Tuesday 31 May 2011

Medical Applications

Medical Applications

532nm wavelength lasers have been used in medical research and development since the late 1960's. Medical lasers are in use worldwide and have contributed to countless successful surgeries and procedures. While Warn Lasers products are not directly designed for medical use, the 532nm wavelength is a very important part of the medical community and offers a wide range of applications.
Class IIIb lasers have long been licensed for medical use. Several medical professionals, including a chiropractor, who for various reasons prefer to remain anonymous, have been experimenting successfully with our lasers in the US. Read their testimonials below.

Relief of Chronic Pain and Swelling
"One patient of mine suffered a severe fracture of the left ankle five years ago. Surgical stabilization was required, using metal plates and screws. Ever since, this patient has suffered chronic pain, swelling, and the inability to walk properly. I used a 5mW laser on the ankle. One week later, he told me with amazement that his ankle pain was markedly diminished as well as the swelling (which was clearly visible). He even walked with less hesitation. I now use the 55mW on the ankle and it continues to respond favorably. The same can be said (again using your 55mW laser) for a 68-year-old female patient with tennis-ball-sized-swelling of an ankle, the result of altered venous drainage due to an old fracture of the tibia. The swelling was reduced to half after just one therapy laser session."
The Treatment
"I contact the edematous tissue (area of swelling) directly with the laser head and move the laser over the affected area at a speed of approximately 1 inch/second. For example, treating the ankle edema (swelling) would take approximately one and a half minutes."
Lasers in Medicine 
First used in 1967, medical use of lasers is now common for increasing the speed, quality and tensile strength of tissue repair; relieving pain and inflammation; improving function of damaged neurological tissue and they are often used as an alternative to needles for acupuncture.
Why It Works
"There are several external stimuli that speed up the production of ATP (see sidebar), which is used in cellular/tissue respiration. In addition to lasers, these include ultrasound and electrical stimulation. Having used red lasers since the early 1980s, I now believe that I am getting better results with the green (532 nm) laser purchased from Warn Lasers. 

I believe there are two factors making the green light superior: 1) the green beam is more energetic, producing additional heat, which is known to be beneficial. 2) The color green itself has a positive life-enhancing effect, associated with photosynthesis and lush environments. Like photosynthesis, the correct wavelengths and power of light at certain intensities for an appropriate period of time can increase ATP production. 

The cell membrane could also be affected to improve permeability and second messenger activities that improve secretion and mobility. An appropriate dose of laser light can improve speed and quality of acute and chronic wound healing, soft tissue healing, pain relief and nerve regeneration, and also improve the immune system. 

Applications include treatment of venous ulcers, diabetic ulcers, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, post herpetic neuralgia (PHN, shingles) and postoperative pain. Your laser really is a remarkable tool! I have been a practicing chiropractor since 1977 and have used just about every therapeutic "bell and whistle" invented. This medical lasers (532nm) beats them all in terms of pain and swelling reduction."
Sports Injuries 
The most popular medical use of lasers is for treating sports injuries. Many of the world's elite athletes use laser therapy to speed their recovery because: 
1. There is more published clinical and physiological evidence supporting the use of laser and LED photobiomodulation for soft tissue injuries and joint conditions than any electrotherapy modality as traditionally used by physicians and physiotherapists. 
2. It's considered the safest "electrotherapy" available by research experts. 
3. It's quick and simple to apply. 
4. It can be used immediately after injury, over pins, plates and bony prominences.
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) 
"I contact the edematous tissue (area of swelling) directly with the laser head and move the medical laser over the affected area at a speed of approximately 1 inch/second. For example, treating the ankle edema (swelling) would take approximately one and a half minutes."
Acupuncture Substitute 
The same Chiropractor told us: "I also perform traditional needle acupuncture and have tried using the green laser for stimulation of acupuncture points. The Warn Lasers product is tolerated by patients better and is just, if not more, effective."
A Plea to the Medical Laser Community
Unfortunately, this laser is not FDA approved for medical use in the US. Physicians in many other countries are not so restrained. This type of treatment may be of particular interest to the Chinese medical community, which uses procedures such as acupuncture anesthesia for surgery and other procedures that are considered "alternative medicine" in the US, and are accepted only reluctantly.

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