Laser Therapy in Sports
Low level laser therapy (see hyperlink for full information on LLLT) can be very effective for nearly all types of sporting injuries. LLLT works best if conditions are treated in their acute stage rather than when they become chronic conditions. Laser Therapy is considered to be one of the safest forms of electrotherapy and has more published research evidence supporting it than any other electrotherapy.
LLLT is effective at treating sports injuries because it provides multiple benefits. It not only provides pain relief but also decreases inflammation and promotes tissue repair. It is evidence based, safe, virtually no side effects and can be used on a daily basis if required.
It is particularly useful for injuries sustained in dancing and gymnastics or other sports where we don’t have the ability to put padding or orthotics into footwear to offload painful tissue.
There are emerging well designed studies showing good evidence for the use of low level laser therapy in sports injuries. The American Journal of Sports Medicine published an article looking at the effects of low level laser therapy in combination with specific exercises for Achilles tendinopathy in recreational athletes. They found that the group that had the laser therapy improved much more quickly than the group that only did the exercises (and had sham laser). For the LLLT group, the results (pain reduction, range of motion etc) at 4 weeks were similar to the placebo LLLT group results after 12 weeks.
The Journal of Clinical Laser Med Surgery found that low level laser therapy in combination with the RICE protocol significantly reduced oedema (swelling) associated with ankle sprains in a group of soccer players after a 3 day treatment period.
If you are suffering from sporting musculo-skeletal sports injury then low level laser therapy may be an effective treatment option for you. Contact The Perth Foot and Ankle Clinic today for an appointment on 9316 3010.