Before we talk about my experience with LLLT you may be wondering what it is. LLLT or low-level light therapy (LLLT) is also known as red light therapy or photobiomodulation. It is a treatment that uses low levels of red and near-infrared light to target specific areas of the body. It is painless, non-invasive, non-toxic, non-thermal and can be effective for a variety of conditions.
How Does Low-Level Light Therapy Work?
LLLT works by delivering photons (light particles) to cells. These photons are absorbed by the mitochondria, the cell's powerhouses, which can then increase ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production. ATP is the energy currency of cells, and increased ATP production can help to improve cell function and repair. Through Activating mitochondrial function blood flow can be improved, oxidative damage, pain and inflammation can also be reduced.
Conditions That May Benefit from Low-Level Light Therapy
Medical grade LLLT has been shown to be effective for a variety of conditions, including:
Wound healing
Arthritis
Sports injuries
Chronic and degenerative conditions
Musculoskeletal problems
and probably more, because low-level light therapy addresses the root causes of conditions rather than only treating the symptoms. Studies are continually being conducted to investigate further the benefits of LLLT particularly in areas where conventional medicine has failed to produce results. LLLT is also being studied in relation to the longevity movement.
My specific experience with LLLT came about due to a sports injury or repetitive Strain Injury in the ring and pinky finger knuckles of my right hand. During a particularly strenuous training session working on the correct form for a hook in boxing I damaged my knuckles which caused heavy bruising and swelling that lasted for a few days. After the bruising and swelling subsided I forgot about the injury until it started to flare up. At first the flare ups seemed random but as they gradually got worse and became more frequent I noticed they were attuned to weather shifts and whenever I would use my right hand for something that required fine detail or when I was active for longer than normal periods at my computer. Sometimes the pain was so bad in the evening I had a hard time falling asleep. It was around this time I started to have horrible neck pain as well which at the time I didn't think was associated and it was at this point I went in search of help.
Luckily, at Vitruvian Wellness we have some amazing and highly skilled practitioners and one in particular, Lora Macfarlane, who had just added a new piece of equipment to her kit, the Bioflex Low-Level Light Therapy Laser. I turned to Lora for her expertise as a TCM Acupuncturist because in the past she had helped me with other sports injuries, recovery from illness, fatigue, stress and low mood. I didn't know she was about to introduce me to the Bioflex and had never really heard too much about Low-Level Light Therapy. I was familiar with infrared saunas and had experienced benefits from their regular use so I was curious what exactly this little device could do. It is important to note here that the specific laser Lora uses in her clinic sessions is a medical grade device backed by scientific research, so it delivers more powerful and effective results than something you might find on Amazon.
After a few acupuncture needles in place and the Low-level light laser resting over my hand for about 20 minutes I felt immediate relief. It took a couple of sessions with Lora and the Bioflex laser for the pain to completely subside and some thorough remedial massage to shift the aggregated tension that had built up along the entire length of my right arm and moved into my neck. All in all, it was 3 sessions total and I was good to go and have not had an iota of pain since.
So I suppose there is a lesson here to impart. If you have reoccurring pain, address it, it won't go away on its own but it could build into something bigger. I didn't think that a minor hand injury could turn into agonising pain that would disrupt my sleep and in turn start causing me to have neck problems, but it did. Thanks to Lora's expertise as an acupuncturist and her drive to bridge the gap between tried and tested complimentary therapies and cutting edge scientific technology I found healing and am back to uninterrupted sleep and pain free work days.
If you are in pain, mentally, emotionally or physically come see us and see what we can do for you. Find our list of therapies and treatments here and if you would like to book in to see Lora you can book your session here.
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