The word LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

The human body absorbs and utilizes light emitted from the Soft Laser in the same way the chain of phtosynthesis reaction in plants uses light quanta. The basic principle is that the energy in a soft laser beam can be incorporated into the natural processes of the living body. Coherent monochromatic red light emitted at a wavelength is absorbed very well by the tissues, as the optimum photoelectric effect occurs in this range of spectrum.

Laser therapy is the use of a laser beam to treat an injury to a soft tissue such as a ligament, tendon or muscle. A low intensity laser beam reduces pain, inflammation and swelling, and promotes healing of the damaged tissue. It works by increasing the flow of blood and lymph through tissue, and by reducing the production of prostaglandin, which is a chemical released in response to an injury that causes pain and inflammation. A laser produces a concentrated beam of radiation which is focused onto the area of damaged tissue from a hand-held treatment probe.

Laser is the most modern form of therapy. Low power laser is quickly becoming the first line of attack in pain control and tissue healing in rehabilitation medicine. It is safe, painless, quick, easy to apply, and results are often immediate with no side effects. Low power lasers are not harmful. Lasers used for tissue stimulation do not have sufficient strength to damage cells. Lasers stimulate biological processes. When laser light interacts with tissue, it causes certain photochemical reactions to occur, and stimulates natural biologic processes.

Laser therapy speeds up recovery from a recent injury to a ligament, tendon or muscle. It reduces pain and swelling and promotes healing. It can also be used to treat an old injury in one of these structures. Injury to a muscle leaves behind residual scar tissue which causes the muscle to shorten and work less efficiently. Laser can help break down this scar tissue, allowing exercises to be done to stretch the muscle to it's normal length and thereby reducing the risk of further strain and tear.

There are hundreds of different types of lasers. They can be manufactured as high power and low level lasers. Laser light can be of any color, or it can be invisible. The laser beam can be made small and parallel, or divergent.

There are many different types of medical lasers. Two main groups stand out:

High Power Lasers: they are used to cut, coagulate and evaporate tissues. These lasers are often called surgical lasers because they can replace the scalpel of the surgeon.

Low Level Lasers: they can be used for the stimulation of cell function. They are also called bio-stimulating lasers or Low Intensity Lasers. Their biological effect is not thermal, as is the case with surgical lasers.

The pure light of the lasers causes photochemical reactions in the cells. Laser light photons are absorbed by antenna pigments (chromophores) within the cells. This induces increased production of cellular energy (ATP) which leads to normalization of cell function, pain relief and healing. The effect of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is especially striking in areas of the body where cells are under stress; it sometimes borders on the miraculous.