Laser Therapy is a new option for pain relief in Asheville, North Carolina.  Stretching and exercise are a way to decrease your pain and improve your function and ultimately I believe that over the long term the best way to manage orthopedic pain is through exercise or activity.  However, there are times when it is difficult to exercise because you just can’t break through the pain.  When this pain cycle is stubborn, we have to use other types of interventions so you can tolerate some exercise.  There are other times when you are in pain  just because you overdone it and are in pain despite doing everything right for the majority of the time.  When these occasions occur we have a tools to manage the pain.  One of the most useful and interesting tools is the low level laser.

Laser therapy is a less commonly used modality and people may not be familiar with it.  The laser is often known as a a cold laser because it does not actually heat tissues and will not burn tissues, in addition, it stimulates healing.  In fact, most patients have little to no sensation when then laser is being performed.  The laser basically works through two mechanisms.  The first action of the laser is to reduce inflammation by stimulating certain parts of the cell.  The second action of the laser is to reduce  pain by blocking pain signals in nerves.

There are some patients that I have found that the laser works particularly well including: LASER Therapy

1:  Patients with nerve pain.  This is especially true if the nerve pain is from a nerve that is close to the surface.  This is true of situations like carpal tunnel syndrome.  In fact there is evidence of carpal tunnel being sucessfully treated in the literature.  Link

2: Patients with temporomandibular dysfunction.  Both acute and chronic temporomandibular joint pain are types of problem that I have seen good results with in the clinic.  Again there are studies to back this up.  Link

3: Patients in need of tissue healing.  We have had patients who demonstrated improved bone growth after regular laser treatments.  If you recently have had a surgery you may benefit from laser treatments to promote healing.  There have been animal studies that have demonstrated this.  Link

Other patients also benefit from the laser therapy treatments.   In general if you are experiencing a condition that would benefit from reducing inflammation or blocking pain signal, you may benefit from laser treatments.  Laser therapy treatments can be performed in conjunction with physical therapy treatments or by itself.   We offer several different options to make laser treatments affordable.  If you are interested trying the laser give contact us via email (info@PhysioWNC.com) or give us a call at (828) 348-1780.

Learn more about our Laser Therapy Program HERE.

Christopher Taylor, MPT, Physical Therapist at PHYSIO Physical Therapy and Wellness, Asheville, NC

*Christopher Taylor was voted #1 Best Physical Therapist in Asheville, WNC for 2013 and again in 2014.

Christopher Taylor, PT

Chris Taylor is the Founding Physical Therapist at PHYSIO Physical Therapy and Wellness Asheville. He has been voted Best Physical Therapist in Western North Carolina every year by the Mountain XPress Reader Poll. His experience includes being a patient himself which deepens his understanding of each aspect of the rehab process. He has lived and worked in 11 states which contributes to the treatment style he has developed which breaks the mold. Become a better You today! #KeepAshevilleActive