Laser & Ultrasound Therapy
Laser Therapy
For over forty years, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and LED (light emitting diode or photo biomodulation) has been shown to reduce inflammation and edema, induce analgesia, and promote healing in a range of musculoskeletal pathologies. Laser involves using light at a specific wavelength to help improve the healing process of injured tissues. The treatment is painless and usually lasts for approximately one to three minutes. It can be used in the treatment of chronic pain, inflammation, or wound healing.
The theory behind light therapy is that photons of light carry energy, and this energy applied to injured tissues can help improve cellular processes and speed healing or decrease pain.
Acute orthopedic conditions such as sprains, strains, post-surgical pain, a whiplash injury, muscular back pain, cervical or lumbar radiculopathy, tendinitis and chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, frozen shoulder, neck and back pain, epicondylitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinopathy, fibromyalgia, plantar fasciitis, post tibial fracture surgery and chronic regional pain syndrome are amenable to laser therapy.
There are a few precautions with laser therapy. Eye protection is required for both the patient and therapist, and laser should not be performed over malignancies, pacemakers, spinal stimulators or over the midsection of pregnant women. River Physio is equipped with Laser therapy and your Physiotherapist after careful assessment will set parameters such as wavelength, power, power density, pulse parameters, energy density, total energy and time for treating you based on your underlying conditions.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a deep heating treatment used to treat many musculoskeletal conditions like sprains, strains, or tendonitis. Ultrasound is administered by your physical therapist using an ultrasound machine. A wand called a sound head is pressed gently against your skin and moved in small circular sweeps near the site of injury. A small amount of gel is used so the ultrasound waves are absorbed into the skin and muscles.
Electrical stimulation
Electrical stimulation and TENS (transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation)3 is occasionally used in physical therapy to help decrease pain around injured tissue. There are two theories about how the stimulation works: the gate theory and the opiate theory. Other forms of electrical stimulation may be used to contract muscles. This is called neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and is used to help your injured muscles “relearn" how to function properly.
