Indications and Contraindications for Laser Therapy

Schaffer Skin Laser hair removal has been used successfully in physical medicine and rehabilitation for more than 30 years in various parts of the world and has begun to increase in popularity in the United States because the FDA has cleared its use for a number of medical indications. Laser skin 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 the United States, the FDA has thoroughly evaluated and subsequently cleared a variety of laser devices for the treatment of neck and shoulder pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. The FDA in addition has cleared infrared light, that is light energy with wavelengths longer than visible light, to do the following:

increase local blood circulation

alleviate minor muscle or joint aches, pain, and/or stiffness

relaxation of muscles

relieve muscle spasms

sooth the pain and stiffness of connected with arthritis

Though laser therapy has been used safely and effectively throughout the world in animal research since the 1960's and safely with humans since the 1970's, there are precautions with regard to using laser and specific instances where laser shouldn't be used.

Only authorized and trained doctors should use laser for treatment. Since the beam of an infrared laser cannot be detected by the eye, protective eye wear that is designed for the wavelength used should be worn to prevent accidental exposure. Infrared light won't 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 any, if any, studies have concluded that the use of laser has any negative effect on growth plates, it really is probably wise to avoid using a laser directly over them. Highly reflective jewelry should be removed from the region being treated, and treatment shouldn't be done over or near reflective surfaces. Laser should only be employed to the area to be treated and really should not be utilized over areas where sensation has been compromised, as the patient may not be able sense discomfort if the laser is too intense.

Laser shouldn't be used to irradiate the eyes, over cancerous tumors, within 4 to 6 six months of radiation therapy, over hemorrhage, over or close to the thyroid or endocrine glands, over a fetus or uterus during pregnancy, where the patient has sensitivity to light, if the individual is using medication that is photosensitive, or with patients that have vascular disease.

Laser use has been proven effective for the treatment of a number of conditions, and may end up being effective in the treating others as the use 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 negative effects.