3B Laser Therapy
A variety of ways to help your dog
3B Laser therapy has fantastic proven results. Whether it's reducing inflammation in joints, bringing chronic non-healing wounds to resolution or optimising recovery in acute cases of injury to skin, muscle, tendon or ligament, the treatment is quick and the benefits of low level laser rapidly become obvious.
It is an excellent tool for post-surgical healing. Usable over pins and plates with research showing its positive effects on the re-growth of both bone and nerve as well as soft tissue.
Non-invasive, drug-free and affording pain relief, LLLT is well-accepted by patients. Animals often visibly relax during treatment - a result of both reduced pain through nociceptor modulation and the therapy's demonstrated ability to increase endorphin release. This combination is particularly effective for tackling anxiety related behaviours such as lick granuloma and feather plucking.
Trigger point stimulation and laser acupuncture are also possible with offering an effective alternative to needling and making acupuncture a practical option in this field
What it can be used for:
- Reduces pain – amazing for arthritic patients & post op care
- Brilliant to use in the management plan for conditions such as cruciate injury, luxating patella, hip and elbow dysplasia, disc problems & spondyloses
- Quicker healing of wounds & lesions
- Quicker healing of fractures, muscle, tendon, ligament, nerve injuries and pressure sores.
- Non needle acupuncture – all the benefits of acupuncture without the needles.
The class 3B machine is an artificial source of light. Depending on the probe used,it emits light with wavelengths in the red or infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum,as a beam of photons.It uses the electromagnetic radiation energy of these photons of light to modulate cellular functions.
The light beam is monochromatic (of a single wavelength), coherent (all photons travelling in the same direction) and collimated (focused into a beam which can be aimed at specific areas).Certain molecules within the body will absorb light of a particular wavelength. One such molecule is an enzyme involved in cellular respiration, called Cytochrome C oxidase. When this molecule absorbs the light, it triggers a chain of events which ultimately lead to the cells producing more ATP.
ATP is the cell’s main energy source,and increasing it speeds up processes such as healing and growth. Increasing ATP also enhances communication between cells.The light energy is also absorbed by other enzymes and can activate or inhibit pathways. In this way stem cells and DNA production can be activated and inflammation is inhibited.Healing of wounds and soft tissue and bone injuries is also speeded because the energy from the photons stimulates fibroblast and osteoblast activity and alignment (cells which produce collagen and new bone).
This can also ultimately lead to better collagen and bone organization and therefore superior biomechanical properties earlier in the healing process.
The laser also stimulates angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels into an area), lymphatic drainage and vasodilation, all of which tend to accelerate healing.Some studies have shown the laser may improve the maintenance of cartilage in immobilized joints.
The laser is useful in acute injuries as well as more chronic problems such as arthritis, as it reduces pain and inflammation.It increases secretion of endorphins and enkephalins, the body’s natural pain killers and also slows nerve conduction velocity in pain fibres. It also blocks nociceptor activity (pain receptors).The laser promotes nerve recovery after injury because it promotes axonal growth and sprouting as well as myelinization (the protective sheath around nerves). It decreases nerve degeneration and promotes growth factors.The laser can also be used to stimulate acupuncture points in animals that will not tolerate needles.There is some evidence the laser light may be inhibitory to bacterial growth. References and published papers available on request