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High Intensity Laser

High Intensity Laser (HIL) technology is based on the well-known principle of low level laser therapy (LLLT). High power and choice of the right wavelength allow for deep tissue penetration. HIL offers powerful and non-addictive form of pain management. Through a natural process of energy transfer (biostimulation and photomechanical effect) it speeds up healing and regeneration. HIL is particularly effective in treatment of sport injuries, e.g. muscle strain or joint distortion, and back pain caused by e.g. disc hernia or disorders in the cervical region.

mechanism
of action

Laser (acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) can be used as a therapeutic device which produces monochromatic (one specific wavelength), coherent (constant phase) and polarized (directional) light.

generation

The source of laser beam in therapeutic lasers is typically a semiconductor diode capable of producing light of one specific wavelength (e.g. 1064nm).

The light generated by the diodes is then directed into an optical fiber, end of which is connected to the applicator. The beam is further processed by a series of lenses which ensure the right direction and diameter of the beam and consequently the spot.

Therapeutic lasers are defined by their power and wavelength. Wavelength is important as the ideal effects on human tissue are of light in the “therapeutic window” (approx. 650 – 1100 nm). 1064nm wavelength of the High Intensity Laser ensures a good ratio between penetration and absorption in the tissue. The amount of power a laser can safely deliver can reduce therapy time by more than a half.

Check the calculator

classes

Based on the power and wavelength lasers are divided into several classes. Therapeutic lasers are typically of class 3B, low level laser therapy (LLLT) with power less than 500 mW, and class 4, High Intensity Laser with power 500 mW and more.

modes

The High Intensity Laser can be used in two modes – pulsed and continuous. Pulsed mode represents turning the laser on and off with a very high frequency and is used as an analgesic treatment. Continuous irradiation is a mode in which the laser remains turned on the whole time of the therapy and is used to promote biostimulation, healing and recovery.

safety

Although therapeutic High Intensity Laser is generally safe to use and promotes reparative processes, it can still damage the eye and so protective eyewear is obligatory throughout the therapy. With increasing power of the High Intensity Laser, caution is in place as to its thermic effects which on one hand provide very pleasant therapy, but on the other, if not monitored and used by a trained operator, can damage the tissue.

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Watch how the High Intensity Laser works

INDICATIONS

img_indications Sport Injuries Trigger Points Shoulder Sprain Ankle Sprain Disc Hernia Cervical Pain Low Back Pain Degenerative Knee Arthritis Muscle Strain

Medical Effects

High Intensity Laser is typically used in two modes – pulsed and continuous. Each mode affects the tissue differently and triggers different medical effects. Overall medical effects are biostimulation, pain relief, anti-inflammatory effect, superficial thermic effect and muscle relaxation.

Pulsed

Continuous

Analgesic Effect

Based on the gate control mechanism of pain, mechanical stimulation of free nerve endings leads to their inhibition and hence pain relief.
Learn more

Microcirculation Stimulation

High Intensity Laser therapy actually heals the tissue while providing a powerful and non-addictive form of pain management.
Learn more

Anti-inflammatory Effect

Energy delivered to the cells by the High Intensity Laser speeds up cell metabolism and causes faster resorption of proinflammatory mediators.
Learn more

Biostimulation

ATP allows for faster synthesis of RNA and DNA and leads to faster recovery, healing and edema reduction in the treated area.
Learn more

Thermic Effect

Thermic effect causes vasodilation and in consequence increased blood perfusion.
Learn more

Muscle Relaxation

As increased perfusion passes more blood through the treated area, the muscles relax.
Learn more

THERAPY SEQUENCE

Laser operation is in essence relatively simple.

1

Define the location

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2

Select program

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Put on safety goggles

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Start the therapy

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Use spiral motion for analgesia

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Use scanning motion for biostimulation

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Watch how to provide proper therapy

Glossary

Laser

Is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It is a therapeutic device producing monochromatic (one specific wavelength), coherent (constant phase) and polarized (directional) light.

Laser Classification

Lasers are classified based on their power and wavelength into a number of classes defining their potential hazard to humans. Therapeutic lasers typically fall into two categories – class 3b lasers and class 4 lasers (most powerful).

LLLT vs HIL

LLLT is a therapy with maximum laser beam output power of equal to or less than 500mW whereas HILs typically have output power in order of watts.

In short, it can be said that with LLLT one need a significantly more time to deliver the desired healing amount of energy (dosage) to the tissue than HILs. HILs are capable to deliver the same amount of energy as LLLTs in much shorter time. Therefore same areas can be treated in much less time with HIL than with LLLT and at the same time one can treat larger areas using HIL where LLLT would require up to several hours or irradiation.

