Indications and Contraindications for Laser Therapy

Laser has been used successfully in physical medicine and rehabilitation for a lot more than 30 years in a variety of parts of the world and has begun to increase in popularity in the United States because the FDA has cleared its use for several medical indications. Laser treatment involves introducing the energy of light into damaged or injured tissues to market healing through the stimulation of ATP production and lymphocyte activity among other physiological responses.

In america, the FDA has thoroughly evaluated and subsequently cleared a number of laser devices for the treatment of neck and shoulder pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. The FDA has also cleared infrared light, which is light energy with wavelengths longer than visible light, to accomplish the following:

increase local blood circulation
alleviate minor muscle or joint aches, pain, and/or stiffness
relaxation of muscles

relieve muscle spasms
ease the pain and stiffness of associated with arthritis
Though laser therapy has been used safely and effectively across the world in animal research since the 1960's and safely with humans because the 1970's, there are precautions with regard to the application of laser and specific instances where laser shouldn't be used.

Only authorized and trained doctors should use laser for medical treatment. Since the beam of an infrared laser can't be detected by the eye, protective eye wear that is created for the wavelength used should be worn to prevent accidental exposure. Infrared light will not usually cause the attention to blink for protect itself. Another precaution relates to the usage of laser over growth plates in the bones. Though hardly  Lightforce Medical laser therapy , if any, studies have concluded that the usage of laser has any negative effect on growth plates, it is probably wise to avoid using a laser directly over them. Highly reflective jewelry should be removed from the area being treated, and treatment shouldn't be done over or near reflective surfaces. Laser should only be applied to the region to be treated and should not be utilized over areas where sensation has been compromised, as the patient will not be able sense discomfort if the laser is too intense.

Laser should not be used to irradiate the eyes, over cancerous tumors, within four to six 6 months of radiation therapy, over hemorrhage, over or near the thyroid or endocrine glands, over a fetus or uterus during pregnancy, in cases where the patient has sensitivity to light, if the individual is using medication that's photosensitive, or with patients which have vascular disease.

Laser use has been proven effective for the treating several conditions, and may prove to be effective in the treatment of others as the usage of laser increases. However, when laser is used caution ought to be exercised and attention should be paid to the conditions under which laser could be harmful to avoid unwanted effects.