I have a 50w CO2 laser in the garage and a 3 class 3B IR lasers lying around, but I've never heard of cold laser therapy.
What is it supposed to be doing in a TL;DR fashion?
Photochem of some sort
The literature reviewed suggests that biostimulation with lasers:
1) accelerates the inflammatory phase of wound healing by altering the levels of various prostaglandins,
2) increases ATP synthesis by enhancing electron transfer in the inner membrane of mitochondria,
3) quickens protein (collagen) synthesis by quickening DNA and RNA synthesis,
4) augments fibroplasia by a mechanism that is still being explored, and
5) enhances the ability of immune cells to combat invading pathogens.
I eyeball it very skeptically. I'm mostly convinced it's medical quackery.
- I do not understand why coherent, monochromatic light is necessary, other than the marketing angle of "Lasers sound cool, and we can charge more"
- The wavelengths are between visible and IR. This is below wavelengths at which ionization occur, and are generally thought of as only causing heating, not chemical changes.
- While the Chinese have gotten into the market with inexpensive devices, the classic Erchonia units are INSANELY expensive for something that consists of literally a PWM driver and a few 7.5mW diodes. [1][2][3]
- Want some 635nm light? Slap on some sunscreen and go outside, you'll get 1.3 watts per square meter of it .
[cite]
Someone change my mind with some peer reviewed double blind studies.
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