Check out the therapy parameters calculator to compare therapy using HIL and LLLT

Wavelength

Light is an electromagnetic wave. Such wave has peak. Distance between two consequent peaks is called wavelength.

In therapy by High Intensity Laser, wavelength is important as different wavelengths have different absorption and scatter ratios in the tissue. 1064 nm wavelength has the ideal absorption to scatter ratio. Laser light of 1064 nm is scattered less in the skin and absorbed more in deeper lying tissues and is therefore able to penetrate up to 10 cm deep into the tissue where High Intensity Laser promotes its positive effects.

Dosage

Dosage is the amount of power delivered to a unit of area in time. The unit of dosage used in High Intensity Laser therapy is J/cm2.

High Intensity Laser is a class 4 laser, which has an output power of more than 500mW. Class 4 lasers may cause severe, permanent damage to the eye. Such lasers can be operated strictly by trained professionals only and safety goggles must be worn by both the patient and the therapist at any time throughout laser operation/therapy.

Laser Power

Laser power output directly affects a laser’s ability to perform a process. The power of a laser is measured in Watts (and often reported in terms of nW, mW, W, etc.). This is referring to the optical power output of the laser beam, which is the continuous power output of continuous wave (CW) lasers, or the average power of a pulsed or modulated laser.

Source: http://www.coherent.com/downloads/aboutmeasuringlaserpowerndenergyoutputfinal.pdf

Laser Types

High Intensity Laser beam can be generated using various types of media. Most High Intensity Lasers use diodes (also called semiconductor lasers) to produce the laser beam of desired wavelength. Diode lasers are very compact, do not require large amounts of energy to produce laser light (unlike gas e.g. CO2 lasers) and present minimal danger as to electro-technical setting but are still dangerous to the eye. Different diodes can produce beams of different wavelengths, e.g. 1064 nm.

FAQ

Is High Intensity Laser treatment connected with any risks?

Treatment with High Intensity Laser is safe. However, there are safety precautions that need to be followed in order to ensure safety. High Intensity Laser light can be dangerous to the eyes (even closed eyes), therefore both the patient and the therapist must wear safety goggles provided by the device supplier. As High Intensity Laser operates in high powers the therapist is to continuously ask the patient about their sensations during the treatment and possibly adjust the power according to the patient’s feeling.

Does the therapy hurt?

One of the great benefits of the High Intensity Laser is that it’s absolutely painless. The therapist delivers the therapy moving the applicator along the skin surface in either scanning or spiral motion either in contact with the skin surface or they can hold the applicator right above the treated area and conduct the same motion in non-contact manner.

Can the High Intensity Laser burn me?

There is very low chance of High Intensity Laser burning the patient as the therapy is always dynamic and the applicator is continuously moved along the skin surface. When used in pulsed mode (analgesia), there is little or no heat sensation. In continuous mode (biostimulation), the treatment programs are pre-set to be safe. To secure safety High Intensity Laser power starts at low values and can be increased if desirable. Therapists and doctors operating the High Intensity Laser are well trained professionals.

How many sessions will I need?

Number of treatments varies based on the indication, its severity and how the patient’s body reacts to the treatment. Number of treatments can therefore be anywhere between 3 and 15, more in very severe cases. Contact your therapist/doctor to see how many treatments you might need.

How often will I need the treatment?

The typical number of treatments per week is between 2 to 5. The therapist sets the number of treatments so that the therapy is the most effective and suitable to the patient’s time options.

Are there any side-effects to the treatment?

There are no side-effects to the treatment. There is a possibility of slight redness of the treated area right after the treatment which disappears within several hours after the treatment. As with most physical therapies the patient might feel a temporary worsening of their condition which also disappears within several hours after the treatment.

Is High Intensity Laser treatment addictive?

No, the treatment is in contrary to pain medication non-addictive.

Is there a limit to the number of treatments I can get?

No, there is no limit to the number of treatments as the therapy is non-addictive. It is up to the therapist to determine whether the patient needs more treatments or conclude that in the given patient’s case the therapy is not effective and suggest other therapy options.

If you have any other questions, please Contact us

Sport Injuries

Sports injuries are no more a pathology specific to top athletes. As larger part of population is interested in living a healthy lifestyle, the number of sport injuries increases every year. Sport pathologies include muscle strains, sprains, ruptures and tears all over the body. A study reports excellent results in symptomatological regression with disappearance or reduction of any functional deficit in 294 people treated with High Intensity Laser.

