Indications and Contraindications for Laser Therapy

Laser has been used successfully in physical medicine and rehabilitation for more than 30 years in a variety of parts of the planet and has begun to increase in popularity in america since the FDA has cleared its use for several medical indications. Laser skin treatment involves introducing the power 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 usa, the FDA has thoroughly evaluated and subsequently cleared several 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 do the following:

increase local the circulation of blood

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

relaxation of muscles

relieve muscle spasms

ease 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 because the 1970's, you can find precautions with regard to the application of laser and specific instances where laser shouldn't be used.

Only authorized and trained medical professionals should use laser for treatment. Because the beam of an infrared laser can't be detected by the eye, protective eye wear that's designed for the wavelength being used should be worn to avoid accidental exposure. website will not usually cause the attention to blink for protect itself. Another precaution pertains to using laser over growth plates in the bones. Though hardly any, if any, studies have figured the usage of laser has any negative influence 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 really should not be used over areas where sensation has been compromised, because the patient might not be able sense discomfort if the laser is too intense.

Laser should not be used to irradiate the eyes, over cancerous tumors, within 4 to 6 6 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 which have vascular disease.

Laser use has shown effective for the treatment of a number of conditions, and may end up being effective in the treatment of others as the usage of laser increases. However, when laser can be used caution should be exercised and attention should be paid to the conditions under which laser could be harmful to avoid unwanted effects.