What Is Cold Laser Therapy? (The Glowy Thing, Explained)

If you've caught the laser in one of our videos, you've probably wondered: what's the glowy thing? It's cold laser therapy, one of the treatments Dr. Currington uses at the clinic. Here's what it is, what a treatment looks like and where it fits.

What It Is

Cold laser therapy, also called low-level laser therapy, uses specific wavelengths of light. That light interacts with tissue, and it can help speed the healing process for a variety of conditions. Low-energy lasers are also commonly used to help relieve pain.

Why It's Called Cold

Cold laser therapy uses intensities that cause minimal warming of the tissue, if any. By definition, it raises the temperature of the tissue by no more than 0.1 to 0.5 degrees Celsius. That gentle, low level of energy is where the name comes from.

What a Treatment Looks Like

It starts with an exam, so Dr. Currington understands your condition and whether laser therapy is a good fit for it.

If it is, the handheld laser, about the size of a flashlight, is placed directly over the injured or sore area. It stays there for 30 seconds to several minutes. The time depends on the size of the area being treated and the dose the cold laser unit provides.

Nothing is injected or taken by mouth, so laser therapy can fit alongside the rest of your care.

What It's Used For

Cold laser therapy is widely used for:

• Acute and chronic pain
• Back pain
• Ligament sprains and muscle strains
• Soft tissue injuries
• Tendonitis, including tennis elbow
• Arthritis and bursitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia
• Wound healing

That list is what it's commonly used for, not a promise. Your exam shows whether it's right for you.

Can It Ease Pain Without Medication?

It may. Cold laser therapy is among a variety of approaches that can potentially ease pain symptoms without surgery or drugs. Dr. Currington can tell you how it fits with the rest of your care.

One Part of a Plan

Laser therapy is one of several approaches at the clinic that can help ease pain symptoms. It's usually one piece of a plan, alongside the other treatments your condition calls for, like chiropractic adjustments, physical rehab or dry needling.

That's also why two people with a sore shoulder might leave with different plans. The exam decides what goes in it, and the laser is only there if it makes sense for you.

Quick Answers

• Will it heat my skin? Very little, if at all.
• How long does it take? 30 seconds to several minutes over the area, depending on its size.
• Is anything injected? No. Nothing is injected or taken by mouth.
• Do I need an exam first? Yes. Every plan at the clinic starts with one.

Come Ask About It

If pain is slowing you down, book an exam and Dr. Currington will tell you whether laser therapy makes sense for you. You can also read more on our cold laser therapy page. Dallas Lifestyle Management Clinic is at 4228 N Central Expy, Suite 104, Dallas, TX 75206. Call (214) 520-1006.