What is Cold Laser Therapy & the History ?
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Cold laser ( or solf laser, LLLT ) is a kind of healing light. The word 'Laser' is an acronym that stand for "Light Amplification by Simulated Emission of Radiation". The technology of low intensity laser therapy has been in use worldwide over the past thirty years. However, in the last decade, it has made significant advances with regard to engineering, development of protocols and the effective treatment of many medical conditions. Although the theory behind laser technology was first described by Albert Einstein in his 1916 paper "Zur Quantum Theories der Straj;img", it wasn't until July 7th of 1960 that the first working model of a laser was presented by Theodore Maiman. Maiman used a ruby crystal with a mirror on one end and a half-mirror on the other to produced an intense millisecond beam of pure, visible red light that was capable, in that ultra-short time, of drilling a neat hole through a stack of razor blades. Ironically, the initial name of this technology was "Light Oscillation by Stimulated Emission of Radiation" which resulted in the unfortunate acronym "Loser".
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Eight years later, the first use of laser therapy in medicine was in the fields of ophthalmology and dermatology, but it was soon found that lasers could be used in many fields of medicine to treat a whole host of conditions.
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These applications increased in direct proportion to the development of other types of lasers, each with their own characteristic wavelength of light and their own particular absorption characteristics. In 1961, the helium-neon (HeNe) and neodymium-yttrium aluminum-garnet (YAG) lasers were developed. In 1962, the argon laser appeared, followed in 1964 by the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. In late 1964, semiconductor laser sources were being developed, including the first gallium arsenide laser chip.
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The ruby laser, with a visible red beam, is still primarily used in dermatology, along with the argon laser. The helium-neon, with a visible orange/red beam, is typically used as an aiming beam for the invisible light lasers and has gained fame as one of the most used laser systems until very recently. The aluminum-garnet also is used in LLLT, as its wavelength characteristics give it deep penetration.
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Conventional lasers produce heat and other effects in tissue which cause permanent changes in the irradiated tissue, such as cutting, vaporization and coagulation. This could be called high energy level treatment. Because it is being performed with a laser, it could also called high energy level laser treatment.
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It was discovered by Dr. Endre' Mester, the grandfather of what he termed 'laser biostimulations', that lower-powered beams could stimulate healing effects in tissues. Starting in 1968, Dr. Mester used several types of lasers at low power to study their effects on the way different cells and tissues behaved. This was followed with animal research in 1969, and in late 1969 he first published his, by now, well known work on the use of low-reactive level laser therapy -- Cold Laser Therapy -- to induce healing in non-healing or slow-to heal ulcers.
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In the late 1970s, the first commercially available therapeutic lasers appeared. They featured a helium-neon laser with a fiber-optic cable, were billed as "Soft Lasers", and were mostly used by cosmetologists. In the early 1980s, gallium arsenide lasers came onto the scene and have gained in popularity as the laser of choice. Each of these different laser types produce a unique wavelength of light, each with its own characteristic effect on the body. The newest generation lasers used in Cold Laser therapy often use a combination of technologies and wavelengths of light to maximize the benficial effects.
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What kind of disorders can be treated by Cold Laser ?
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Because Cold Laser Therapy is so effective at decreasing inflammation, while stimulating immune function and wound healing, it can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions.
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Is Cold Laser an Acupuncture Treatment ?
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No, this is the part that most people confused. Cold Laser therapy itself is not an acupuncture treatment, but if it is applied base on the theory of acupuncture 'acupoints' it can be called as 'Laser Acupuncture' and is the optimum acupuncture method for needle phobia. Otherwise the correct terms for laser therapy are Cold laser, Soft laser or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT).
*
Cold laser ( or solf laser, LLLT ) is a kind of healing light. The word 'Laser' is an acronym that stand for "Light Amplification by Simulated Emission of Radiation". The technology of low intensity laser therapy has been in use worldwide over the past thirty years. However, in the last decade, it has made significant advances with regard to engineering, development of protocols and the effective treatment of many medical conditions. Although the theory behind laser technology was first described by Albert Einstein in his 1916 paper "Zur Quantum Theories der Straj;img", it wasn't until July 7th of 1960 that the first working model of a laser was presented by Theodore Maiman. Maiman used a ruby crystal with a mirror on one end and a half-mirror on the other to produced an intense millisecond beam of pure, visible red light that was capable, in that ultra-short time, of drilling a neat hole through a stack of razor blades. Ironically, the initial name of this technology was "Light Oscillation by Stimulated Emission of Radiation" which resulted in the unfortunate acronym "Loser".
*
Eight years later, the first use of laser therapy in medicine was in the fields of ophthalmology and dermatology, but it was soon found that lasers could be used in many fields of medicine to treat a whole host of conditions.
*
These applications increased in direct proportion to the development of other types of lasers, each with their own characteristic wavelength of light and their own particular absorption characteristics. In 1961, the helium-neon (HeNe) and neodymium-yttrium aluminum-garnet (YAG) lasers were developed. In 1962, the argon laser appeared, followed in 1964 by the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. In late 1964, semiconductor laser sources were being developed, including the first gallium arsenide laser chip.
*
The ruby laser, with a visible red beam, is still primarily used in dermatology, along with the argon laser. The helium-neon, with a visible orange/red beam, is typically used as an aiming beam for the invisible light lasers and has gained fame as one of the most used laser systems until very recently. The aluminum-garnet also is used in LLLT, as its wavelength characteristics give it deep penetration.
*
Conventional lasers produce heat and other effects in tissue which cause permanent changes in the irradiated tissue, such as cutting, vaporization and coagulation. This could be called high energy level treatment. Because it is being performed with a laser, it could also called high energy level laser treatment.
*
It was discovered by Dr. Endre' Mester, the grandfather of what he termed 'laser biostimulations', that lower-powered beams could stimulate healing effects in tissues. Starting in 1968, Dr. Mester used several types of lasers at low power to study their effects on the way different cells and tissues behaved. This was followed with animal research in 1969, and in late 1969 he first published his, by now, well known work on the use of low-reactive level laser therapy -- Cold Laser Therapy -- to induce healing in non-healing or slow-to heal ulcers.
*
In the late 1970s, the first commercially available therapeutic lasers appeared. They featured a helium-neon laser with a fiber-optic cable, were billed as "Soft Lasers", and were mostly used by cosmetologists. In the early 1980s, gallium arsenide lasers came onto the scene and have gained in popularity as the laser of choice. Each of these different laser types produce a unique wavelength of light, each with its own characteristic effect on the body. The newest generation lasers used in Cold Laser therapy often use a combination of technologies and wavelengths of light to maximize the benficial effects.
*
What kind of disorders can be treated by Cold Laser ?
*
Because Cold Laser Therapy is so effective at decreasing inflammation, while stimulating immune function and wound healing, it can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions.
*
Is Cold Laser an Acupuncture Treatment ?
*
No, this is the part that most people confused. Cold Laser therapy itself is not an acupuncture treatment, but if it is applied base on the theory of acupuncture 'acupoints' it can be called as 'Laser Acupuncture' and is the optimum acupuncture method for needle phobia. Otherwise the correct terms for laser therapy are Cold laser, Soft laser or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT).
