Cold Laser Therapy

Cold Laser Therapy is a magnificent, safe and painless treatment technology that has been used worldwide for decades. 

I am proud to have been the first doctor in Hampton Roads to use Erchonia Laser therapy (over 18 years ago). I wouldn't want to be without it, both personally and professionally. If I did not have this marvelous medical technology, I would not have full use of my right hand (injured in a terrible fall about 12 years ago). 

The application of cold laser therapy is simple; the red light is directed over the affected area and/or the nerves. It can take as little as 30 seconds for treatment benefits to occur. 

Lasers are well known for surgery. However, cold laser is different from the surgical laser. High power lasers are used to cut through tissue while low-power or “cold” lasers stimulate tissue repair and healing. Scientists figured out that there are different kinds of light. They create different effects on the cells of our bodies.

No damage... No side effects.

Over several decades, cold laser has been reported to successfully treat an incredible number of conditions, worldwide. Research scientists say it’s because it works at the cellular level. It works at the level of our cells. Its benefits are well supported by medical research. Cold Laser therapy is safe and effective for decreasing pain and healing many conditions. It’s an awesome technology—part of a complete chronic pain treatment program.  

Everybody wants to know how shining a red light on them could help. 

Light therapy is hardly a new concept. Light has been used for healing for thousands of years, starting with the Chinese, Greeks and Romans who recognized the positive effects of sunlight. Consider that the rays of the sun trigger a plant's seeds to sprout through changes in their genetic materials—DNA and RNA. The sun’s rays are full spectrum light. This means there are many wavelengths, but only ONE specific wavelength or frequency causes the seeds to germinate.

Every cell, tissue and organ of your body has a specific vibrational frequency that regulates important functions. Biophysicists refer to the living matrix of living cells as having a laser-like resonance frequency. This is a unique property that signals various things like growth, injury repair and immune function.

Applying specific cold laser frequencies and wavelengths can support balance of the body’s defense and repair mechanisms. 

Even when disease shows up as chemical imbalance, the underlying cause is electromagnetic. Therefore, applying a specific frequency can trigger the natural restoration of normal function to cells.  With cold laser therapy, we can use specific wavelengths, frequencies, and power settings to support cellular function and healing. We are using physics rather than chemistry (drugs) to influence natural healing, without side effects.  

We all know the light we can SEE—the range of colors of the spectrum of a rainbow. We also know that sunlight produces heat. Ultraviolet light is the part of the spectrum that causes tanning or burning of the skin. Scientists refer to cold laser light as compressed from a wavelength of the cold, red electromagnetic part of the spectrum. It’s very different from natural light because it’s just ONE color. Plus, it travels in a straight line and can be polarized, which means the beam can be aimed at a specific area. This lets the laser light go through the surface of the skin without heating it!  

The Erchonia PL-5000 Cold Laser that I use can be programmed to different frequencies to treat different areas of the body, at the cellular level. Think of it as a calculator... that subtracts pain!

All the cells of your body have miniature power plants inside called the mitochondria. That’s where your cell’s energy is produced. It’s called ATP (Adenosine Tri-phosphate). Cold laser light stimulates an increase in ATP production in the mitochondria. This process is similar to how your body uses the sun's energy to manufacture Vitamin D. When your cells have more energy available, they operate more efficiently.

Researchers say cold laser improves transportation of nutrients through the cells. It can help increase chemicals known as endorphins. These are your body’s natural, built-in pain relievers. The mitochondria are very sensitive to light. Certain frequencies of light can improve the mitochondria's efficiency to produce cellular energy. This speeds up the healing of injuries without any negative effect. Immune response through oxygenation of cells can improve, too.

Cold laser light also activates enzymes within cells. This triggers beneficial chemical reactions to activate more enzymes—a domino effect. Plus, only the the cells that need the light absorb it. It is unlikely that there is any other type of treatment technology that can produce as many positive effects—yet cause no bad effects. There are drugs which produce positive effects, but at the cost of many negative side effects.  

When cold laser is applied, your body’s natural healing response is stimulated, and in many cases, it heals faster and better. It’s proven safe and effective for decreasing pain and supporting faster healing.  

