Laser therapy is one of the widely used treatments for many ailments and illnesses. The technique of using the laser at an appropriate wavelength has given medical professionals and scientists new ways to treat patients with a wide range of health conditions. But very recently, therapeutic laser treatments are being used in mainstream veterinary medicine. The availability of clinical case studies, medical reports, and researches has proved the effectiveness of laser therapy for treatments like edema, lick granulomas, injuries, wounds, neurological conditions, osteoarthritis, and pain management.
Given how useful laser therapies are for animals, Virginia Beach veterinary clinic and hospitals are incorporating such treatment regimens for their patients.
Before exploring the benefits of laser therapy, let’s understand what it is and how it works.
What is LASER treatment?
LASER or “light amplification by stimulation emission of radiation” is a device that emits radiation of light energy in the form of photons.
Therapeutic lasers are used to control the functions of the cells through a process called photobiomodulation. In this process, the photons emitted from the laser device interact with the cells to stimulate them or inhibit biochemical pathways.
In laser therapy, what the type of tissue that will respond to it depends on the wavelength of laser light. Commonly, in therapeutic lasers, red and near-infrared light with the wavelength of 600-1070 nanometers is used. Recently, green, blue, and violet light with low wavelengths are becoming a preferred choice for the therapy. Beams of lower wavelengths get absorbed by tissue in the skin while high wavelength beams go deeper into the bone and muscles.
In laser therapy, the tissues get repaired by endorphin release, muscle relaxation, decreased inflammation, and vasodilation. In pets, laser therapy is used to reduce pain, inflammation and enhance healing.
Benefits of Therapeutic Laser
The advantage of laser therapy is most evident in tissues. The laser therapy has demonstrated its effectiveness in relieving acute and chronic pain by controlling peripheral nerve function and velocities. The laser treatment enhances the speed of cells and tissues recovery by stimulating the immune system and subsiding inflammation. Laser treatment also works towards increasing tissue development to speed up the recovery.
Laser therapy causes several tissue effects which are,
- Stimulation of nerve healing
- Reduced swelling from an injury
- Modulation of degenerative tissue changes
- Collagen synthesis which enhances wound healing
- Mitigation of CNS damage following traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury
- Neovascularization
- Angiogenesis
- Enhanced healing of tendons, cartilage, and bones
When creating a treatment protocol for therapeutic laser, it is essential to consider these effects to maximize patient outcomes. The actual time the tissue is exposed to light energy may also affect the outcome.
Specialists from veterinary clinic Virginia Beach recommend considering the effects as mentioned above of laser treatment when designing a treatment plan for the animal.
Such treatments are prescribed to pets who can’t take drugs or medicines due to liver conditions, exotic pets who can’t be administered antibiotics, or older pets.