Class IV Laser Therapy in Ogden UT

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Why Choose Laser Therapy?

Class IV Laser Therapy offered at our Ogden UT chiropractic clinic does not require the use of drugs or surgery so, there are fewer side effects or risks, and it is quick and convenient. Studies have shown that it is equal to or more effective than comparable forms of physical therapy such as ultrasound and far infrared. Some pain relief is often immediate.

Class IV laser therapy has proven to be a safe effective treatment and unlike drugs or surgery, there are little to no negative side effects. The therapy does not require long treatment times or even excessive numbers of treatment sessions. It is effective, inexpensive, and creates lasting improvement.

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How Does Class IV Laser Work In Ogden UT?

Class IV Laser therapy is a photo-biochemical process. The laser photons increase the cell's ability to take in oxygen and nutrients and remove wastes and toxins. It further increases the permeability of the cell, which allows for a decrease in swelling, pain, and inflammation. These high-powered photons react with the chromophores in the mitochondria of the cells to produce Adenosine Tri Phosphate (ATP), the chemical energy required for healing and rejuvenation. One research study demonstrated a blocking effect in the inflammatory cascade much like that of a COX-inhibiting anti-inflammatory. The light photons have been shown to inhibit a chemical known as Prostaglandin E2 as well as another cytokine called Interleukin 1B. This creates a block in the inflammatory cascade to relieve pain. To simplify, it accelerates the healing and restoration of cells by turning light energy into healing energy!

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What Does The Treatment Feel Like?

Class IV lasers do produce heat and therefore the treatment feels like a warm flashlight. There is usually no other sensation other than warmth during treatment. In some cases, pain can temporarily increase or begin 6-24 hours after a treatment session. This is due to the increased metabolic activity resulting from the laser. This generally only happens when the condition we are treating is chronic and the nerves are highly sensitized. In most cases any increase in pain is transitory.

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How Long Does The Treatment Take?

A normal treatment takes about ten minutes. Treatment time may vary depending on the size of the area being treated as well as the thickness of the tissue. New conditions can be treated daily while chronic problems respond well to treatment every other day.

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How Many Treatments Does It take?

The number of treatments required varies depending on the condition being treated. Acute conditions will often resolve in as little as 2-6 sessions while more chronic conditions may require 10-15 sessions. Typically we recommend a trial of treatment of four sessions. If you are improving we continue with care and if not it's probably not worth continuing with care.

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How Long Before You See Results?

Many patients feel improvement after the first session. The treatments are cumulative and you should continue to improve over time. We generally recommend four sessions as a trial of care.

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Are The Results Long Lasting?

Therapeutic Laser Therapy is about healing. It's not about masking or covering up a condition. When you feel better from this therapy, it's because you are better. Therefore, results have been found to be quite long lasting.

Laser therapy increases the healing activity of your cells. Therefore the treatment isn't like a pain killer or other medication. If you feel better it is because your tissue actually has become healthier. Results for conditions that do not involve obvious visible degeneration of a joint or disc are typically long lasting. Other conditions such as arthritis of the knees or degenerative disc disease of the spine, for example, may improve but then require periodic care to maintain the improvement.

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Can It Be Used In Conjunction With Other Treatments?

Absolutely. Laser therapy addresses one component of a pain syndrome. Other modalities such as chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, soft tissue mobilization, acoustic wave therapy, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, and other physical therapy modalities are often helpful in addressing other aspects of a pain syndrome.

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Is This The Same Thing As "Cold Laser Treatment"?

NO! Class 4 and Class 3 or cold laser therapy are very different. Our laser is a Class-4 Deep Tissue Laser with much deeper penetrating power than Class-2 or Class-3 laser. The beneficial effect of laser therapy is due in part to the amount of light energy applied to the tissue. Theoretically, you could use a class 3 laser and apply the same amount of energy to injured tissue as our class four laser but it would take hours and hours. The power output simply isn't there to allow the quick therapeutic effects we can achieve with our Class 4 laser.

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What Conditions Can Be Treated With Class IV Laser Therapy?

Many conditions respond well to laser therapy including arthritis, neck pain, low back pain, hip pain, knee pain, hand and foot pain, shoulder pain, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, skin conditions, migraine headaches and other inflammatory conditions.

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How Much Do Treatments Cost?

The treatments are very affordable at $25 per 10 minute session.

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How Do I Know If Laser Therapy Is Right For Me?

During your initial consultation with Doctor Annis, he will review your health history, evaluate your condition, and perform a complementary laser therapy consultation to determine if you are a candidate for this procedure. There are very few indications to avoid this type of therapy and little to no negative side effects. If your condition is one that typically benefits from this type of therapy, often the best way to determine if it will work for you is with a trial of care.