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    • Laser FAQs
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Laser FAQs
If you have any further questions, or are interested in purchasing a laser, please call our Vancouver office and ask for Dario
Questions
  1. What is LASER?
  2. What is Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) or Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT)?
  3. How do I choose a laser device?
  4. How long does treatment take?
  5. How easy are lasers to use?
  6. What are the side effects of Laser treatment?
  7. What are the cautions or contra-indications of laser use?
  8. How many treatments are required to attain desired result?
  9. Is there research on the safety and efficacy of laser?
  10. What are some of the advantages of using laser acupuncture?
Answers
  1. What is LASER?

    Laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. This type of radiation is not harmful to the body, but in fact provides stimulation at a cellular level to initiate healing.

  2. What is Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) or Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT)?

    LLLT or LILT are interchangeable terms used to describe a technique that stimulates or inhibits cellular pathways to create a healing response. This stimulation or inhibition is applicable to muscular/skeletal issues as well as auricular and body acupuncture.

  3. How do I choose a laser device?

    Some considerations:

    • Are you treating small or large areas?
    • What healing paradigm are you using? ie acupuncture, primarily local therapeutic purposes, etc.
    • Features required -  basic or multi-functional
    • Duration of treatment – e.g. higher power requires shorter treatment time on acupuncture point or injured target tissues. ie 70mW/785nm or 500mW/810nm

  4. How long does treatment take?

    The amount of time spent on a point or injured target tissue is dependent on the amount of photon energy the unit has the ability to deliver.  If you are stimulating acupuncture points you can spend as little as 5 seconds on each acupuncture point and as little as 5 minutes for therapeutic treatments. 

  5. How easy are lasers to use?

    Laser devices are very easy to use. It will take no more than 5 minutes to familiarize yourself with any of the laser products that Eastern Currents carries before you get started.

  6. What are the side effects of Laser treatment?

    One of the benefits of incorporating Laser in your treatment protocol is that it is pain free, the patient doesn’t feel the stimulation of the laser light. Contrary to popular belief there is NO thermal effect of using LLLT or LILT. The one precaution a practitioner and patient must take is to wear safety goggles during clinical use.

  7. What are the cautions or contra-indications of laser use?

    Do not use in:

     

    a) irradiation of the eyes

    b) irradiation of the thyroid gland and endocrine glands

    c) treatments on the head on patients with a tendency for epilepsy

    d) treatments during pregnancy

    e) irradiation of the epiphysis (children), open fontanella

    f) treating patients taking zytostatics/immune suppressants

    1)  cancerous or malignant areas, tumor patients

    2)  treating patients taking photo sensitive or corticosteroid drugs, i.e. prednisone or steroids.

  8. How many treatments are required to attain desired result?

    This varies - when treating patients with muscular/skeletal disorders one can often see results in as little as three treatments.  In more difficult cases, a greater number of  treatments (ten or more) may be required.

    If using laser for acupuncture you can expect results the same you would when using needles.

  9. Is there research on the safety and efficacy of laser?

    Yes. There are numerous clinical research papers showing the safety and efficacy of low level laser therapy. If you would like more information on them, please contact Dario at Eastern Currents

  10. What are some of the advantages of using laser acupuncture?

    a)       short therapy duration (10-30 secs/point)

    b)       points which are difficult or painful to treat with a needle (mucous membranes, wounds, joints, oral etc) can be treated.

    c)       Painless and non-invasive therapy (particularly beneficial for children and patients who are afraid of needles). This is especially important because the practitioner will attract a demographic of patient which wouldn’t otherwise be reached or treated.