What is a Cold Laser Therapy (Low Energy Laser Therapy)
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Low-energy lasers by Plato 18 year
Low-energy lasers (also known as cold lasers) are promoted as an effective way to produce analgesia and accelerate healing of a variety of clinical conditions.
By definition, low energy laser therapy uses irradiation intensities that induce minimal temperature elevation (not more than 0.1-0.5°C), if any. For practical purposes, this restricts treatment energies to a few J/cm² and laser powers to 50 mW or less.
A wide variety of types of lasers, treatment schedules, and techniques is used.
The results from large, uncontrolled, open trials of low-energy lasers in inducing wound healing have shown benefit.
The analgesic effects of low-energy lasers have been most intensely studied in Rheumatoid Arthritis . Positive effects were found in some earlier studies.
Published systematic reviews of the evidence have concluded that there is a lack of adequate evidence of effectiveness of cold laser therapy for treatment of chronic wounds (e.g., Schneider and Hailey, 1999; Cullum et al, 2002; Flemming and Cullum, 2002; Samson, et al., 2004; Simon, et al., 2004; Wang, 2004), musculoskeletal disorders (de Bie et al, 1998; Abdulwadud, 2001; Ohio BWC, 2004; Wang, 2004), Arthritis (Brosseau et al, 2002a; Brosseau et al., 2002b; Marks and de Palma, 1999; Puett and Griffin, 1994; Wang, 2004), tuberculosis (Vlassov, et al., 2002), tinnitus (Waddell & Canter, 2002), and pain (Crawford et al, 2002; Gross et al, 2002; van der Heijden et al, 2002; Binder, 2002; Crawford, 2002; Speed and Hazleman, 2002). Systematic evidence reviews have also concluded that low-energy laser therapy (e.g., Microlight 830, Microlight Corporation of America, Missouri City, TX) is ineffective in treating carpal tunnel syndrome (Gerritsen et al, 2002; O'Connor et al, 2003; Ohio BWC, 2004; Wang, 2004).
A recent study (Hirschl et al, 2004) evaluated the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (n = 48). Laser and sham therapy each were applied 5 days a week for 3 weeks. The authors found that low-level laser therapy reduced the frequency and severity of Raynaud attacks. The findings of this study are interesting but need to be validated by further investigation with more patients and follow-up.
Kreisler et al (2004) assessed the effect of low-level laser application on post-operative pain after endodontic surgery in a double-blind, randomized clinical study. Fifty-two healthy adults undergoing endodontic surgery were included into the study. After suturing, 26 patients had the operation site treated with an 809 nm-GaAlAs-laser at a power output of 50 mW and an irradiation time of 150 s. Laser treatment was simulated in another 26 patients. Patients were instructed to evaluate their post-operative pain on 7 days following surgery by means of a visual analogue scale. The results revealed that the pain level in the laser-treated group was lower than in the placebo group throughout the 7 day follow-up period. The differences, however, were significant only on the first post-operative day. The authors stated that low-level laser therapy can be beneficial for the reduction of post-operative pain. However, its clinical effectiveness and applicability with regard to endodontic surgery need further investigation, especially in terms of the optimal energy dosage and the number of laser treatments needed after surgery.
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Low-energy lasers (also known as cold lasers) are promoted as an effective way to produce analgesia and accelerate healing of a variety of clinical conditions.
By definition, low energy laser therapy uses irradiation intensities that induce minimal temperature elevation (not more than 0.1-0.5°C), if any. For practical purposes, this restricts treatment energies to a few J/cm² and laser powers to 50 mW or less.
A wide variety of types of lasers, treatment schedules, and techniques is used.
The results from large, uncontrolled, open trials of low-energy lasers in inducing wound healing have shown benefit.
The analgesic effects of low-energy lasers have been most intensely studied in Rheumatoid Arthritis . Positive effects were found in some earlier studies.
Published systematic reviews of the evidence have concluded that there is a lack of adequate evidence of effectiveness of cold laser therapy for treatment of chronic wounds (e.g., Schneider and Hailey, 1999; Cullum et al, 2002; Flemming and Cullum, 2002; Samson, et al., 2004; Simon, et al., 2004; Wang, 2004), musculoskeletal disorders (de Bie et al, 1998; Abdulwadud, 2001; Ohio BWC, 2004; Wang, 2004), Arthritis (Brosseau et al, 2002a; Brosseau et al., 2002b; Marks and de Palma, 1999; Puett and Griffin, 1994; Wang, 2004), tuberculosis (Vlassov, et al., 2002), tinnitus (Waddell & Canter, 2002), and pain (Crawford et al, 2002; Gross et al, 2002; van der Heijden et al, 2002; Binder, 2002; Crawford, 2002; Speed and Hazleman, 2002). Systematic evidence reviews have also concluded that low-energy laser therapy (e.g., Microlight 830, Microlight Corporation of America, Missouri City, TX) is ineffective in treating carpal tunnel syndrome (Gerritsen et al, 2002; O'Connor et al, 2003; Ohio BWC, 2004; Wang, 2004).
A recent study (Hirschl et al, 2004) evaluated the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (n = 48). Laser and sham therapy each were applied 5 days a week for 3 weeks. The authors found that low-level laser therapy reduced the frequency and severity of Raynaud attacks. The findings of this study are interesting but need to be validated by further investigation with more patients and follow-up.
Kreisler et al (2004) assessed the effect of low-level laser application on post-operative pain after endodontic surgery in a double-blind, randomized clinical study. Fifty-two healthy adults undergoing endodontic surgery were included into the study. After suturing, 26 patients had the operation site treated with an 809 nm-GaAlAs-laser at a power output of 50 mW and an irradiation time of 150 s. Laser treatment was simulated in another 26 patients. Patients were instructed to evaluate their post-operative pain on 7 days following surgery by means of a visual analogue scale. The results revealed that the pain level in the laser-treated group was lower than in the placebo group throughout the 7 day follow-up period. The differences, however, were significant only on the first post-operative day. The authors stated that low-level laser therapy can be beneficial for the reduction of post-operative pain. However, its clinical effectiveness and applicability with regard to endodontic surgery need further investigation, especially in terms of the optimal energy dosage and the number of laser treatments needed after surgery.
Viewed 3817 times
All Plato's Answers