How Laser Therapy Works and How it Can Help Stem Cell Therapy

By: Edward G. Loniewski, DO, FACOS, FAOAO

Laser therapy is an FDA approved method of therapy that works to reduce inflammation and decrease pain in targeted areas of the body, encouraging proper cell function including your stem cells.. Treatment is non-invasive and is typically free of discomfort, and most patients begin to notice a difference after their third round of treatment.

Three Important Things to Remember about MLS Laser Therapy:

• FDA Approved Device Providing two different laser beams to reduce pain and inflammation
• Can reduce pain of bursitis, tendonitis and arthritic conditions and speed recovery
• Can enhance stem cell and platelet rich plasma therapies

What is Laser Therapy?

L.A.S.E.R. stands for Light Amplified by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Normal light from a light bulb or a flashlight emits broad wavelengths of light. Lasers, however, emit only one wavelength of light, and it is measured in a unit called a nanometer (abbreviated ‘nm’). There are different types of lasers based on the wavelength emitted by the laser. In the James Bond film Goldfinger, you may recall Goldfinger demonstrating how laser therapy can cut through steel, but we also know that lasers have a wide variety of uses. Cells within our body respond to light energy therapy without any harmful damage. Cells which become inflamed can be encouraged to become less inflamed if stimulated by laser light. In addition, certain biochemical processes of cells can be modified through laser light.

How Does Laser Therapy Work?

Laser light is amplified, and can penetrate under our skin without cutting or causing damage to the skin or surrounding tissue. This low-level type of therapeutic laser therapy helps to reduce inflammation by stimulating proper function of the cell[1] as well as reducing pain.[2]

Most medical grade lasers can penetrate approximately 4cm (approximately 1.5 inches) into our body and have a therapeutic effect. Certain wavelengths can help cells reduce the inflammatory response, while another wavelength can help reduce the biochemical products causing pain[3].

The net results of these two wavelengths on a cellular level has been hypothesized to affect the mitochondria of cells (known as the powerhouse of cells) though the increase in Nitric Oxide (NO). Our ability to produce nitric oxide as we age naturally decreases, and the low-level laser photo modulation stimulates the production of nitric oxide to allow our cells to function normally.[4]

These two separate beams need to be applied in different ways to be effective as well as prevent damage to your cells: one of the wavelengths needs to be applied continuously, while the other requires a pulsed (on and off) application to be more effective. The multi-waved Locked System, or MLS™, was developed to provide the most effective Class IV medical grade laser system. This FDA approved device combines two wavelengths used in specific protocols to reduce inflammation and pain without inflicting damage.

How Convenient Is Laser Therapy?

Class IV laser therapy can only be prescribed by a licensed physician and is a FDA approved therapy. After an evaluation by a licensed physician, a script is written for the proper settings, location, and duration of the treatment. Normally anywhere from three to nine 20 - 30 minute treatments are prescribed to be administered three times a week. All patients must do is show up for the appointment in loose fitting clothes, and the technician will provide them with some protective glasses. Patients lay back and let the healing light penetrate the damaged areas of their body, all the while reducing inflammation and pain.

Patients can return to all of their normal activities immediately after each treatment. Most patients are also instructed in some other complementary therapies such as exercises, medication or even topical creams. Most patients start to notice some improvement after the second or third treatment; however, some require longer periods to respond. Our team normally sets up a follow-up visit after patients have completed all of their therapy sessions to make sure they are making progress in the correct direction.

Is There Pain Involved In Laser Therapy?

Many patients experience no pain during or after laser therapy. However, very few patients may experience some warmth and tingling over the treated area for a few minutes.

How Much Does Laser Therapy Cost?

Multi-waved Locked System Low Level Laser Therapy is an FDA-approved treatment. Although it is FDA approved, it is not covered by any insurance carrier.

Cellular Health is very sensitive and concerned about your out-of-pocket costs, and so we have programs starting at just $199 for three treatments. If you have a health sharing plan such as Medi-share™, laser therapy may be covered as the cost of this procedure is much lower than a joint replacement. Most health sharing plans are affiliated with a religious organization and you must choose this rather than Affordable Care Act (ACA) sanctioned plan. Also, if you have a health spending account, the expenses associated with this procedure may be offset by these accounts.

What Conditions Can Laser Therapy Be Used for?

A recent review of the published peer reviewed literature revealed that low level laser can be useful for the following conditions:

• Reduced pain of osteoarthritis of the knee[5]
• Reduced low back pain[6]
• Sports tendon injuries[7]
• Improve muscle recovery after exercise[8]
• Improve muscle strength[9]
• Enhanced the fracture healing response of stem cells[10]
• Reduced inflammation of lung disease[11]
• Improved wound healing[12]

However, low level laser also appears to have positive effects on cell based therapies such as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). A review of just some of the numerous peer reviewed articles reveals that low level laser can do the following:

• Increase stem cell proliferation[13]
• Improve cardiac stem cell ability to treat heart attacks[14]
• Improved ability of platelet rich plasma (PRP) to heal tendon tears[15]
• Speeds wound healing by activating platelets[16]

Why Use Cellular Healing for Laser Therapy?

