Low Intensity Light Therapy

I have recently started to use Low Intensity Light Therapy (LILT), which is a safe and non-invasive treatment which is effective in treating pain, acupuncture points, dermatological problems and more.  It can be used as a stand-alone alternative to needles for those who are sensitive to or phobic of needles.  Laser acupuncture uses the same principles as traditional acupuncture and can be used both symptomatically and constitutionally.  Often I use a combination of LILT and acupuncture, finding the two together are better than either alone. LILT is non-invasive, painless and has no reported side-effects.  LILT can be used safely and effectively on the young and old, and is even effective on animals (under veterinary supervision).  This is a non-thermal laser, meaning that it has no heating effect, and should not be confused with lasers used by surgeons to cut through tissue.

LILT has advantages over acupuncture in treating areas which might be dangerous to needle because of the underlying anatomy - such as trigger points in the scalenes or sterno-cleido-mastoid muscles in the front of the neck, which can cause pain in the shoulder, arms, chest, sinuses, jaw and head (including headaches and migraines).  LILT can also be safely used over scar tissue and metal implants.

LILT is variously known as Low Intensity Laser Therapy, Photobiomodulation therapy, and various other names.  LILIT works on the principal that every cell in the body responds to light.  LILT can enhance the healing of wounds, soft tissue injuries, tendons and fractures as well as being extremely effective in neutralising infection.

 Low Level Laser Therapy (LILT) – What Does It Do?

Physiological effects

From the well controlled work on the effects of LILT carried out by Guy’s Hospital in London, Ulster University in N Ireland and centres of excellence in Spain, Italy, Israel, Japan, Switzerland and Russia there is growing knowledge of the biochemical mechanism of laser therapy.  The best researched mechanisms include:

TISSUE REPAIR:

Biomodulation of:


•    Cell metabolism and motility
•    Collagen (balanced) production
•    Mast cell arrival
•    Mast cell degranulation (in the case of injury)
•    Macrophage arrival and activity
•    Fibroblast synthesis
•    ADP-ATP synthesis
•    Permeability of cell membrane to calcium uptake
•    Vasodilation (renewal of blood rich in oxygen)
•    Angiogenesis (improved tissue nutrition0
•    Systemic response

PAIN RELEIF:

•    Endorphin release
•    Seratonin – increase in metabolisation
•    Suppression of nociceptor activity
•    Effect on CNS (central nervous system) and PNS peripheral nervous system
•    Acupuncture point stimulation

LILT RESULTS IN:

•    Faster healing of damage
•    Considerable increase in tensile strength of repaired tissue
•    Balance of collagen production and reduction of scarring
•    Stimulation of the immune system
•    Resolution of infection
•    Pain relief
•    Acupuncture point stimulation
•    Preventive application


WHAT IS LILT USED FOR?

Clinical Applications:

Acupuncture

  • Distal and local point stimulation
  • Pain relief in short and long term
  • Enhanced therapeutic effect
  • Treatment of needle-phobic or sensitive patients
  • Treatment of children
  • Facial revitalisation

Pain management and rehabilitation

  • Soft tissue/sports injuries and joint conditions - including, sprains and strains, haematomas (bruising), acute backs and necks, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, capsulitis, Dupuytrens contracture, carpal tunnel, bursitis, tendinitis, tenosynovitis, sympathetic dystrophy
  • Chronic pain - including trigeminal neuralgia, post-herpetic neuralgia, brachial neuralgia, TMJ, chronic neck and back pain, metatarsalgia, ankylosing spondylitis, plantar fasciitis
  • Fractures - small bone, non-union, green stick, rib pain

Skin conditions

  • Acne
  • Eczema
  • Psoriasis
  • Herpes simplex
  • Cold sores
  • Cuts, grazes, blisters
  • Warts and verrucae
  • Shingles

For more information on LILT see: www.omegalaser.co.uk

For information on research into LILT see:

www.omegalaser.co.uk/resources_publications_research.html

John Amaro has written an interesting article on the Acupuncture Today site:

http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=32118




  Jamie Gisby - Acupuncture and Low Intensity Laser Therapy in:

Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cirencester and South Cerney.