Does laser therapy really work?

By Patricia Delzell, M.D., Advanced Musculoskeletal Medicine Consultants, Inc.

Individuals with a chronic condition are often desperate for relief. And marketers know that desperate people are sometimes easy targets for their unsubstantiated claims.

As a result, store shelves and the internet are packed with products claiming to treat virtually every human condition, yet with no scientific studies to back them up.

So when our medical practice discusses our use of Class IV infrared (IR) laser therapy to treat neuropathy, it’s natural—and smart—to ask, “But does it really work?”

The short answer is yes, IR is effective for almost all patients, so much so that in November of last year the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommended IR laser therapy for acute, subacute, and chronic pain.

Because the sensation of pain is a function of the brain, studies on treatments for pain relief are particularly susceptible to the placebo effect. So, one of the first clinical trials to study the use to laser therapy (ILIB) to treat diabetic neuropathy (DN) featured the trial group, which received the treatment, and a control group, which also received the treatment but with the device turned off.

The study concluded: “The ILIB group presented significantly lower pain levels and a better quality of life compared with the control and SILIB groups. This study demonstrated that ILIB therapy was effective in reducing pain and improving quality of life in patients with DN.”

The treatment is also effective for other types of neuropathy.

But a proven treatment also requires proper administration of the treatment to maximize its benefit. As a trained physician who is also highly curious, I do not bring treatments into our practice until I understand them inside and out. The same is true of the ultrasound we use. In fact, I designed the protocols for the manufacturer in cooperation with its engineers.

So, if you’re suffering with any type of neuropathy, please call our office to find out if you are a candidate for IR Laser.

Advanced Musculoskeletal Medicine Consultants’ new offices are at 8401 Chagrin Rd., Suite 20A, in Chagrin Falls. Call 440-557-5011 to schedule an evaluation or visit AdvancedMMC.com for more info.