LASER THERAPY
Some of the many conditions that can be helped with laser therapy.
What Is Laser Therapy?
Low-level-laser therapy harnesses and magnifies energy from the invisible infrared spectrum of light. The therapeutic laser gives these photons of light the ability to reach tissues up to 10cm below the skin's surface. This process delivers energy to the mitochondria of damaged cells, increasing the metabolic rate of these cells so the process of repair and healing is greatly accelerated, via a process known as photobiomodulation (PBM).
PBM has been scientifically proven to reduce pain, reduce inflammation, reduce swelling, and accelerate the healing process while strengthening damaged tissue.
Is It Safe?
Is it safe? Yes! Laser therapy has been in use for over 20 years around the world. Hundreds of clinical studies and scientific papers have documented the effectiveness and safety of this therapy. The only concern with safety is if the laser beam were to go directly into your eye. To ensure we protect again eye damage, everyone in the room will be wearing some goggles (wait till you see how awesome your pet looks with his doggles on!!) However if your pet doesn’t like wearing doggles, we can protect their eyes by other means too.
What Conditions Are Normally Treated?
There is a wide range of conditions that may be successfully treated:
In rehabilitation, the main conditions we are treating are: neck and back pain, osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, tendonitis, soft tissue and muscle injuries and fractures.
Other implications for pets involve: Skin conditions, postoperative healing, wound healing, ear infections, and anal gland disease to name a few.
How long does treatment take?
Laser treatment may take as little as 2 minutes, or as long as 30, depending on the size of the animal, number of conditions or joints involved and the chronicity of the problem.
When will my pet feel results?
The actual effect of laser therapy begins at the time of treatment, but generally only becomes noticeable several hours after the treatment. However some patients will feel immediate pain relief and experience an increased range of motion right away, as blood flow increases. If the condition being treated is chronic and severe, it may take several treatment sessions to produce a significant result. In chronic conditions, such as arthritis, we recommend a course of 6 treatments. Three in the first week, two in the second and one in the third week, to take advantage of the bio accumulative effects of the laser. From there, depending on response and the individual patient, a maintenance treatment every 2-4 weeks works well.
Are the Results Long Lasting?
Laser therapy is about producing a healing effect in the cells and structures of the body. Unlike other therapies which mask or cover up the condition, laser light is actually influencing your body to speed up and strengthen the healing process. In some conditions, such as arthritis we cannot reverse the bony changes that have already occurred, but we can slow down progression, reduce inflammation and provide pain relief. The effect of laser therapy is not just temporary relief, it is cumulative over time, so the more treatments you have, the stronger and more permanent the effect. Because laser light interacts with the cells and a natural healing process is generated, the results are quite long lasting. In some cases, the problem can be permanently resolved.
What Does PBM Laser Therapy Feel Like?
Most animals feel nothing at all during the treatment session. Some patients will feel slight tingling sensation brought on by the increased blood flow to the area being treated. Since the laser produces no heat, no burning sensation or warmth from the device can be felt. Generally pets tolerate the treatments really well, and love their treatments; they get the undivided attention of their owner and the rehab therapist, lots of pats and a lovely massage.
If you’ve got any further questions, or would like to book in for laser therapy, please give the clinic a call on 3899 1495, or send us an email at info@reboundpetrehab.com