Do you have a sprain or strain? You can definitely apply the principles of R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compress, elevate) to the injury. But if you want to speed up the healing process, we recommend laser therapy, which we also refer to as low-level laser therapy or cold laser.
Summus P4 laser therapy is an FDA-approved therapeutic treatment that manages pain and inflammation while accelerating tissue regeneration without side effects.
As a Summus P4 laser-certified provider, Evolve Wellness Centre utilizes a state-of-the-art Class IV therapeutic laser. This cold laser will help to facilitate faster healing times as well as a more complete recovery. Like chiropractic treatments, the goal of laser therapy is healing — not merely symptom relief.
Here’s how Summus P4 laser therapy works
These therapeutic lasers target damaged tissue with red and near-infrared wavelengths of light that help to heal tissue faster, including muscles, skin and nerves. Laser energy increases blood and lymphatic circulation, drawing water, oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area, while activating cell processes to remove the injured cells, waste products and promote rebuilding. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasm, stiffness and pain.
We see excellent results at Evolve Wellness Centre when using cold laser therapy for both acute and chronic conditions that include (in alphabetical order):
- Arthritis/degenerative discs/joints
- Bruises/contusions
- Bursitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Edema/tissue and joint inflammation
- Fibromyalgia
- Foot and heel pain
- Headaches/migraines
- Hip pain
- Knee issues
- Low back pain/sciatica
- Muscle spasms/trigger points
- Neck pain
- Nerve and disc pain
- Plantar fasciitis/bunion pains
- Post-surgical therapy
- Scars and scar tissue
- Sports injuries
- Sprains and/or strains
- TMJ/sinus trouble
Science and research
During laser therapy, infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level, increasing metabolic activity within the cell. Improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane stimulates cellular energy production. The cascade of beneficial effects that follows includes increased cellular function and tissue repair.
More than 1,200 studies conducted over 40 years worldwide have shown the powerful therapeutic benefits of high power laser therapy. These findings include:
- Acute pain: diminished more than 70%
- Chronic pain: diminished more than 60%
- Chronic low back pain: treatment effective in 71% of cases; pain eliminated completely in 45%
- Wounds: 55% greater healing on day 8, as compared to placebo group
- Knee injury: improved knee flexion and pressure sensitivity after every treatment
Summus P4 laser therapy is administered by Evolve Wellness Centre’s highly skilled chiropractor using a handheld device the size of a flashlight. The laser is placed directly over the injured area for anywhere from 30 seconds to 9 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated and the treatment plan. In addition, because our laser considers melanin in the skin, it is adaptable to all six skin phototypes, thereby providing the best treatment protocol.
FAQs
Most patients report a warm, relaxing sensation. They generally experience no side effects immediately or recovery period. In very acute cases there may be a slight increase in inflammation and discomfort post treatment, indicating tissue repair is occurring.
Many patients report pain relief in as little as one treatment, and most are able to resume normal daily activities with no pain and restricted movement after their therapy plan is completed.
The Summus P4 laser is a Class IV laser therapy using red and near-infrared wavelengths of laser light to induce a therapeutic effect at a cellular level that results in:
- Increased circulation
- Decreased swelling and inflammation
- Reduced pain
- Enhanced tissue repair
At Evolve’s clinic in Vancouver, laser treatments are administered by a chiropractor certified and trained in Summus P4 laser therapy, using a hand-held device the size of a flashlight. The laser is placed directly over the injured area for anywhere from 30 seconds to 9 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated and the treatment plan.
The number of sessions will depend on your diagnosis, age and overall health status, among other factors. In general, acute conditions can be treated more frequently and require typically four to six visits. Chronic conditions may require more visits,and include chiropractic adjustments as part of the treatment plan. While the effects of laser treatments are cumulative, a majority of our patients experience significant pain relief and improved function very quickly.
