Low Level Laser Therapy, or LED light therapy, improves tissue repair (skin wounds, muscle, tendon, bone, nerves), reduces inflammation and reduces pain wherever the beam is applied. Usually applied by a doctor, therapist or technician, treatments typically take 1–10 minutes and should be applied two or more times a week.
Schedule an Appointment
If you are suffering from a condition that low level laser therapy can help cure, or alleviate, call us at (815) 570-1590, or click the button below.
How Low Level Laser Therapy Works
During a treatment with Low Level Laser Therapy, the laser beam interacts with the tissue at the cellular level. When the light is absorbed, it generates multiple physiological reactions such as rapid cell growth — extremely important for healing wounds. Low Level Laser Therapy also creates an anti-inflammatory reaction and reduces the swelling of joints which significantly improve range of motion.
Since there is virtually no sensation while applying the laser it is an excellent modality for treating pain in patients who may be afraid of needles. Low Level Laser Therapy is also an excellent and effective treatment option for those who seek to quit smoking.
In addition to Low Level Laser Therapy, a wide range of other Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques are offered at the Center. Learn about our other treatments »
Conditions Treated by Low Level Laser Therapy
- Minor Injuries and Sprains
- Inflammation
- Aches and Pains
- Skin Rejuvenation
- Wound Healing
Schedule an Appointment
If you are suffering from a condition that can be helped by low level laser therapy, or if you’d like to learn more, please call us at (708) 387-2058, or click the button below to set up an appointment.
The Art of Natural Healing
Oriental Medicine focuses on strengthening and activating the body’s mechanism for healing itself. By using acupuncture, herbal remedies, supplements, and other techniques, the body will be triggered into repairing damage and will heal itself, thus achieving a state of balance. We are always delighted when we see patients progress from a state of imbalance — experiencing physical or emotional pain — to a place where they feel much better after only a few acupuncture treatments!
More about Low Level Light Therapy
Photomedicine is the “application of red and near infrared radiation over compromised areas such injuries, arthritic joints and lower back and neck pain to stimulate healing and relieve pain” without sensation or side effects. THOR has developed its protocol, training and medical equipment over 15 years, gained with use in 77 countries. We work closely with the leading academics in this field; our customers include many UK and US Hospitals, the US military and several Olympic teams, which has led to the completion of the prescription protocols for pain relief for the General Practitioner. And as a key support for general practitioners where the control and cost of treatment will remain in the domain of the Patients own Doctor.
Healing with the use of light is not new. Light therapy was reported to be effective for many conditions by Hippocrates. With the development of the laser and its special properties, using light as a treatment has gained more popularity. This is because we can now use specific wavelengths of light and jive accurately measured doses of energy directly to the appropriate treatment site, which was not possible with other light sources.
Low-level lasers supply energy to the body in the form of non-thermal photons of light. Light is transmitted through the skin’s layers (the dermis, epidermis and the subcutaneous tissue or tissue fat under the skin) at all wavelengths in the visible range, However, light waves in the near infrared ranges penetrate the deepest of all light waves in the visible spectrum. Then low-level laser light waves penetrate deeply into the skin, they optimize the immune responses of our blood. This has both anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. It is a scientific fact that light transmitted to the blood in this way has positive effects throughout the whole body, supplying vital oxygen and energy to every cell.
Almost everyone knows that Vitamin D is called “the sunshine vitamin.” We all know the difference between a suntan and a sunburn. Unlike surgical lasers, low-level laser therapy units do not produce heat or damage tissue. The light from the laser, however, is absorbed by special cellular components or modulates biochemical activity within the body to produce its beneficial effects. In much the same way that plants in photosynthesis use light, humans and animals also have the ability to take advantage of the healthful effects that light has to offer.
What to expect
For most people, laser therapy is quite passive. There are no creams, gels or ointments that need to be applied prior to treatment. No pulsating shocks are felt as in forms of electric stimulation. The most notable sensation is the pressure of the probe head of the laser as it comes in contact with the skin.
Some patients (3-5% of those undergoing light therapy) have reported a slight tingling or tapping in a nerve or along a nerve pathway. Some have noted that they are able to sense a slight feeling of warmth. But for the most part, the treatment, which may last from 2 to 20 minutes, is not noticed at all.
Following (and even during) a laser therapy session, approximately 75-80% of patients being treated can notice an immediate improvement in their condition. This will depend primarily on the type of condition and the length of time the condition has been present.
Generally, the more chronic or severe the condition, the longer it takes to respond. The majority of conditions treated will take anywhere from 4-5 or 10-18 treatments. Once again, the number of treatments depends upon the severity of the condition and its duration. There are some conditions that will never completely resolve but can be helped and maintained with laser therapy. If your condition does not change immediately, it may take 3-4 sessions before a dramatic or marked change is perceived.