The practitioners at Cellular Healing have been using low level laser for over the past eight years and have developed specialized protocols not available at other centers. In addition, you will be evaluated by a board-certified physician to ensure that you would benefit from this therapy, as not every patient is exactly the same. Together,we can develop a custom program for your specific situations and conditions.

Our staff has also conducted their own internal evaluation of this treatment. After studying over 400 treatment options, we discovered that almost 80% (79.9%) of the patients receiving MLS Therapy reported pain relief, with most patients reporting at least a 50% relief of their symptoms. We have not only used MLS therapy for common orthopedic conditions such as tendonitis and bursitis, but have also found improved clinical results when MLS Laser Therapy is combined with either stem cell or platelet rich plasma (PRP) treatments. Our trained staff believes that we can enhance your cell-based therapy results for a greater outcome overall.

If you would like a face to face consultation with Dr. Loniewski to see how this FDA approved therapy can help chronic pain and enhance your stem cell therapy for knee arthritis, please call 810-299-8552 for an appointment.

Footnotes

1 - Moriyama Y, Nguyen J, Akens M, Moriyama EH, Lilge L. In vivo effects of low level laser therapy on inducible nitric oxide synthase. Lasers Surg Med 2009;41(3):227 – 31

2 - Youssef EF, Muaidi QI, Shanb AA. Effect of Laser Therapy on Chronic Osteoarthritis of the Knee in Older Subjects. Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences. 2016;7(2):112-119. doi:10.15171/jlms.2016.19

3 - Sakurai Y, Yamaguchi M, Abiko Y. Inhibitory effect of low level laser irradiation on LPS stimulated prostaglandin E2 production and cyclooxygenase-2 in human gingival fibroblasts. Eur J Oral Sci, 2000, 108:29-34

4 - Moriyama Y, Nguyen J, Akens M, Moriyama EH, Lilge L. In vivo effects of low level laser therapy on inducible nitric oxide synthase. Lasers Surg Med 2009;41(3):227 – 31.

5 - Youssef EF, Muaidi QI, Shanb AA. Effect of Laser Therapy on Chronic Osteoarthritis of the Knee in Older Subjects. Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences. 2016;7(2):112-119. doi:10.15171/jlms.2016.19.

6 - Yousefi-Nooraie R , Schonstein E , Heidari K , Rashidian A , Pennick V , Akbari Kamrani-M , Irani S , Shakiba B , Mortaz Hejri S , Jonaidi AR , Mortaz Hedjri-S . Low level laser therapy for nonspecific low-back pain . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008 , Issue 2 . Art. No .: CD005107. DOI: 10.1002 / 14651858.CD005107.pub4.

7 - Morimoto Y, Saito A, Tokuhashi Y. Low level laser therapy for sports injuries. Laser Therapy. 2013;22(1):17-20. doi:10.5978/islsm.13-OR-01.

8 - Borsa PA, Larkin KA, True JM. Does Phototherapy Enhance Skeletal Muscle Contractile Function and Postexercise Recovery? A Systematic Review. Journal of Athletic Training. 2013;48(1):57-67. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-48.1.12.

9 - Ferraresi C1, de Brito Oliveira T, de Oliveira Zafalon L, de Menezes Reiff RB, Baldissera V, de Andrade Perez SE, Matheucci Júnior E, Parizotto NA. Effects of low level laser therapy (808 nm) on physical strength training in humans. Lasers Med Sci. 2011 May;26(3):349-58. doi: 10.1007/s10103-010-0855-0. Epub 2010 Nov 18.

10 - Wang Y-H, Wu J-Y, Kong SC, et al. Low power laser irradiation and human adipose-derived stem cell treatments promote bone regeneration in critical-sized calvarial defects in rats. Papaccio G, ed. PLoS ONE. 2018;13(4):e0195337. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0195337.

11 - Da Cunha Moraes G, Vitoretti LB, de Brito AA, et al. Low-Level Laser Therapy Reduces Lung Inflammation in an Experimental Model of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Involving P2X7 Receptor. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2018;2018:6798238. doi:10.1155/2018/6798238.

12 - Masahiro Noda, Akira Aoki, Koji Mizutani, Taichen Lin, Motohiro Komaki, Shunichi Shibata and Yuichi Izumi, High‐frequency pulsed low‐level diode laser therapy accelerates wound healing of tooth extraction socket: An in vivo study, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 48, 10, (955-964), (2016)

13 - Fekrazad R1, Asefi S2, Allahdadi M3, Kalhori KA4. Effect of Photobiomodulation on Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Photomed Laser Surg. 2016 Nov;34(11):533-542. Epub 2016 Apr 12.

14 - El Gammal ZH1, Zaher AM2, El-Badri N3.Effect of low-level laser-treated mesenchymal stem cells on myocardial infarction. Lasers Med Sci. 2017 Sep;32(7):1637-1646. doi: 10.1007/s10103-017-2271-1. Epub 2017 Jul 6.

