Earlier this week, I had a re-evaluation with Carol. Once a person starts care at our office, we follow up with tests and exams within a week or two to make sure that what we are doing is working, and that the patient is seeing improvements at the pace that he or she is expecting.
Carol wasn't expecting to feel this good this soon. She had come in just about a month ago to see if our laser, in addition to chiropractic care, could help her out. She had lost a lot of mobility and gained a lot of pain in both of her feet. While she had been told it was "arthritis" and there wasn't much to be done...she wasn't happy with that answer. And we are all glad she didn't settle!
Carol volunteers at the EAA every year and was concerned that all of that time on her feet this year may not be possible. Thankfully, after only about 3 weeks and 4 Laser sessions, she noted that not only was the pain gone, but her ability to move her ankles had improved, and she even noted significant reduction in the "puffyness" of her feet...the inflammation had definitely improved!
It was great to talk to her today and document how much she was not only able to attend EAA...but also enjoy it! And now we just need to keep her that way!
Laser therapy can be a useful, non-invasive treatment option for people dealing with pain and stiffness related to arthritis. MLS technology uses synchronized wavelengths of therapeutic light designed to penetrate tissue and influence cellular activity, a process often referred to as photobiomodulation. This may help reduce inflammatory signaling and improve local circulation, which can decrease pain and swelling around an arthritic joint. Now, the term "Arthritis" can refer to literally hundreds of different conditions, but more often than not, it involves a cycle of inflammation, discomfort, and reduced movement. Decreasing the associated pain can make everyday activities and exercise more comfortable.
The laser can also support the body's natural tissue-repair processes. Photobiomodulation can influence mitochondrial activity and cellular energy production, which may help create an environment that supports tissue recovery and regulation of inflammation. While laser therapy cannot reverse significant cartilage loss or cure osteoarthritis, studies of low-level and therapeutic laser treatments suggest that some patients with osteoarthritis—particularly knee osteoarthritis—can experience improvements in pain, stiffness, and physical function. This makes laser therapy particularly useful as part of a broader treatment approach that includes appropriate movement, strengthening, mobility work, and other conservative care.
Another advantage of MLS laser therapy is that treatments are non-invasive, drug-free, and generally well tolerated. There are no injections or surgical incisions, and treatment sessions typically require little to no recovery time afterward. For patients whose arthritis makes movement painful, reducing discomfort and stiffness may help them become more active and better tolerate rehabilitation or exercise—both of which are important for maintaining joint function over time. Results vary depending on the severity and location of arthritis, so MLS laser therapy is best viewed as a tool for symptom management and improved function, rather than as a cure for the underlying degenerative changes of arthritis.
But, no matter what or where the "arthritis" is affecting...this new technology is likely to reduce your pain and improve your mobility. And that equals a higher Quality of Life, which is, in the end, all that matters!
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