Therapeutic Lasers
Watch the video above to learn about Therapeutic Lasers, and how I was able to help Dr. Kelvin Yee.
My pain was reduced in half the day after doing laser therapy — Kelvin
Timonium Foot and Ankle Center uses state of the art technologies including advanced laser technologies as an adjunctive therapy when treating foot and/or ankle injuries.
Dr. Stewart has been successfully using lasers since 2013 as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for his patients. The success rate with laser therapy at Timonium Foot and Ankle Center is approximately 85-90%. Many conditions that Dr. Stewart previously treated with invasive surgical procedures have been successfully treated with lasers. This has allowed patients to avoid surgical intervention and its associated risks and potential complications and prolonged recovery.
Lasers reduce pain, accelerate recovery, and promote the natural healing process. The treatment is pain free and there is no need to use medications. Laser therapy is a non-invasive (non-surgical) treatment.
The beneficial effects of laser therapy on tissues and cells include:
- Anti-inflammation
- Anti-pain (Analgesic)
- Accelerated Tissue Repair and Cell Growth
- Improved Vascular Activity
- Increased Metabolic Activity
- Reduction of Scar Tissue Formation
How do lasers work?
Photons of light emitted from the laser penetrate deeply into the tissue. This result in vasodilation (opening/widening) of the blood vessels and aids in activating the lymphatic system (drainage system). As a result, pain improves as the inflammatory mediators that cause pain are drained away from the site of injury and swelling decreases as the fluid is reduced from the improved function of the lymphatic (drainage) system. Lasers stimulate fibroblast, which produce collagen. Collagen is the essential protein required to repair soft tissue injuries such as ligaments, tendons, and joint capsules.
What foot and ankle conditions are lasers used to treat?
- Acute injuries (Sprains or Soft tissue injuries)
- Achilles Tendinitis/Tendinosis
- Foot and Ankle Sprains
- Posterior Tibial Tendinitis
- Peroneal Tendinitis
- Extensor Tendinitis
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Joint Pain/Metatarsalgia
- Contusions
At the Timonium Foot and Ankle Center, we use the Aspen 30-Watt laser, a Class IV laser, part of the Pinnacle Laser System Series. Class IV lasers offer several benefits over Cold Lasers (aka Low Level Laser Therapy) including:
- Larger doses of therapeutic energy
- Deeper tissue penetration (up to 10 cm2)
- Larger treatment surface areas
- Greater power density
- Continuous power supply (this allows for faster treatment sessions)
- Superior fiber optic cables (ensuring that maximum energy is delivered from the probe)
Which lasers do we use?
After each laser session, my ankle was feeling better and I was able to move my ankle in ways that I was previously unable to – Matthew
I am happy to report with laser therapy my tendinitis resolved in four weeks and it is as though I was never injured at all. – Morgan