History of laser light therapy and how it works

In 1916, Albert Einstein first postulated the theory of laser light in an assumption necessary to support his theory of Relativity.  He corrected proposed that when protons collide with an atom under specific conditions they would emit light of uniform energy (wavelength).

It wasn’t until some 40 years later that technology could finally produce what Einstein predicted and the first laser was built.  

 

In 1967 Dr. Endre Mester, an Hungarian oncologist, wanted to find out if laser light could cause cancer.  His simple experiment took 2 groups of mice, shaving the hair off their backs, and exposing one of the groups to laser light.   To his surprise, the laser group did not develop cancer but rather grew their hair back much more quickly and thus was the first discovery that laser light stimulated cell growth and repair.  

Dr. Mester published his findings in a Hungarian medical journal instead of an international forum and therefore his findings missed most of the world.  Laser therapy for treatment of pain and healing began to growth in Eastern Europe (Russia, China) during the 1970’s. Laser treatment moved into western Europe in the 1980’s and finally into the west in the 1990’s.   With preponderance of scientific evidence, laser therapy is now an FDA approved treatment for pain relief, wound healing, and inflammation. 

What makes laser light unique?

There are three properties that make lased light unique.  First, a laser produces light on only one wavelength or color (Monochromatic).  Second, lased light is coherent, meaning that each photon of light (wave) moves in step or phase with all the other photons being emitted.  Third, the light beam is very tight and concentrated (collimated).  That is the beam stays relatively the same size at 10 yds  vrs. 50 yrs, unlike a flash light beam that gets very wide quickly.  

Numerous Scientific studies over the last decade have demonstrated that optimum cell simulation occurs at specific wavelengths, thus maximizing therapeutic laser light effect on pain relief and healing. 

The effects of laser light therapy in cells and the body:

At present, laser therapy is being used worldwide, and has become routinely used in the treatment of pain relief, wound healing, and as a anti-inflammatory mediator. 

The goal of laser therapy is provide pets with relief of pain and swelling, as a local anti-inflammatory, and as an enhanced method of healing wounds and injuries.

• Stabilization of the cellular membrane
• An increase of ATP (universal cell fuel) production to power cell repair and growth
• Increased beta-endorphins, reducing pain
• Reduced hypersensitivity (down-regulates pain nerves)
• Repairs of nerve damage
• Increased tissue repair through increased phagocytosis (removal of non-viable cells and wound debris), growth factor secretion and collagen synthesis
• Vasodilation increasing oxygen and nutrient transport to damaged cells
• Acceleration of beneficial leukocyte activity enhancing removal of non-viable cellular materials allowing for rapid cell repair
• Increased Prostaglandin synthesis (PG12) providing additional vasodilation and anti-inflammatory action
• Enhanced lymphocyte response
• Increased angiogenesis (increased production of blood capillaries and lymphathics)
• Enhanced superoxide dismutase levels which contributes to the anti-inflammatory response
• Decreased C-reactive protein, an inflammatory mediator