck pain, and other musculoskeletal conditions. It works on the whole connective tissue system, not just single muscles.
Ready to get started?
Request an appointment online, or text our scheduling team. Text is the fastest way to reach us.