We all know the light we can SEE—the range of colors of the spectrum of a rainbow. We also know that sunlight produces HEAT. Ultraviolet light is the part of the spectrum that causes tanning or burning of the skin.  Scientists refer to cold laser light as compressed from a wavelength of the cold, red electromagnetic part of the spectrum. It’s very different from natural light because it’s just ONE color. Plus it travels in a straight line and can be polarized, which means the beam can be aimed at a specific area.  This lets the laser light go through the surface of the skin without heating it!

Cold laser therapy can: 

(1) REDUCE PAIN by stimulating cells to produce their own endorphins, a natural painkiller,

(2) PROMOTE FASTER HEALING by stimulating cells to increase the production of two major healing enzymes by as much as 75%,

(3) REDUCE INFLAMMATION by as much as 75%,

(4) INCREASE BONE REPAIR SPEED
(5) RELAX MUSCLES and muscle spasms,

(6) DECREASE SWELLING by stimulating lymphatic drainage,

(7) ENHANCE THE IMMUNE SYSTEM by increasing the number of natural killer cells by 400-900%,

(8) RE-ENERGIZE CELL MEMBRANES to allow transport of essential nutrients across cell walls (nutrients will not cross an injured or sick cell wall, thus slowing healing) allowing a healthy new cell to grow.

The root of all laser technology lies in a 1917 paper by none other than Albert Einstein: the quantum theory of radiation. LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. In physics terms, laser refers to any device the creates and amplifies a narrow, focused beam of light whose photons are coherent.  

By the1960s, governments and researchers were concentrating on military applications of LASER. Then a Hungarian surgeon named Dr. Endre Mester suspected that laser light might have a more humane application—the destruction of malignant cancer cells. 

In his early experiments, Dr. Mester tried to use high-power lasers to kill malignant tumor cells implanted into lab rats. Surprisingly, the light had no effect on the tumors, but it stimulated the skin incisions from the implants to heal faster compared to control animals who did not get light treatment!

This incredibly fortunate, but unintentional development led him to experiment with skin defects, burns, ulcers, and infected wounds, which also healed faster. Dr. Mester was responsible for discovering an entire field within medicine: biostimulation or photobiology. The modern usage of cold laser therapy stemmed from Einstein's original idea and Mester's brilliant discovery.

Shockingly, cold laser wasn't introduced to the United States until 2002, when the FDA granted market clearance to Erchonia Medical. It had been used for decades in Europe, Asia, and Australia for an incredible number of medical problems. 

Why did it take over 40 years for America to catch on to cold laser?  

I do not know for sure. Today, it is only used by a limited number of doctors and therapists. In 2002, the first patent and market clearance was given for the non-surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Double-blind studies were conducted with General Motors and Baylor College of Medicine. They revealed an amazing 75.6% success rate.  Remarkably, the studies showed the cold laser even worked on patients that already had surgery!

With so many modern medical “cures” causing worse problems than the conditions they were initially intended to treat… one of the most important benefits was… No Documented Side Effects! Not one. Plus there’s no risk of infection and no surgical complications with cold laser.

Erchonia Medical made history by becoming the first to receive FDA market clearance for the treatment of chronic pain, proven  through two double blind studies. The Erchonia Lasers are the most advanced lasers on the market, with their sleek revolutionary design, patented line generated beam, and the ability to program independent frequencies in all of their family of lasers. 

The Liebell Clinic made Hampton Roads history by being the first to use the Erchonia Cold Laser. It is the same device used to treat some of the world's most elite athletes. It has been used by the training staff of NFL football teams, including the New England Patriots. The US Olympic Committee enthusiastically endorsed cold laser therapy in January of 2004.    

   Cold laser therapy has been used for:
 

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and other inflammatory conditions like tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis and bursitis

• Fibromyalgia, neck pain, back pain Joint Sprains, Muscle strains, tendonitis, Knee Pain, Hip Pain
  
• Joint injuries or conditions, like TMJ, arthritis Frozen Shoulder
  
• Neurological injuries—spinal discs, headaches And many, many other problems

Cold laser therapy is a big part of the Liebell Clinic's approach to chronic pain, as well as acute injuries, and a variety of other health support applications. Watch the videos below to learn more!