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How does MedX Phototherapy work?
What is low level laser therapy?
What exactly is phototherapy?
Does phototherapy affect only the area being treated?
How are phototherapy treatments administered?
Is MedX Phototherapy the only treatment required for
healing?
How does MedX Phototherapy work? When the
photons of light penetrate the skin and underlying tissue, they are
absorbed by the cell, and converted into energy, thereby the cell
membrane permeability is altered, this triggers a cascade of cellular
events including:
- Stimulation of ATP
- Stimulation of respiratory chain
- Increased DNA and RNA synthesis
- Increased levels of beta endorphins and serotonin
- Enhanced collagen synthesis
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Is MedX Phototherapy the only treatment required for
healing? Photo/laser therapy can be used as a single therapy
or adjunctive therapy in combination with other manual therapies or
electro modalities such as acupuncture, ultrasound and massage therapy.
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How are phototherapy treatments administered?
MedX Laser/Phototherapy devices are positioned directly on the skin with
gentle pressure applied. Generally there is no discomfort or
sensation associated with treatment. Various areas may be treated
including:
- Directly over the lesion or site of injury
- Muscle insertion
- Relevant trigger points or tender points
- Nerve roots or superficial nerve trucks
- Acupuncture points
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Does phototherapy affect only the area being treated?
The affects of MedX Phototherapy treatment can be:
Local: with a direct benefit over the affected injury.
Regional: with positive effects seen in the surrounding tissue.
Systemic: broader effects evident through increased cell membrane
permeability and chemical mediators carried in the blood, lymphatic
and nervous systems. Back to top
What exactly is phototherapy? As scientists
have understood more about the nature of light and its positive effects
on the body, new techniques and devices have been developed to use
light as part of the healing process. This is referred to as low level
laser therapy or phototherapy. Phototherapy is an umbrella term that
can include light from low level lasers as well as superluminous diodes,
also known as light emitting diodes (LEDS). Low level lasers, also
known as cold laser light is compressed light, it is different from
natural light in that it is one precise colour. Lasers are coherent
waves, synchronized, and monochromatic (a single wavelength). Therapeutic
light energy can be produced by Low Level Laser Diodes (LLLD) and/or
Superluminous Diodes (SLD). These diodes can be within the visible
red to the near infrared and infrared electromagnetic spectrum.
These properties allow laser light to penetrate the surface of the
skin with no heating effect, no damage to the skin and no known side
effects. Specific wavelengths and power levels result in different
levels of penetration and cellular effects. Back to
top
What is low level laser therapy? There are
two types of medical lasers: high power and low power. High power
lasers are used to cut through tissue. Low-level lasers, on the other
hand, are used to stimulate tissue repair through a process of bio-stimulation.
The word "laser" is an acronym for Light Amplification by the Stimulated
Emission of Radiation. The theory was first described by Albert Einstein
(1879-1955) who paved the way for the development of the therapeutic
laser. The first low level therapeutic laser was developed in 1962.
By the end of the 1960's, Endre Mester in Hungary was reporting an
improved healing of wounds through low level laser radiation. Since
then, scientists and doctors around the world have been using laser
light to treat conditions which can affect all age groups.
Low level laser therapy is the application of red and near infrared
light over injuries or wounds to improve soft tissue healing and relieve
both acute and chronic pain. Low level therapy uses cold (sub-thermal)
laser light energy to direct bio-stimulative light energy to the body's
cells without injuring or damaging them in any way. The therapy is
precise and accurate, offering safe and effective treatment for a
wide variety of conditions. The energy range of low level laser light
lies between 1 and 500 mW (milliwatts), while the energy range for
surgical lasers lies between 3,000 and 10,000 mW. Back
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For additional FAQ's please contact us.
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