How does soft laser therapy work?
Research in 1947 has shown that the mitochondria of cells in our bodies are photosensitive. Mitochondria of different cells respond differently to light of different wavelengths. From the light spectrum, red (e.g., 660nm) and infrared (e.g., 808nm) light have the strongest healing effects. The photo acceptor (light-absorbing) molecules of the energy-absorbing cells will be activated by the soft laser light and will be able to activate another molecule thus initiating chemical reactions in the surrounding cells and tissues.
It is crucial that laser light acts at the cellular level so it reaches the patient or the malfunctioning cells and optimizes their functioning there.
Functioning mechanism of Safe Laser
- Mitochondria produces ATP, which requires oxygen.
- The cytochrome-c oxidase enzyme transports oxygen across the membrane.
- In case of inflammation or disease the mitochondria produces NO, which binds to cytochrome c oxidase, displacing oxygen. ⇒ Decreases ATP production, reactive oxygen ⇒ Oxidative stress (inflammation) ⇒ Cell death…
- Laser light activates cytochrome c oxidase ⇒ releases NO ⇒ can deliver oxygen ⇒ starts ATP production and reduces oxidative stress ⇒ cell works healthy
Why are lasers being effective for so many diseases?
The reason is that they work at cellular level. Laser light induces the light-sensitive molecules in our cells, thereby optimizing the oxygen supply to mitochondria, improving cellular respiration, which increases energy (ATP) production. In recent decades, Sports physicians have used soft lasers mainly to treat sports injuries, but recent research shows that laser treatment is extremely effective in other areas as well. Soft laser exerts a biostimulation effect on living organisms. This means that cells and tissues are able to regenerate faster when enlightened with soft laser light (e.g.: wound healing is accelerated). Laser light increases the metabolism of cells, and even new cells, tissues, and new capillaries are formed.
To sum it up, laser light stimulates the body’s ability to heal itself.
Processes during laser treatment
- ATP production is increased
- Chain reaction of the immune system
- Connective tissue and epithelial cell growth
- Improving cell membrane functions
- Increased serotonin and endorphin synthesis
Therapeutic effects of Safe laser treatment:
Enhancing endurance
It improves muscle performance, delays the development of muscle fatigue and reduces lactic acid concentration.
Increased metabolism
Laser radiation also has a serious effect on individual blood cells. Laser light significantly increases the oxygen and nutrient carrying capacity of red blood cells. This allows for increased energy production, metabolism, and thus regeneration of cells and more efficient production of certain enzymes. The effect can be felt through the whole body, not just in areas treated with laser light.
Performance improvement It improves the mitochondrial function of muscle cells, promotes a more efficient oxygen supply. It also improves blood supply to muscles, increases microcirculation and nutrient supply.
Improved blood circulation
Soft-laser therapy significantly promotes the formation of new capillaries (tiny blood vessels) in damaged tissues. More capillaries can deliver more blood to the damaged areas, which speeds up healing and regeneration processes, so wounds heal faster and scar formation is reduced.
Pain relief
The pain relief effect of laser therapy is based on several biological processes:
It blocks the transmission of pain stimuli between the injured body part and the brain. This reduces nerve sensitivity and significantly reduces pain sensation.
Reduces inflammation and swelling in the injured part of the body. These not only have a role in relieving pain, but also in promoting healing. They have an important role in relieving pain and promoting healing.
It increases the production and release of endorphins and enkephalins, which are natural pain relief chemicals in our body, thus reducing the sensation of pain.
Regeneration
It promotes faster regeneration of muscles and ligaments. Accelerates the breakdown of lactic acid, reduces the rate of muscle fever.
Reducing inflammation
Laser therapy opens (dilates) smaller arteries and lymphatic vessels. This increased vasodilation allows the fluid accumulation that causes swelling (edema) to leave the affected areas successfully. Enlargement of the lymphatics also improves lymphatic circulation, which promotes this vital healing process. This biological mechanism explains why bruising heals instantaneously with laser therapy.
