What cold laser therapy is
Cold laser therapy, also called low-level laser therapy, or LLLT, uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate cellular activity. Unlike the high-power lasers used in surgery, cold lasers do not produce heat. They deliver photons of light that are absorbed by the body’s cells.
Practically, that means it is non-invasive, painless, and has no downtime. Most people feel nothing during a session at all.
Why Erchonia
Erchonia is a world leader in low-level laser technology, and their commitment to scientific validation is the reason we use their units rather than someone else’s. The lasers are:
- FDA-cleared and TGA-approved: regulated for safety and efficacy in both jurisdictions.
- Backed by published research: supported by clinical studies rather than marketing claims.
- Non-invasive and painless: a comfortable treatment with no recovery period.
Where the evidence sits
Low-level laser has a reasonable evidence base for pain and soft-tissue conditions, and a weaker one for many of the other things it gets promoted for. We use it for the former. If you have read something extravagant about what laser can do, ask us and you will get a straight answer about whether the research supports it.
What it is used for
In this practice, laser is generally applied to musculoskeletal presentations as one part of a plan — not booked as a standalone treatment. The presentations it most often supports are:
- Musculoskeletal pain — back pain, neck pain, shoulder and knee pain.
- Soft tissue injuries: sprains, strains and tendon problems, including from sport.
- Nerve-related pain: presentations such as sciatica, where irritability is a feature.
- Arthritic joints: as part of managing arthritis symptoms.
How it fits into care
Laser does not replace working out why a joint stopped moving properly. It sits alongside adjustments and exercise, and for particular presentations alongside spinal decompression. Which of these you would use, if any, depends entirely on what the examination shows.