Low vs High-Intensity Laser Therapy

Have you been experiencing chronic pain and are unable to perform tasks that you once enjoyed doing? You've tried many different medications, and it seems as though surgery may be the only solution to end your pain? Well, we may have the perfect solution for you. Laser therapy has become one of the leading non-invasive, drug-free treatment programs used to improve your overall quality of life. If you are done suffering every day, laser therapy could be an answer you've been searching for. 

What is Laser Therapy? 

Laser therapy is a medical treatment that incorporates light to reduce pain and increase healing throughout your body. It is one of the most effective non-invasive treatments for pain. With laser therapy, it eliminates medications and surgery so you can get back to a pain-free life. Low- Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT) and High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) are the two main types of laser therapy. These two processes are very similar, yet have many differences. Let's take a look at each method and see how they differ from one another. 

Low-Intensity Laser Therapy 

Low-Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT) or Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is also known as "cold laser" therapy because it utilizes less than 0.5 watts of power during treatment. This method has such a low intensity of light that it does not create heat. The FDA approved Low-Intensity Laser Therapy in 2001 and it has been a successful treatment plan ever since. These devices incorporate red beams or lasers with short wavelengths of around 600 and 1,000 nm to 5 to 500 mW. 

The Cold Laser process is painless, and each session only lasts a few minutes. LILT is used to treat a variety of different symptoms, such as injuries, sprains, pains, and inflammation. It helps reduce pain from injuries and can also be used to treat chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia and arthritis. 

Although there are many advantages to LILT, there are always a few disadvantages. Since LILT uses such a low intensity of power, it will take numerous sessions for the full results to occur. A patient typically undergoes a number of sessions before the pain is relieved, and for it to work correctly, it is necessary to complete a session 2-4 times a week. 

High-Intensity Laser Therapy 

Meanwhile, High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) or High-Power Laser Therapy (HPLT) is a more powerful therapeutic process that incorporates lasers with a power greater than 500 mW or 0.5 watts. With such a high laser intensity, it creates a warm heating sensation on the surface of your skin when used that is frequently soothing to the person receiving treatment. 

These devices incorporate longer wavelengths than those of LLLT. Considering the HILT devices have longer wavelengths, it allows for deeper penetration into your muscle and tissue. They include much more powerful lasers than LLLT devices making HILT a more efficient method of laser therapy. These powerful lasers allow faster treatment in larger areas of the tissue or muscle. 

High-Intensity Laser Therapy has been known to increase the rate of healing compared to Low-Intensity and is more effective, especially when combined with exercises. Therefore HILT provides faster pain relief because of its higher irradiance. 

A clinical study was conducted testing out the Short-Term Efficacy between High- Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) and Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT). The results came back, stating that both types of laser therapy were effective and safe for LE's short-term treatment. However, HILT was found to have a more significant impact on the handgrip, strength, and other scores than LLLT. 

Both High-Intensity Laser Therapy and Low-Level Laser Therapy have seen tremendous results over the years. Laser therapy overall has become a very effective way to treat patients with acute or chronic pain. Issues such as Osteoarthritis, Herniated Disks, Sciatica, and Tendonitis are just a few of the many conditions that can be and have been successfully treated with laser therapy.  

Overall, HILT has recently become the most requested laser therapy because of its lower overall because of it's power, efficiency, and effectiveness. High Intensity-High Dose lasers are the cutting edge of Laser technology, capable of delivering therapeutic energy to travel through your body, reach deep tissue, and provide pain relief.  

At Pain Free Life Centers, we use only the best of the best. The Gentox HPHD Laser platform, a High-Intensity- High Dose laser, offers the world's most powerful and advanced therapeutic laser system. Fully FDA approved at a power output of 65 watts; our laser is the only laser capable of delivering a significant amount of healing energy into deep tissue. We have treated various different conditions and have found tremendous success. 

It's time to stop the painful injections, unnecessary surgeries, and addictive pain medications. We offer a better path, and our results speak for themselves. At PFLC, we are so confident in what we do your initial consultation and treatment are FREE. If you have any questions or concerns, contact one of our Wellness Coordinators by emailing info@painfreelifecenters.com or calling (248) 879 1100.