Multiwave Locked System (MLS) Cold Laser Therapy
Many treatments for joint pain, muscle pain, or ligament and tendon pain are focused on relieving the symptoms rather than treating the source of pain. If you have this type of chronic (ongoing) pain caused by injuries, arthritis, and/or degenerative disc disease, there are several at-home remedies you may have already tried including over-the-counter or prescription pain medications, cold therapy (ice packs), and heat therapy (heating pads and warm baths).
These options may provide some temporary relief, but they do not get to the source of the pain and promote healing. To do that it’s necessary to repair damaged cells. Cold laser therapy is one option that provides both healing and pain relief for many patients. Village Chiropractic offers a Robotic Class IV cold laser called Multi-wave Locked System (MLS). Its capability to produce results for patients exceeds the older Class III cold lasers that have been used for many years by chiropractors and other healthcare professionals.
Learn more about how to relieve back pain without surgery.
What is MLS Cold Laser Therapy?
Class IV MLS cold laser therapy, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2003, is a relatively new treatment for arthritis, back pain, joint pain, and other conditions. The procedure is called “cold” laser therapy because the laser used is low in intensity, meaning it doesn’t heat up the body when used. When the laser is applied to the treatment area, affected tissues absorb the light. This causes blood to rush to the treatment area, which promotes healing of damaged cells. MLS cold laser therapy stimulates all cell types including muscle, ligament, cartilage, and nerves. This is what makes it an effective treatment for many different painful conditions.
What Conditions Can Be Treated with MLS Cold Laser Therapy?
MLS cold laser therapy can be used as a pain-free treatment for:
Inflammation
Joint pain
Ligament sprains and strains
Muscle sprains and strains
Tendonitis
Bursitis
Lower back pain
Muscle spasm pain
Swelling caused by inflammation or fluid buildup
Fibromyalgia
Carpal tunnel syndrome
What are the Benefits of MLS Cold Laser Therapy Treatment?
Easy To Use
One reason why Dr. Thomas incorporates Robotic MLS cold laser therapy into his patients’ treatment regimens is that it is a non-invasive treatment, which means there is no surgery and no prolonged recovery time. For most conditions, the length of a laser therapy treatment session ranges from a couple minutes to 20 minutes. Because the laser does not penetrate clothing we can either adjust the fabric to move it out of the way or we’ll provide a gown you can wear during treatment so that the laser can be pointed exactly where you are experiencing pain. Patients are able to leave our office as soon as the treatment is over.
Drug-Free Pain Management
Another benefit of MLS cold laser therapy used to relieve arthritis pain, joint pain, muscle, tendon or ligament pain is that it’s a drug-free treatment option. Your cells begin to repair after absorbing the light given by the laser. There are no injections or medications to accompany the treatment.
Painless Therapy
MLS cold laser therapy is also pain-free. Every patient is different, but most of our patients tell us they either feel nothing or a slight tingling sensation while the procedure is taking place.
Quick Results
Most patients report experiencing an improved range of motion and noticeable pain relief at the time of treatment. These benefits become more noticeable several hours after treatment. Additionally, with each treatment, patients report their arthritis, joint pain, back pain or other condition is less severe.
How Often for Cold Laser Therapy Treatments?
Every patient is different and the severity of your pain and the damage found in the treatment area will determine how many treatments are needed. Generally, Dr. Thomas recommends patients receive 8 to 15 cold laser therapy sessions to achieve the best results. Your specific treatment plan will be discussed based on where you’re experiencing pain and the level of pain you’re experiencing.
If at-home remedies aren’t effective and you’re not ready to consider surgery, MLS cold laser therapy is definitely worth considering.