Indications and Contraindications for Laser Therapy

Laser has been used successfully in physical medicine and rehabilitation for more than 30 years in various parts of the planet and has begun to improve in popularity in america since the FDA has cleared its use for several medical indications. Laser 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 numerous laser devices for the treating 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 accomplish 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, you can find precautions with regard to using laser and specific instances where laser should not be used.

Only authorized and trained doctors should use laser for treatment. Since the beam of an infrared laser can't be detected by the eye, protective eye wear that is designed for the wavelength being used should be worn to prevent accidental exposure. Infrared light will not usually cause the eye to blink for protect itself. Another precaution pertains to using laser over growth plates in the bones. Though hardly any, if any, studies have concluded that 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 ought to be removed from the region being treated, and treatment should not be done over or near reflective surfaces. Laser should only be applied to the area to be treated and should not be utilized over areas where sensation has been compromised, as the patient will not be able sense discomfort if the laser is too intense.

Informative post be used to irradiate the eyes, over cancerous tumors, within four to six six months of radiation therapy, over hemorrhage, over or near the thyroid or endocrine glands, over a fetus or uterus during pregnancy, in cases where the patient has sensitivity to light, if the patient is using medication that's photosensitive, or with patients which have vascular disease.

Laser use has been proven effective for the treatment of several 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.