Study shows that Cold Laser Therapy helps Chronic Neck Pain Sufferers

A new Australian study appeared in the journal Lancet shows that using cold laser therapy to treat chronic neck pain can be very effective.

Low-level laser therapy, also known as LLLT involves using a laser's light to stimulate tissue repair and ease pain. Lead researcher Roberta Chow of the Brain and Mind Research Institute at Australia's University of Sydney carried out an overview of 16 randomized trials that put this increasingly popular procedure to the test. 820patients were enrolled in the trials and divided into two groups: one that received either the therapy or other one that received a dummy treatment.

In five trials, the researchers found that patients given LLLT were around four times more likely to have reduced pain compared with a placebo. In the 11 other trials, for which there was a detailed analysis of pain symptoms, LLLT patients reported reductions of chronic pain by around 20 points on a scale of 100 points. The pain reduction continued for up to 22 weeks.

LLLT compares favorably with other drugs and remedies for effectiveness and its side-effects are mild, says the study. The researchers further suggested that low level laser therapy be used in combination with an exercise program for neck pain as well.

Original article: Chow RT, Johnson MI, Lopes-Martins RA, Bjordal JM. “Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the management of neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo or active-treatment controlled trials.” Lancet. 2009 Dec 5;374(9705):1897-908.

Dr. David P. Chen
Chiropractor in Laurel, Maryland
Laurel Regional Chiropractic
http://www.laurelregionalchiropractic.com/

Good art decreases pain. Bad art, not so much.

A recent study from Consciousness and Cognition found that people looking at art they considered beautiful allowed them to distract themselves from a painful stimuli. They used a laser (not to be confused with the pain-relieving cold laser therapy available at most of our offices) and then directly measured brain waves activated when pain is occurring as well as the subjects opinion on the pain. Neutral or ugly art neither increased or decreased pain on average. Favorites as beautiful were "Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh and Botticellis "Birth of Venus", Picasso's work was often chosen as ugly. Interestingly, a few labelled Edward Munch's "The Scream" as beautiful, and noticed pain lessened while looking at it. As doctors focused on relieving pain, we are focused on any reasonable means of reducing pain, and there's certainly no harm in enjoying the art. In addition to encouraging people with pain to use art as a way of feeling better, it has other applications too. Men who are asked their opinion of china patterns, fabric swatches or paint samples could offer concrete evidence that they have absolutely no aesthetic preference. I would personally find this less painful than traditional alternatives. Art critics who claim an uncoventional art is beautiful could have their brain waves measured to see if they're telling the truth, or just being pretentious. If you've got a question on therapy for pain; conventional, unconventional or completely outside the box, feel free to ask any of our doctors.

Cold Laser Therapy, Fairfax VA

What is Cold Laser Therapy?
FDA approved Cold Laser Therapy, also known as Low Level Laser Therapy or Phototherapy, has been widely used by health care professionals for over thirty five years. In addition, this therapy has been the subject of numerous studies with over 3,500 scientific papers published worldwide.

Cold Laser Therapy is treatment that produces a beam of light in which high energies can be concentrated to a specific area. This laser light has unique physical properties, which no other ordinary light has. The unique properties of coherence and monochromaticity are the key to why laser light is so effective compared to other kinds of light in pain reduction and healing.

How it Works:
Cold Laser Therapy can strengthen and heal damaged cells. Using photochemical processes, laser light inserts bio-photons into damaged cells. The cells begin to produce energy (ATP), which improves their function, assists their division, strengthens the body's immune system, and causes the secretion of various hormones. The tissues are healed, and pain disappears. If damaged cells have died, the bio-photons help the division of neighboring cells, generating new tissues, and thus bring about healing.

Cold Laser Therapy:
• Promotes healing in many conditions by penetrating the skin, increasing the ATP and activating enzymes in targeted cells.
• Activates a growth factor response within the cells and tissues as a result of increased ATP and protein synthesis.
• Improves cell proliferation.
• Provides pain relief as a result of increased endorphin release.
• Strengthens the immune system response via increasing levels of lymphocyte activity.

Cold Laser Therapy is an Effective Treatment for:
Arthritis Pain Control
Inflammation Tendonitis
Sprains & Strains Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer's Elbow) Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)
Disc Herniations Minor Nerve Damage
Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder) Among Other Musculoskeletal Injuries...

For more information, please visit www.coldlasertherapies.com or consult with one of our health care professionals!