Health care today faces a number of serious problems which create a demand for new solutions. Effective treatment is still unavailable for many illnesses, and many of today’s treatment methods have serious side effects and high health care costs. A new and effective treatment of soft tissue injuries, pain, arthritis and certain other conditions has been developed during the last two decades. This technique is called Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT).

LILT is a phototherapeutic (utilises light emissions), non-invasive method of using irradiation with both red and infrared light sources. Irradiation of cells at certain wavelengths can activate some of the cell’s components. For example, cellular metabolism can be affected by a sequence of biochemical reactions at the molecular and cellular levels as a result of LILT.

LILT is the use of monochromatic light emission from a low intensity laser diode (250 milliwatts or less) or an array of high intensity Super Luminous Diodes (providing total optical power in the 1000-2000 milliwatt range) to treat musculoskeletal injuries, chronic or degenerative conditions, and to heal wounds. The light source is placed in contact with the skin allowing the photon energy to penetrate tissue, where it interacts with various intracellular biomolecules resulting in the restoration of normal cell function and enhancement of the body’s healing process.

Laser therapy acts by converting light energy into biomechanical energy, resulting in normal cell function which causes the symptoms to disappear. Aside from the elimination of inflammation, ablation of scar tissue and osteophytes, there is no doubt that clinically cartilaginous regeneration occurs.

LILT is being used by therapists (to treat a variety of acute and chronic musculoskeletal pathologies), dentists (to treat inflamed oral tissues, and to heal diverse ulcerations), dermatologists (to treat edema, ulcers, burns, dermatitis), rheumatologists (relief of pain, treatment of chronic inflammation and immune diseases), in sports medicine and rehabilitation clinics ( to reduce swelling and haematoma, relieve pain and improve mobility) and by other specialists as well as general practitioners.

The effectiveness of LILT is repeatedly evidenced by international research, while at the same time no harmful side effects or damaging effects have been described. Also, the patients who respond most successfully to LILT are those who had minimal benefit from standard medical practice.