Scientific Support

High Intensity Laser Therapy in Sporting Traumatology and Pain Therapy

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Trigger Points

Trigger points, sensitive spots in the muscle, are a very common indication in patients. As simple as they may seem, they can be the direct cause of pain, complicate injuries or mimic practically any pain but the trigger point one. The High Intensity Laser is a fast, lasting and painless solution. The photomechanical effect of the High Intensity Laser relieves pain and the thermic effect causes relaxation of thetrigger points.

Scientific Support

Effect of High-intensity Laser Therapy in the Management of Myofascial Pain Syndrome of the Trapezius: A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study

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Shoulder Sprain

A sprained shoulder is caused by a force on the arm which stretches the shoulder ligaments. The result can be overstretching or tearing of the shoulder ligaments or capsule. The biostimulation characteristic of the High Intensity Laser is responsible for fast healing. High Intensity Laser stimulates the tissue to faster oxygen exchange in the mitochondria and consequently increased production of ATP – the body’s source of energy. When the High Intensity Laser treatment is applied, full motion of the shoulder is restored significantly faster than with conservative treatment.

Scientific Support

Short-term Effects of High-intensity Laser Therapy on Frozen Shoulder: A Prospective Randomized Control Study

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Ankle Sprain

Ankle sprain – one of the most common injuries. Whether one sprained their ankle due to a sudden jolt, twisted it or overstretched it, the consequences are pain and swelling. The common treatment options include rest, icepacks and post-treatment exercise in order to increase strength and mobility. High Intensity Laser treatment shortens the rest phase, relieves pain and prevents the edema to reach chronic phase. High Intensity Laser treats inflammation by decreasing the concentration of proinflammatory mediators in the area.

Scientific Support

Radial Pressure Waves vs High Intensity Laser Treatments in Acute Ankle Sprains

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Disc Hernia

Majority of people presenting with low-back pain have problems with discs in the painful area. Conservative treatment options include behavioral therapies, lumbar support and physical therapy which are financially challenging. High Intensity Laser offers fast pain relief and solution to herniated disc and even in severe cases (receiving 40 treatments) is significantly cheaper than conservative therapeutic solutions. Therapy by High Intensity Laser has proven effective, time-saving and cost-effective.

Scientific Support

Comparison of High-Intensity Laser Therapy and Ultrasound Treatment in the Patients with Lumbar Discopathy

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Cervical Pain

Cervical pain is one of very common types of pain that can be caused by various disorders not necessarily in the cervical region, but e.g. radiating from the shoulder. High Intensity Laser features deep penetration which can get through the skin all the way to the source of pain whether it’s vertebrae, deep lying trigger point or ligament. It relieves pain through blocking free nerve endings, increasing blood perfusion of the treated area and speeding up metabolism. All effects of High Intensity Laser combined, lead to immediate pain relief and faster healing.

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Low Back Pain

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common types of pain among today’s population. It is related to disability and work absence, accounting for high economic costs in Western world the more when acute phase becomes chronic. Non-invasive, painless and easily administered High Intensity Laser treatment can be provided for a wide range of conditions causing LBP. At the same time it is a safe, proven and effective therapy that actually helps.

Andersson GB (1999) Epidemiological features of chronic low back pain. Lancet 354:581–585

 

Scientific Support

Long-term Effect of High-intensity Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain a Randomized Blinded Placebo-controlled Trial

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Degenerative Knee Arthritis

Degenerative knee arthritis is another indication successfully treated by the High Intensity Laser. It has been reported that High Intensity Laser treatment decreases pain in patients by up to 63%, reduces inflammation and rapidly induces the deep tissue photochemical and photothermic effects that increase blood flow, vascular permeability and cell metabolism.

Scientific Support

Analgesic Effect of High Intensity Laser Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis

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Muscle Strain

Muscle strain and pain related to it can refer to strain, pull or even tear of the muscle or its attaching tendons. The High Intensity Laser treats the muscle through a thermic effect and at the same time by triggering photomechanical processes on the cellular level, which cause synthesis of extracellular agents, endothelial cells and regeneration of the muscle and connective tissue cells. The High Intensity Laser shortens the rest phase and returns the patient to their daily routine or sports earlier than when applying conservative methods.

