Does Class IV laser therapy hurt? Learn what Aspen laser therapy feels like, what happens during treatment, possible side effects, and what to expect at during treatment.
Does Laser Therapy Hurt?
This is one of the first questions we hear when someone learns that we offer Class IV laser therapy in our Spring Green chiropractic office.
Fortunately, therapeutic laser treatment is generally very comfortable.
Most patients feel a gentle warmth developing in the treatment area. A good comparison is the pleasant warmth you feel when you are lying in the sun on a comfortable day.
There are no needles, no injections, and no incisions.
Many patients actually find their laser sessions relaxing.
What Happens During a Class IV Laser Treatment?
Before treatment begins, we determine which tissues and areas should be addressed.
You and the staff member performing the treatment will wear specialized protective eyewear because Class IV lasers produce powerful light that should never be directed into the eyes.
The laser handpiece is then moved across the treatment area according to the specific treatment protocol.
Treatment time varies based on the size of the area, the condition being addressed, and the treatment parameters being used.
You may gradually notice warmth as the treatment progresses.
Because therapeutic laser treatment is non-invasive, patients generally do not need recovery time afterward.
You can usually stand up and continue with the rest of your day.
Why Does It Feel Warm?
Class IV laser systems deliver considerably more power than lower-level devices.
The therapeutic light interacts with tissues while some of the energy also produces a warming sensation.
That warmth should generally feel comfortable.
Treatment is continuously monitored, and the laser handpiece is typically kept moving over the area being treated.
It should not feel like your skin is being burned.
If anything ever feels uncomfortably hot, you should immediately tell the person performing your treatment.
What Is Happening Beneath the Skin?
Even though what you notice externally is mostly warmth, the purpose of treatment is what is happening at the cellular level.
Laser therapy uses specific wavelengths of light as part of a process called photobiomodulation.
The light can influence mitochondrial activity within cells and cellular energy production. It can also affect local circulation and inflammatory processes. Aspen identifies increased ATP production, improved circulation, and reduced inflammation among the biological effects associated with Class IV photobiomodulation.
You don’t feel those cellular changes occurring.
You simply feel the gentle warmth of the treatment.
Will I Feel Better Immediately?
Most patients report noticeable changes after an early treatment, while others improve gradually over a series of visits.
There is no universal timeline.
How quickly someone responds can depend on several factors, including how long the problem has been present, the tissue involved, overall health, severity of the condition, activity level, and whether there is ongoing irritation of the area.
An ankle sprain that happened yesterday is very different from a knee that has experienced arthritic changes for 15 years.
That is one reason treatment plans are individualized.
Are There Side Effects?
One of the appealing features of photobiomodulation is that it is non-invasive and generally well tolerated when performed appropriately.
Most patients experience little to no downtime following treatment.
The main safety concern with a Class IV laser is proper control of the laser beam itself, particularly eye exposure. The FDA classifies Class IV lasers as powerful devices that can pose eye and skin hazards if used improperly, which is why protective eyewear and appropriate clinical protocols are essential.
What About Joint Replacements or Previous Surgery?
Having had surgery does not automatically mean that laser therapy cannot be used in that area.
Similarly, patients with certain orthopedic implants or joint replacements may still be candidates for treatment.
However, we do not make a blanket assumption that every surgical site, implant, or joint replacement should be treated.
The type of surgery, location, implant, stage of healing, underlying medical history, and other factors should be considered first.
That is why we ask about your medical and surgical history before treatment.
For appropriate patients, laser therapy can sometimes be incorporated into a treatment plan for an area that has previously undergone surgery.
Are There Times When Laser Therapy Should Not Be Used?
Yes.
Like any therapeutic modality, laser therapy has precautions and contraindications.
We screen patients before treatment and take factors such as pregnancy, active or suspected cancer in the treatment area, certain medical conditions, medications, treatment location, and recent procedures into consideration.
If there is ever a question about whether laser therapy is appropriate, we would rather evaluate the situation first than simply treat everyone the same way.
Can Laser Therapy Be Combined With Chiropractic Treatment?
Absolutely.
In many cases, laser therapy and chiropractic care address different pieces of the same problem.
For example, someone experiencing shoulder pain may have joint dysfunction, limited mobility, muscular tension, and inflamed soft tissues.
An adjustment may address joint mechanics and movement while laser therapy is used to address painful or irritated tissues.
Similarly, someone with low-back pain and sciatica may be treated with a combination of chiropractic care, decompression therapy, laser therapy, or exercises depending on the examination findings.
Try Class IV Laser Therapy in Spring Green, WI
If you have been curious about laser therapy but were worried that it would be painful or intimidating, you may be surprised by how comfortable it is.
For most people, treatment involves relaxing for several minutes while feeling a pleasant warmth in the area being treated.
At Simply Health Chiropractic in Spring Green, Wisconsin, we use our Aspen Class IV laser as part of our conservative treatment options for patients throughout Spring Green, Plain, Lone Rock, Arena, and the River Valley area.