How do medical low energy lasers (LLLT) work?
Low level energy laser is a powerful, safe and non-invasive treatment available in both veterinary and human medicine.
Medical low level energy lasers have gained popularity in recent years as veterinarians discover its benefits for pets. Used in the same way as acupuncture, massage and other alternative therapies, laser therapy can be used in combination with or in place of medication to manage pain, inflammation and wound healing. Developments are advancing and we can now offer low level energy lasers for home use.
With PowerCure Pro, you can treat your horse at home in the comfort of your stable.
LLLT has positive biological effects on tissue and only affects damaged cells, whereas higher energy lasers are harmful to both healthy and damaged cells. LLLT affects tissues at the cellular level by stimulating damaged cell membranes and internal structures.
Low energy laser treatment with PowerCure Pro can:
- Relieve pain by stimulating the release of beta-endorphins, stabilizing nerve cells, relaxing muscles and raising pain thresholds
- Reduce inflammation and increase blood circulation and lymph flow
- Accelerate tissue repair and cell renewal
- Improve circulation in damaged tissue by stimulating the formation of new capillaries and by causing dilation of blood vessels
How do medical low level energy lasers differ from PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy)?
PEMF and medical low-energy lasers are two different types of therapies for different conditions. Lasers are better suited for targeting specific parts of the body such as injuries and acupressure points while PEMF is more of a whole body therapy. Medical low level energy lasers have pain-relieving effects that are not found with PEMF and are superior for treating both acute injuries and chronic pain.
Important things to consider before treatment
- Wear protective glasses:
Always wear protective glasses when using lasers. Your PowerCure Pro comes with approved safety glasses. Regardless of the class of laser, including touch pen lasers – Never look directly into any laser, point it at or near the eyes of humans or animals - Do not use PowerCure if:
- The animal has cancer or a history with the disease.
- The issue appears around the thyroid gland
- The animal is pregnant.
- The complaints appear around or in the eyes.
- Consult with a doctor or veterinarian before use. We recommend that you consult with your doctor or veterinarian before administering medical laser treatments.
- Do not perform the treatment over cloths. Lenders or bandage as the composition and colour of these materials vary and will absorb some of the laser light making the treatment less effective or even causing heat. Hold the PowerCure Pro perpendicular to the treatment surface.
Is any formal training required to use medical lasers like PowerCure Pro?
PowerCure Pro is a class 3B laser. It does not require any formal training like a class 4 laser does. However, there are instructional articles and videos online.
Treatment options
-
Bursitis and synovitis
- Inflammation of the joints
- Open, closed, infected and clean wounds
- Dermatitis
- Late ligament strains and injuries
- General swelling and hematoma
- Muscle bruising, irritation, tension and cramps
- Lymphangitis
- Strain injuries
- Healing of fractures
- Post-operative pain relief and wound healing
- Arthritis
- Back pain, spondylosis, disc disease and hip dysplasia
Preparing for treatment
It is always wise to consider why laser therapy is justified for this specific condition before starting a treatment. However, it is important to know that there are no side effects and that cells that function normally are not affected.
The surrounding environment should be relaxed with pleasant lighting. The skin and coat must be clean and free of materials that can absorb the light (dust, dirt, lotions and ointments). Wounds must be cleaned before laser therapy is applied. The horse should be placed in a comfortable position that allows you to access the area to be treated. When treating near the head or when there is minimal risk of exposure to the eyes, eye protection for the horse should be applied (goggles, black towel, or black cloth).
During treatment, the horse should not feel any thermal discomfort, or excessive heat on the skin, coat or hair. Feedback from the horse is essential. Since it is not possible to instruct the horse to tell the user of the laser if they feel discomfort or heat during the treatment, the user must look for signs from the horse that indicate they are comfortable. By all means be careful not to use too high of a power level on especially dark skin, coats and hair. If the animal expresses any discomfort, the energy level should be reduced.
Which mode is best, pulsating or constant?
We have found that pulsed mode is best for arthritic or old and chronic injuries while continuous is for fresh and acute injuries.
What kind of penetration or treatment depth do you get with the different settings?
808nm laser beams can penetrate to 4-6 cm depth approximately. 650nm laser beams reach about 2-3 cm depth.
Is the energy level adjustable?
Yes, the energy of the PowerCure Pro is adjustable. There are 3 levels:
Level 1 – shallow, level 2 – medium, level 3 – deep
Delivering the right dose to the tissue is the key to successful laser therapy treatment. An insufficient dose will have little or no effect at all. Too much exposure can inhibit healing and worsen the condition. It is therefore important to choose the right settings.
Healthy cells and tissues can be treated with almost any dose of laser therapy with few, if any, noticeable side effects. However, diseased or damaged cells and tissues absorb photon energy much more readily than healthy cells. This should not be interpreted as “just going for it”. Therefore, follow the recommended settings
| Position | Power mode / Energy mode |
|---|---|
| Surface wounds | 1 |
| Surface pain | 1-2 |
| Acute deep pain | 2-3 |
| Chronic deep pain | 3 |
Different techniques
Spot treatment technique
Spot treatment is performed by moving the laser from point to point by 1 – 2 cm between every 30-60 seconds. When treating wounds and eczema, the laser should be kept at a distance of 1 cm from the skin. When the skin is reached just outside the area of injury, the laser optic can be gently pressed on the skin again.
Scanning technology
The scanning technique is used when treating the area around the target, when treating larger areas and especially when treating areas with dark skin, dark hair follicles or pigmentation. The process is performed by pressing the PowerCure optics against the skin, while the laser is moving in rectangular or circular movements on and around the affected area.
TIP: Regardless of the treatment technique used, always drag or place your finger next to the lens when treating. This allows for easy temperature monitoring of the tissue being treated.
Treatment
How long does each treatment take?
The treatment time really depends on what you are treating. But an average of 15-30 minutes daily seems to work well. We like to hold the PowerCure Pro on one spot for 30-60 seconds and then move it to the next area and continue until we have done this three times on each spot within the treatment area. You can also use a “scanning technique” where you keep the PowerCure Pro moving and move it over the treatment area. Start on the outside of a wound, or on the top or bottom of a tendon, and work your way around the area. Repeat this process until you have achieved the desired treatment time. Most treatments are from 5-30 minutes.
How often should I treat?
Acute condition: daily treatment until significant clinical response is observed. Then treat less frequently until the condition is resolved.
Chronic condition: treat 2-3 times/week for several sessions until a clinical response is observed. Then treat less frequently until therapeutic goal is achieved. Finally, maintenance treatments to maintain results.
The effect varies, so keep using your PowerCure PRO. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us
Asked questions
Since ringworm is a degenerative disease for which there is no cure, laser treatments would not “cure” ringworm. The laser could likely help reduce the inflammation that causes the pain. Research has shown that it reduces the cells and enzymes responsible for causing inflammation and increases antioxidant anti-inflammatory enzymes.
PowerCure Pro helps to promote healing as well as reduce inflammation, which causes pain. Low-energy lasers can promote tissue regeneration, wound healing and muscle recovery. It reduces inflammation and relieves pain and stimulates the growth of new blood vessels. LLLT is used in injury rehabilitation – and specifically for joint injuries – because of its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
Yes. Medical low level lasers can work on acupressure points and joints, reducing inflammation and pain.
Medical low-energy lasers reduce inflammation and the pain associated with it.
Medical lasers like PowerCure improve microcirculation and metabolism in the treatment area, increasing blood flow to the damaged tissues. In addition, the laser further promotes wound healing by increasing the tensile strength of the tissue.
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