When learning about laser technology, there are some basic concepts that should be understood. A laser is a focused beam of light that emits photon energy. When the light is focused properly, all of the photons are traveling in the same direction and at the same wavelength; this is also known as coherent light. When light is not focused, it scatters in all directions and becomes diffused. This is called non-coherent light.
Beams of Light
We use lasers to listen to our favorite music CDs, to measure distances, temperature and speed. Even though Einstein was the first to talk about the idea of beams of light, our bodies have been using the same kind of energy to communicate since man was created. As documented in James Oschaman's book Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis, cells communicate to one another through coherent light.
What is a TRUE Laser?
The Erchonia Laser is a TRUE LASER, fully compliant to the definitions set forth by those great men of science such as Bose and Einstein who predicted LASER in 1924 and the contemporary physicists Schawlow and Townes who brought LASER into the modern age. LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by stimulated Emission of Radiation. Light created in this way, is then culminated and directed into an intense beam of coherent light through the use of cathode and anode reflecting components in order to produce a single stable frequency. According to Webster's Dictionary, Lasers are coherent or marked by logical consistency. The Erchonia laser meets all the scientifically defined attributes of a laser and is therefore classified as a TRUE laser. We assure and maintain this classification, through our unique and patented process, which produces the emission of coherent light, generated at a precise and stable frequency, and in a focused direction.
Low Level Lasers
Low Level Lasers are different than more publicized heat lasers that are used in many surgical procedures to cut, and cauterized tissue. Low Level Lasers do not have a thermal effect and are used to stimulate, rather than destroy tissue. These types of lasers have been in use for over 25 years and there has yet to be one recorded side-effect. Low Level Laser studies have been done and have proven to be effective in many cases, but it was Erchonia laser that made history by becoming the first low-level laser in the world to gain FDA market clearance for the treatment of chronic neck and shoulder pain. This was proven through two double-blind studies to prove the efficacy of the Erchonia laser on chronic pain
How It Works:
Many theories exist as to the mechanism of action for Low Level Laser Therapy but simply put, photonic energy is absorbed by the photo acceptor sites on the cell membrane. The Erchonia lasers emit visible coherent light that is applied to affected area. Bundles of light energy pass through the dermal layers, and are received within the cell membrane by specific energy photo acceptors. The increase in intra-cellular energy results in altered cell membrane permeability and physiological changes occur through an enzyme cascade to affect several biological processes. Within the injured musculoskeletal tissue, low-level laser light initiates increased microcirculation and enhanced tissue regeneration. The overall effects are decreased pain and inflammation including increased range of motion.
There are 2 basic styles for treatment using cold lasers, pinpoint treatments (laserpuncture) and broad coverage of a damaged area. Each treatment style has a different goal that requires different equipment.
Laser Puncture Therapy
In a Laser Puncture treatment, the cold laser is used similar to acupuncture or acupressure to trigger a reaction from the body by stimulating an acupoint. In this case, a probe set or focused low level laser is used to concentrate all the energy from the cold laser into a very small area. Cold lasers are often compared to "acupuncture with a laser beams". In LLL laserpuncture treatments, the laser beam is use to trigger the body's acupoints without the fear or pain of needles. The energy from the laser may penetrate as deep as 5 inches into the body based on the setup of the laser.
Broad Treatment Therapy
In many cases, a practitioner may not be targeting a trigger point, they will choose to use a cold laser to engergize a larger area of the body. In this case, a cold laser with a broad focus (larger than the size of a dime) and the correct wavelength are used to penetrate the deep tissue with photons to accelerate natural healing in a large area. These large emitter can cover areas up to 4.6 inches. The larger treatment area increase the chances of stimulating the "hotspots" that need healing the most. Larger Emitters also reduce the treatment time.
