Cold laser therapy Ottawa

    Contact us today to schedule an appointment

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    We usually respond within one business day. If you’ve messaged us outside of normal business hours, we will be happy to help you once we’re back. Please note that no bookings are final until we have reserved a time slot using your credit card.

    Hours of operation

    Monday to Thursday: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
    Friday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
    Saturday: Appointment only
    Sunday: Closed

    Please be aware of our cancellation policy.

    Low level laser therapy (LLLT)

    LLLT is a light therapy that uses lasers to help improve tissue repair while reducing pain and inflammation wherever the beam is applied. It’s a non-invasive, pain-free treatment for musculoskeletal conditions that emits no heat, sound, or vibration, and is safe, effective, and virtually side-effect free.

    Usually administered by a physiotherapist, treatments take about 10–15 minutes and should be applied two or more times a week.

    LLLT is used to:

    • Treat chronic injuries
    • Reduce pain and inflammation
    • Improve the effectiveness of complementary treatments
    • Accelerate repair and promote regeneration of both tissue and nerves
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    What can low level laser
    therapy treat?

    LLLT has been shown to provide significant effects for pain relief, accelerated tissue repair and regeneration, and reduction of pain and inflammation. It can help in conditions such as:

    • Plantar fasciitis
    • Hip or shoulder bursitis
    • Shoulder impingements
    • Lymphedema symptoms
    • Tendonitis and tennis elbow
    • Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
    • Low back disc degeneration, disc herniation and sciatica

    How does LLLT work?

    The red and near-infrared light commonly used in LLLT can be produced by laser or high intensity LEDs. The strength is fairly low compared to similar devices (like surgical lasers) and there is no heating effect. Hot lasers in the medical world are used for surgical precision while the cold lasers we use in our physiotherapy clinic are used for healing precision.

    When the laser is applied to the tissue, an interaction between your cells and the photons from the laser takes place — a photochemical reaction. The cold laser photons enter the tissue, alter cell membrane permeability, and at the cellular level are absorbed in the mitochondria of the cell creating physiological changes.

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    Benefits of LLLT

    In addition to the benefits outlined above, studies have shown LLLT to help with:

    • Pain reduction — both chronic and acute
    • Accelerating cellular reproduction and growth
    • Faster wound healing — the laser stimulates fibroblast development in damaged tissue and reduces recovery time
    • Increased metabolic activity — it helps the body increase output of specific enzymes, provide more oxygen to blood cells and a more effective immune response
    • Reduced formation of scar tissue following tissue damage from cuts, scratches, burns, or after surgery
    • Anti-inflammatory action — reduces swelling caused by bruising or inflammation of joints and improves joint mobility
    • Increased vascular activity — stimulates lymph and blood circulation so the affected tissue has the best possible circulation
    • Stimulated nerve function — slow recovery of nerve function in damaged tissue can result in “dead” limbs or numb areas. LLLT speeds the process of nerve cell reconnection to bring the numb areas back to life
    • The improved nerve function from laser therapy results in better, more efficient contraction and relaxation of your muscle fibre

    Does LLLT have side effects?

    Because LLLT is as safe as it is effective, there are no known long-term side effects of this form of light therapy. Other than not shining the laser’s red or infrared light directly into your eyes, there are no known red flags or adverse side effects from using LLLT. Because the light emitted does not cause your skin to burn, there is no risk of pain except under certain conditions.

    What are the contraindications?

    There are people with certain health conditions or disorders that should speak to their doctor before using LLLT, as there could be some risks. Low-level laser therapy should generally not be used over:

    • Thyroid
    • Tattoos
    • Malignant tumours — with a physician’s permission, LLLT is commonly used to treat cancer side effects, or for pain relief during the final terminal stage of the illness
    • Developing foetuses — while there’s no evidence to suggest that LLLT during pregnancy is harmful, there isn’t enough research and evidence yet to suggest otherwise
    • Eyes — just as you shouldn’t look directly into the sun, you shouldn’t shine a laser directly into your eyes. You’ll be given a pair of tinted safety glasses to wear during your LLLT session
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    Contact us today to schedule an appointment

    Frequently asked questions

    LLLT is a pain-free treatment. You may feel a slight warming sensation in the area the laser is applied or slight tingling due to nerves being stimulated — but this will disappear shortly after your treatment is completed.