Laser Therapy

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What Is Laser Therapy?

Laser therapy is a gentle light treatment we use to ease pain, calm inflammation, and support natural healing. A focused beam of therapeutic light is moved over the problem area while you relax. This therapeutic light improves circulation and settles irritated nerves, and is very beneficial for acute conditions. The treatment is non-invasive, comfortable, and requires no downtime.

Also known as laser light therapy or photobiomodulation, this evidence-based modality is delivered by trained physical therapists and doctors using a Class 4 laser, which is a high-intensity laser. High-intensity laser therapy (HILT) delivers brighter light, which provides superior pain relief and deeper tissue penetration compared to a low-intensity laser. You will wear protective eyewear, and most people feel a soothing warmth during the session. Treatments are brief and are often paired with our hands-on care and targeted exercises to help you move better and recover faster.

Class 4 Laser Therapy Benefits

Laser therapy helps you feel better faster by easing pain and jumpstarting natural tissue repair. Laser therapy works seamlessly with our manual therapy and targeted exercise to promote healing of muscle, tendon, nerve, and bone. Key benefits include:

Laser therapy calms the chemical signals that drive swelling and soreness so tissue can settle. At VSI, this helps reduce stiffness and irritation early in care so you can move with less discomfort.

The therapeutic light supports cell energy in the exact area your therapist treats. By boosting the healing response in muscles, tendons, and ligaments, we help repair tissue and restore function.

Laser therapy gently increases local blood flow and oxygen delivery. Better circulation brings nutrients, clears waste, and supports faster recovery after injuries, procedures, or a tough training week.

Many patients feel soothing warmth and steady relief without medication or downtime. Laser therapy calms irritated nerves and pairs well with our hands on care to keep pain under control.

physical therapist doing laser therapy

What Can Laser Therapy Treat?

Laser therapy is beneficial in treating many musculoskeletal conditions or injuries. It also supports recovery after surgery, helps athletes with acute or overuse injuries, and can aid those with chronic conditions. Specific conditions that benefit from laser therapy include, but are not limited to:

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What to Expect During Your Class 4 Laser Therapy Session

Your laser treatment can take up to ten minutes and is integrated into your physical therapy appointment with no additional charge. The treatment is performed by one of our physical therapists in an outpatient setting in conjunction with physical therapy. Most patients undergo six to twelve sessions, depending on their specific condition and goals. With class four lasers, most people notice gentle warmth and sometimes mild tingling as circulation improves. You should not feel sharp pain or excessive heat. Many patients notice significant improvements after three sessions of laser therapy.

What is Laser Therapy Used For?

Laser therapy reduces inflammatory signaling, promotes healing of the body, improves local circulation, and calms overactive nerves for natural pain relief.

Injury Recovery Using Laser Therapy

For acute and chronic injuries, laser therapy helps quiet inflammation, supports cellular energy, and restores blood flow. Patients often experience less pain and better movement as tissues remodel and recover.

Benefits of Laser Therapy Before Surgery

Laser therapy can be part of a pre surgical plan to optimize tissue health. Healthier tissue with less inflammation is linked to smoother recovery. By lowering pain and inflammation before the operation, your body can focus on healing and your recovery can be faster.

When pain and swelling are better controlled, you can begin safe movement sooner, which supports comfort and function early after surgery. Pain and inflammation impedes healing and the proper movement patterns of your body. Using laser therapy to help reduce and mitigate inflammation and pain will ensure a faster initial recovery. Your body was built to move, so the sooner you move, the sooner you will be able to get back to the activities you love to do.

Spine Surgery Recovery Using Laser Therapy

After surgery, inflammation and pain are expected. Laser therapy, integrated with expert physical therapy, helps manage these responses, supports the healing environment around the surgical site, and helps you move well sooner, which supports a strong overall recovery.

Class four laser therapy is generally considered safe over areas with hardware when delivered by trained clinicians who use proper technique and dosage. Providers adjust power, keep the beam moving, and use clinical judgment around sensitive areas.

Benefits of Laser Therapy with Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine procedures stimulate a natural healing response in the body. Laser therapy can reduce discomfort after these procedures without disrupting the intended biologic effects. At VSI, common regenerative options include platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy and stem cell therapy.

laser therapy for legs

Why VSI Offers Laser Therapy

Laser therapy is more than just a treatment, it is part of our comprehensive philosophy on recovery. We believe recovery starts before your surgery even takes place and continues long after the procedure is complete. This forward-thinking approach is at the heart of the Recovery Revolution™, a movement created to transform how patients experience healing and restoration.

Laser therapy is one of the advanced tools we use to set the stage for optimal recovery. This therapy reduces inflammation, enhances your healing capacity, and accelerates your return to the life you love. It is part of our 5 Pillars of Recovery, which include cutting-edge technology, surgical precision, continuity of care, and specialized recovery modalities.

Frequently Asked Questions on Laser Therapy

Yes, laser therapy is safe and always administered by trained clinicians using cleared devices and proper safety measures. It uses light energy rather than ionizing radiation and side effects are uncommon and typically mild. Eye protection for both patient and provider is mandatory.

Laser therapy is included as part of your physical therapy treatment plan and does not add any extra cost. If your doctor or physical therapist recommends laser therapy for your condition, it will be provided as part of your standard session.

Small areas may take about two to five minutes, medium areas about five to ten minutes, and larger regions such as the low back about ten to twenty minutes. Class 4 lasers can deliver energy more quickly, which can shorten session time compared with class three.

Frequency depends on whether the condition is acute or chronic. Newer injuries often start at two to three visits per week, while chronic conditions are commonly one to two per week with tapering as you improve. Many plans include six to twelve sessions, tailored to your goals.

With class three lasers, many people feel little to nothing. With a Class Four laser, most people notice gentle warmth and sometimes mild tingling as circulation improves. You should not feel sharp pain or excessive heat. Tell your provider if anything feels uncomfortable so settings can be adjusted.

Many acute injuries or conditions show change within one to three sessions. Chronic problems often improve after three to six sessions, and long standing conditions may require a full series of six to twelve sessions for clear progress. Response varies by condition type, individual health factors, and ensuring proper dose and consistency.

Yes, therapeutic lasers use non-ionizing light and do not heat metal implants directly. Clinicians modulate power and may adjust parameters near hardware to protect sensitive tissues.

Pre-surgical laser therapy is recommended to reduce pain and inflammation, support local circulation and cellular activity, and prime tissue for recovery afterward.

While laser therapy doesn’t require a prescription, order or referral, you do need a thorough evaluation at VSI prior to any treatment being performed. To get started, speak with one of our New Patient Coordinators and they will get you scheduled for an appropriate evaluation with a specialist to discuss your treatment options, including laser therapy.