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ANALGESIC EFFECT

Analgesic effect of the High Intensity Laser is promoted mainly when using the pulsed mode. The High Intensity Laser can deliver very short pulses at a very high repetition rate. With this setting it has the ability to create actual pressure. The pressure waves are carried through the tissue where they stimulate free nerve endings. Based on the gate control mechanism of pain, mechanical stimulation of free nerve endings leads to their inhibition and hence pain relief. Analgesic effect of the High Intensity Laser is instantaneous and long-lasting.

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MICROCIRCULATION STIMULATION

Mechanical waves created by the High Intensity Laser stimulate local microcirculation and support lymph drainage of the pathological area. Combining biostimulation and photomechanical stimulation, the High Intensity Laser therapy actually heals the tissue while providing a powerful and non-addictive form of pain management.

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ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT

The energy delivered to the cells by the High Intensity Laser speeds up cell metabolism and causes faster resorption of proinflammatory mediators. Decreased concentration of proinflammatory mediators restores capillary permeability and results in complete elimination of inflammation and faster return to one’s daily activities.

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BIOSTIMULATION

The term biostimulation means stimulating the organism on the cellular level to enhance healing and recovery. Oxygen is processed in cells by mitochondria. Here oxygen is processed by a cascade of respiratory enzymes and delivered to ATP synthase which synthesizes the organism’s source of energy – ATP. Faster exchange of oxygen and metabolites due to laser irradiation causes more oxygen atoms to reach mitochondria. Mitochondria are further stimulated to synthesize ATP faster. ATP allows for faster synthesis of RNA and DNA and leads to faster recovery, healing and edema reduction in the treated area.

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THERMIC EFFECT

The thermic effect of the High Intensity Laser therapy is caused by the absorption of the 1064 nm laser beam in the superficial structures which consequently causes a temperature increase in the tissue. Warming the superficial structures is responsible for decrease of scatter and absorption coefficients for the 1064 nm wavelength and allows for even deeper penetration by the 1064 nm light. Thermic effect also causes vasodilatation. As a result, blood perfusion increases, larger amounts of oxygen are delivered to the tissue and more metabolites are resorbed.

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MUSCLE RELAXATION

The energy transferred by continuous High Intensity Laser emission to the tissue causes superficial hyperthermy and consequently vasodilatation in the treated area. As increased perfusion passes more blood through the treated area, the muscles relax. In painful muscle-related indications such as trigger points, muscle strain etc., the patient feels immediate relief of pain caused by the muscle tension, and immediately increased range of motion.

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1) Define the location

The therapy should always be preceded by a clinical examination. Always check for contraindications and explain the procedure to the patient. Determine the most painful spot(s) and position the patient. The position should allow for a clear access to the treated area and be comfortable for the patient at the same time.

Then calculate size of the area that you want to irradiate. The bigger the area, the longer the session will take, provided that other parameters (power and dosage) remain the same.

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2) Select program

The therapy is performed in two phases – analgesic and biostimulation. The analgesic phase is used to decrease pain. Biostimulation is used to support the healing and regeneration of the area.

If necessary adjust the parameters.

Enter the desired dosage:

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3) Put on safety goggles

Both the patient and the therapist must be wearing protective eyewear suitable for the BTL High Intensity Laser. No substitutes of the eyewear are to be used. The safety goggles are specifically design to filter laser light of a specific wavelength. When using different than provided eyewear, both the therapist’s and patient’s sight might be impaired.

 

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4) Start the therapy

Press start key on the touchscreen display to start the therapy.

5) Use spiral motion for analgesia

The analgesic mode shouldn’t have any noticeable thermic effect on the patient. Here, laser beam is emitted in pulsed mode, which allows the tissue to cool down even with higher intensities. This part of the procedure is focused on pain relief. Start the application procedure in about 5-7 cm distance from the most painful spot and then slowly approach to the central zone using continuous spiral movement. After reaching the spot of maximum pain, stay in the position for 2-3 seconds. This is the only time in the whole High Intensity Laser procedure where the applicator is not moving. Eventually, repeat the procedure from the start on the outer edge of the spiral. In subacute and chronic conditions continue the therapy in biostimulation mode.

 

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6) Use scanning motion for biostimulation

The biostimulation mode uses continuous emission of laser light and the treated area covers both the pathology and its close surroundings. The applicator is moved continuously in scanning manner, respecting the direction of the muscle fibers, so that the whole area is irradiated evenly. In the course of the treatment the patient should feel pleasant warming of the skin. Speed of the movement should be adjusted according to the patient’s sensation in such way to provide an optimal thermic effect. Movement too slow could lead to unpleasant heating, while too quick won’t allow enough energy to transform into heat.

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