15 - Allahverdi A1, Sharifi D, Takhtfooladi MA, Hesaraki S, Khansari M, Dorbeh SS. Evaluation of low-level laser therapy, platelet-rich plasma, and their combination on the healing of Achilles tendon in rabbits. Lasers Med Sci. 2015 May;30(4):1305-13. doi: 10.1007/s10103-015-1733-6. Epub 2015 Mar 11.

16 - Hoffman M1, Monroe DM. Low intensity laser therapy speeds wound healing in hemophilia by enhancing platelet procoagulant activity. Wound Repair Regen. 2012 Sep-Oct;20(5):770-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-475X.2012.00828.x. Epub 2012 Aug 10.

[1] Moriyama Y, Nguyen J, Akens M, Moriyama EH, Lilge L. In vivo effects of low level laser therapy on inducible nitric oxide synthase. Lasers Surg Med 2009;41(3):227 – 31[2] Youssef EF, Muaidi QI, Shanb AA. Effect of Laser Therapy on Chronic Osteoarthritis of the Knee in Older Subjects. Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences. 2016;7(2):112-119. doi:10.15171/jlms.2016.19[3] Sakurai Y, Yamaguchi M, Abiko Y. Inhibitory effect of low level laser irradiation on LPS stimulated prostaglandin E2 production and cyclooxygenase-2 in human gingival fibroblasts. Eur J Oral Sci, 2000, 108:29-34[4] Moriyama Y, Nguyen J, Akens M, Moriyama EH, Lilge L. In vivo effects of low level laser therapy on inducible nitric oxide synthase. Lasers Surg Med 2009;41(3):227 – 31.[5] Youssef EF, Muaidi QI, Shanb AA. Effect of Laser Therapy on Chronic Osteoarthritis of the Knee in Older Subjects. Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences. 2016;7(2):112-119. doi:10.15171/jlms.2016.19.[6] Yousefi-Nooraie R , Schonstein E , Heidari K , Rashidian A , Pennick V , Akbari Kamrani-M , Irani S , Shakiba B , Mortaz Hejri S , Jonaidi AR , Mortaz Hedjri-S . Low level laser therapy for nonspecific low-back pain . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008 , Issue 2 . Art. No .: CD005107. DOI: 10.1002 / 14651858.CD005107.pub4.[7] Morimoto Y, Saito A, Tokuhashi Y. Low level laser therapy for sports injuries. Laser Therapy. 2013;22(1):17-20. doi:10.5978/islsm.13-OR-01.[8] Borsa PA, Larkin KA, True JM. Does Phototherapy Enhance Skeletal Muscle Contractile Function and Postexercise Recovery? A Systematic Review. Journal of Athletic Training. 2013;48(1):57-67. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-48.1.12.[9] Ferraresi C1, de Brito Oliveira T, de Oliveira Zafalon L, de Menezes Reiff RB, Baldissera V, de Andrade Perez SE, Matheucci Júnior E, Parizotto NA. Effects of low level laser therapy (808 nm) on physical strength training in humans. Lasers Med Sci. 2011 May;26(3):349-58. doi: 10.1007/s10103-010-0855-0. Epub 2010 Nov 18.[10] Wang Y-H, Wu J-Y, Kong SC, et al. Low power laser irradiation and human adipose-derived stem cell treatments promote bone regeneration in critical-sized calvarial defects in rats. Papaccio G, ed. PLoS ONE. 2018;13(4):e0195337. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0195337.[11] Da Cunha Moraes G, Vitoretti LB, de Brito AA, et al. Low-Level Laser Therapy Reduces Lung Inflammation in an Experimental Model of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Involving P2X7 Receptor. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2018;2018:6798238. doi:10.1155/2018/6798238.[12] Masahiro Noda, Akira Aoki, Koji Mizutani, Taichen Lin, Motohiro Komaki, Shunichi Shibata and Yuichi Izumi, High‐frequency pulsed low‐level diode laser therapy accelerates wound healing of tooth extraction socket: An in vivo study, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 48, 10, (955-964), (2016)[13] Fekrazad R1, Asefi S2, Allahdadi M3, Kalhori KA4. Effect of Photobiomodulation on Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Photomed Laser Surg. 2016 Nov;34(11):533-542. Epub 2016 Apr 12.[14] El Gammal ZH1, Zaher AM2, El-Badri N3.Effect of low-level laser-treated mesenchymal stem cells on myocardial infarction. Lasers Med Sci. 2017 Sep;32(7):1637-1646. doi: 10.1007/s10103-017-2271-1. Epub 2017 Jul 6.[15] Allahverdi A1, Sharifi D, Takhtfooladi MA, Hesaraki S, Khansari M, Dorbeh SS. Evaluation of low-level laser therapy, platelet-rich plasma, and their combination on the healing of Achilles tendon in rabbits. Lasers Med Sci. 2015 May;30(4):1305-13. doi: 10.1007/s10103-015-1733-6. Epub 2015 Mar 11. [16] Hoffman M1, Monroe DM. Low intensity laser therapy speeds wound healing in hemophilia by enhancing platelet procoagulant activity. Wound Repair Regen. 2012 Sep-Oct;20(5):770-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-475X.2012.00828.x. Epub 2012 Aug 10.