Increased nerve functioning
- After injury, laser therapy accelerates the regeneration of neural connections, reducing the time it takes for nerves to heal.
- In addition, it enhances the strength of signals transmitted through nerve fibers, which generally improves nerve and muscle function.
These two processes explain why laser therapy is so effective in relieving the symptoms of nerve injuries (sharp pain, numbness, tingling, burning sensation).
Increased tissue regeneration and cell growth
The photons emitted by therapeutic lasers enter deep into the tissues of our body and stimulate the energy production centers (mitochondria) of each cell. This process allows cells to absorb nutrients and excrete waste products more quickly. Therefore, damaged tissues regenerate faster, which helps the tendon, ligament, and muscles to heal.
Faster wound healing
Laser therapy stimulates the production of broblasts, which are necessary building blocks for collagen production. Collagen is the essential protein that is essential for the regeneration of old tissues and the healing of damaged tissues. Due to the collagen production-enhancing effect of laser therapy, it is extremely effective in treating open wounds and burns.
Improving immune processes
The photons of laser light are directly absorbed by the chromophores (color-carrying molecular enzymes in the cells) that are found in most cells in our body. Absorption of laser light activates certain enzymatic processes that trigger the production of ATP. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the only and most important form of energy that drives all chemical reactions in every cell in the body. Increased energy production results in faster, more efficient function and regeneration, especially for immune-specific cells. This increased effectiveness helps the immune system to defeat unwanted microbes and pathogens.
Scar tissue formation is reduced
Laser therapy reduces the formation of excessive scar tissue (fibrous connective tissue) after cuts, burns and surgeries, as it improves the blood supply to the injured area, helps to effectively remove waste products and therefore speeds up the healing process. Faster healing always results in less scar tissue formation.
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation of sports injuries: an important physiological effect of laser light is to reduce inflammation, swelling and edema due to traumatic injuries. It also effectively alleviates acute and chronic pain. Another beneficial effect is the healing of epithelial injuries, postoperative wounds, bone fractures, ligament and muscle tears.
It speeds up the healing time of sports injuries, improves the effectiveness of rehabilitation and reduces the chance of another injury.
Over the past 50 years, a number of clinical studies and clinical trials have been conducted that have supported the beneficial effects of soft laser treatments.The following list summarizes the more widely studied and known biological processes:
- Pain relief
- Reduction of inflammation and swelling
- Faster wound healing
- Increased tissue regeneration and cell growth
- Improved blood circulation
- Increased metabolism
- Increased nerve function
- Excessive scar tissue formation is reduced
- Improving immune processes
US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health: Biological Effects of Low Level Laser Therapy – Farivar S, Malekshahabi T, Shiari R. Biological Effects of Low Level Laser Therapy. J Lasers Med Sci 2014;5(2):58-62
Comparison of phototherapy devices
Contraindications
DO NOT treat painful areas of unknown origin!
- Safe Laser devices can be used on examined patients and on their diseases which were diagnosed by a doctor.
- Only a competent person over the age of 18 can use the lasers!
- For infants and young children, do not use the method of lighting the nostril due to the relatively strong light, which can irritate the eyes!
- With pregnant women, the abdomen and the nostril and with infants, the irradiation of soft spot is prohibited due to the (possibly dangerous) increase in vascular congestion !!!
- Do not use the device on people with severe blood clotting problems!
- Do not light: the area of malignant tumors, the area of the thyroid gland and breast, and the fungal skin areas.
- Direct light of coloured moles can be dangerous as it is considered a cancer-preventing condition.
Do not intentionally use lasers in the eyes and around the eyes!
Safe Laser videos
Function, biostimulation effect and the history of Soft Laser
Dr. Mester Ádám (PhD. National Institute of Rheumatology and Physiotherapy)
Treating joints with Safe Laser
Dr. Mester Ádám (PhD. National Institute of Rheumatology and Physiotherapy)
Otolaryngology:
Dr. Fülöp Györgyi (Otolaryngologist and Audiologist)
Orthopaedic use of Safe Laser:
Dr. Rodler Endre (Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery – Semmelweis University)
