What is Laser Therapy?
How does it work?
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Laser therapy is essentially light therapy. Light of a particular wavelength is applied to an area to:
1) reduce pain and inflammation
2) stimulate healing
Dr. Olsen often compares laser therapy to Photosynthesis. In photosynthesis, plants use light energy to make food. Similarly, with laser therapy, our body tissues use the light energy from the laser to make cellular "food" that can be used to power cell processes and fuel cell repair.
In more scientific terms, the light energy from the laser penetrates tissues and is absorbed by the mitochondria of the cells, where it is converted into ATP, the energy currency of the cell. The ATP powers cellular processes, cellular reproduction, and tissue repair.
What kind of conditions can you treat with Laser Therapy?
The list is endless. The main effects of Laser treatment are to reduce pain, inflammation, and stimulate healing.
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Given those results, most conditions can benefit from Laser. Some common uses include:
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Small Animals:
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Arthritis
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Hip Dysplasia
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Cruciate ligament rupture
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Chronic ear infections
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Anal sac problems
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Wounds
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Hot spots, lick granulomas
Equine:
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Bowed tendons
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Suspensory injuries
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Back soreness
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Stifle and hock arthritis
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Wound healing
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Pastern dermatitis/ "Scratches"
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Tying Up
About the Activet Laser
About the Activet Laser
There are many different types and kinds of laser in use today, it
can be confusing for a pet owner to decipher between them and decide
what to use on their pets. The Activet is a Class I Laser, which is the
safest type of laser unit. Laser are classified on a scale of I- IV,
depending on power and safety. Class 1 are considered safe for all
conditions of normal use.
The Activet is a Super-Pulsed Laser, the only laser available with
this technology. Super pulsing allows the Activet to deliver high amount
of energy (25 Watts) without the risk of tissue damage from high heat.
Most other high power lasers are continuous wave; meaning that the
photons are emitted continuously throughout the treatment time. This
generates a lot of heat and presents the potential for thermal burns to
occur. The Activet, in contrast, delivers the light energy in short, fast
pulses (fractions of a second). This allows the device to deliver much
higher doses of power without the risk of thermal burns. The pulsing
also allows the tissue to get an intermittent rest period, which allows
for improved absorption of light and better results.
The Activet has the added benefit of being able to provide
multiple wavelengths of light. This allows for versatility in depth of
tissue penetration. The Activet is the only laser that includes a blue
light. The blue light has been proven to inhibit bacterial and fungal
growth, and is ideal for use with infections or wounds.