Over the last year or so the vets at the Sussex Equine Hospital have been using Class 4 laser therapy (K Laser) to treat numerous conditions including tendon and ligament injuries with fantastic results in terms of speed and quality of healing. One of the main uses for the K laser is for treating wounds, see the following case as an example.
The following is a description of how laser treatment works. Laser therapy uses selected wavelengths of light to stimulate key molecules in human tissues. Decades of medical research have identified the wavelengths, energy level and frequencies that induce changes in cellular metabolism (Photobiostimulation), for instance melanin absorbing sunlight changes skins pigmentation. K-Laser delivers energy from superficial to deep tissues activating a cascade of photochemical reactions that promotes cell function, enabling treated tissues to accelerate the stages of the healing process and reduce pain sensation. This is a safe and non-invasive technique that uses the body’s own reparative processes.
1. Increased Metabolic Activity
By stimulating key molecules (haemoglobin, water, cytochrome c) K-Laser therapy improves tissue oxygenation, ATP synthesis and intercellular exchanges, activating a cascade of photo-chemical reactions that speeds up the healing, regenerative process.
2. Improved Vascular Activity
K-Laser therapy induces vasodilation in the treated area and promotes angiogenesis, thus improving blood circulation, optimising tissue nutrition and removal of cell waste and inflammatory factors. K-Laser boosts the lymphatic drainage system as well. As a result, there is a reduction in swelling caused by bruising or local inflammation.
3. Anti Inflammation
Laser therapy accelerates the termination of the inflammatory process. Interleukin-1, a cytokine that has immune and pro-inflammatory actions, is proven to be reduced by laser treatment, and the antioxidant Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD) levels are enhanced, helping reduce damaging free-radical activity.
4. Improved Nerve Function
Laser therapy is proven to facilitate the normalisation of nerve signal transmission in the autonomic, sensory, and motor neural pathways. Both Compound Muscle Action Potential (CMAP) and Nerve Latency values show improvement following laser treatment. It is also proven to stimulate axonal sprouting and cell regeneration in damaged nerves.
5. Analgesic Effect
Pain relief is the result of nerve activity alteration, reduced localised inflammation and swelling, proven to happen following a K-Laser therapy course.
6. Accelerated Tissue Repair and Cell Growth
K-Laser wavelengths, power and pulse frequencies penetrate at depth into tissues and accelerate cellular reproduction and growth by increasing their metabolism. As a result, the cells of tendons, ligaments, muscles, and bones are repaired faster.
7. Reduced Fibrous Tissue Formation
Early K-Laser Therapy can prevent the accumulation of scar tissue following tears, burns or surgery. Once healed the tissues are proven to be more elastic with minimal scarring, reducing the onset of chronic pain associated with scars.
8. Immunoregulation
Acceleration of Leukocytic activity and enhanced Lymphocytic response have been observed in treated tissues (enhances the removal of nonviable tissue components and rapid repair). Wounds treated with the K-Laser are more resilient to secondary infections.
9. Faster Wound Healing
Laser therapy optimises collagen and elastin deposition: wounds treated with the K-Laser are proven to heal faster, with increased tensile strength preventing further breakdowns. K-Laser therapy is effective on Chronic Diabetic Ulcers and traumatic wounds.
10. Acupuncture Points
K-Laser therapy stimulates acupuncture points allowing needleless acupuncture.
The images show the progress of a nasty wound, across the front of a hock, that Ed Lyall treated for a few weeks with standard bandages and laser treatment each time the bandage was changed. The wound healed very quickly, reducing the number times the bandages had to be changed and the cosmetic result is excellent so far.