Light Therapy
Light Therapy (also known as photobiomodulation) delivers safe, concentrated wavelengths of natural light to your skin and cells. Wavelengths of light stimulate the cells and reduce oxidative stress and allows your body to make more energy to power itself. By lowering inflammation and pain, the body will increase function and speed up the healing process.
What causes inflammation?
Inflammation is the body’s natural reaction against dangers like injuries, wounds, bruises, burns, infections, germs, irritation, and cell damage. The body’s white blood cells release chemicals into the blood or affected tissues to protect the body from foreign substances which can create redness and warmth. Some chemicals leak a fluid into the tissues resulting in swelling.
The body may create inflammation due to external chemicals, toxins, alcohol, not enough sleep, poor nutrition, dehydration or excessive exposure to blue light or radiation.
How does Light Therapy help reduce inflammation?
Light Therapy has been clinically proven to enhance the activity of the lymphatic system. This reduces inflammation by increasing blood flow to damaged tissues and is particularly important for speeding up treatment, recovering from workouts, and pain relief.
Light Therapy has been shown to greatly reduce pain & swelling after surgery. It helps inhibit any oral/dental surgery inflammation induced by endotoxins, such as E. coli and P. gingivalis. Light Therapy is a great natural alternative to anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) in relieving inflammation and pain.
Will Light Therapy help alleviate pain and speed up recovery?
Yes. Light Therapy has been clinically proven, when used over time, to alleviate pain for various ailments including osteoarthritis and joint pain. It has even been shown to reduce pain from rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Numerous trials support its ability to treat exercise related muscle soreness. Light Therapy has a beneficial effect by bringing increased circulation to the area. This will give a speedier recovery by reducing delayed onset muscle soreness . Other benefits include muscle hypertrophy, increased growth hormones, increased endurance, improved heart rate variability, and decreased oxidative stress. It activates heat shock proteins, which are produced by cells in response to exposure to stressful conditions. These benefits help decrease the formation of scar tissue.
Continued use before exercise results in less pain and inflammation after each workout.
Can Light Therapy help increase my range of motion?
Yes. Light Therapy helps reduce inflammation and joint pain. In return, it helps increase functionality, giving you a better range of motion.
What should I expect from a treatment?
A treatment consists of the target area being directly under the light for approximately 15 minutes. You will feel warming in the area from the increased blood circulation the light promotes and will often move easier and with less pain or stiffness after treatment.