Light Therapy
Light Therapy is one of the many great services provided by RehabAuthority to help you Feel Good Again. What is Light Therapy you ask? Well, Light Therapy is just what it says... a form of treatment using a light source.
LASER (Light Amplification Stimulated Emission of Radiation) or light therapy is the FDA approved process of using very short wavelengths of light (600-1000 nm) to penetrate human tissue causing an effect of healing.
Light is made up of particles called photons which assemble in wave forms to make light. The type of light utilized in physical therapy is most commonly red or near infrared light. These forms of light are found on the electromagnetic spectrum just above visible light.
Numerous studies have found that the photons, especially those found in the red or near infrared spectrum, have healing properties at the cellular level. The photons are absorbed by the cell. The cell then uses these photons to make additional ATP, adenosine triphosphate, which is energy used by your body’s cells. This can accelerate the bodies natural healing processes.
Light Therapy can be used to treat a wide variety of ailments. Including but not limited to:
- Arthritis
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Muscle Strains
- Ulcers
- Pain Reduction
- Fractures
- TMJ, (temporomandibular joint) Dysfunctions
The reason why light is utilized as a form of treatment is because treatments usually last around 5 minutes or less are noninvasive and pain-free. Light therapy treatments typically will be performed two to three times a week, but most people have noticed improvements with their first or second treatment.
To perform a light therapy treatment the Physical Therapist places a small wand, which administers the light, on the affected area. The wand will be held over the skin for a predetermined amount of time.
One thing that is very important to remember is that light therapy by itself is rarely an option. The best benefits are gained when light therapy is used as a treatment along with a thorough physical therapy program specifically designed for your particular problem.
Light therapy is one of the many ways that RehabAuthority is not just another physical therapy service. This non-invasive, pain free treatment has had great success. This has been proven not only in our clinics but also by the extensive research.