Laser Therapy in San Jose CA

At Resolve Chiropractic, laser therapy in San Jose CA is one of the tools we use when we want to give an injured, irritated, or slow-to-heal area some extra help. Laser therapy—also called photobiomodulation (PBM)—uses specific wavelengths of red and infrared light that penetrate into the tissues. That light interacts with the cells in the treated area and can help with cellular energy, circulation, inflammation, and tissue repair.

We use the Avant LZ30 professional therapy laser, a Class 3B laser that combines 637 nm red and 808 nm infrared wavelengths. The two wavelengths allow us to work at different tissue depths depending on what we're treating. We use it for everything from sore muscles and irritated joints to tendon, ligament, and sports-related injuries. Treatment is quick, non-invasive, and there's no downtime afterward.

What makes laser therapy at Resolve a little different is that we don't just point a laser at wherever it hurts and call it a day. We want to know why that area is irritated in the first place. Sometimes laser therapy is all we're using; other times it makes more sense alongside a Gonstead adjustment, soft-tissue work, rehab, or Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. The combination depends on what we find and what your body needs to get back to functioning well.

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Benefits of Laser Therapy

Depending on what we're treating, laser therapy may help with:

• Pain and soreness
• Inflammation
• Circulation to the treated area
• Muscle and soft-tissue recovery
• Tendon and ligament recovery
• Joint mobility and function
• Sports and overuse injuries
• Recovery after an acute injury
• Stubborn areas that aren't recovering as quickly as expected

It's also non-invasive, doesn't involve injections or medications, and requires no downtime.

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What We Commonly Treat

We may use laser therapy for:

• Neck and back pain
• Shoulder pain
• Knee pain
• Muscle strains and soreness
• Sprains
• Tendon injuries
• Ligament injuries
• Sports injuries
• Repetitive-use and overuse injuries
• Joint pain and stiffness

Not every painful area needs laser therapy. We'll first take a look at what's going on and decide whether it's actually a useful addition to your treatment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does laser therapy do?

Laser therapy delivers specific wavelengths of light into the tissues. Your cells can absorb that light energy and use it in processes involved in cellular energy production, circulation, and tissue repair. This process is called photobiomodulation, or PBM.

What kind of laser do you use?

We use the Avant LZ30, a professional Class 3B therapy laser. It uses both 637 nm red light and 808 nm infrared light, giving us options for treating tissues at different depths.

Does it hurt?

No. Laser therapy is generally very comfortable. There are no needles or injections, and most patients feel very little during treatment.

Is this the same thing as a cold laser?

You may hear terms like cold laser, low-level laser therapy, therapeutic laser, and photobiomodulation used when researching laser treatments. We use an Avant LZ30 Class 3B therapeutic laser and usually just refer to what we do as laser therapy or photobiomodulation.

What do you use laser therapy for?

In our office, we most commonly use it for musculoskeletal problems—things like neck and back pain, muscle strains, sprains, joint pain, tendon and ligament injuries, sports injuries, and repetitive-use injuries.

How long does a treatment take?

It depends on what we're treating and the size of the area. Most treatments are fairly quick and can easily be added to a chiropractic or rehabilitation visit.

How many treatments will I need?

There's no magic number. A fresh ankle sprain and a shoulder that's been bothering you for six months aren't going to need the same plan. We'll make recommendations based on what we're treating and how you're responding.

Can I get laser therapy without an adjustment?

Yes. Laser therapy doesn't necessarily have to be paired with a chiropractic adjustment. We'll recommend what makes sense for your particular situation rather than automatically combining treatments.

Can you combine laser therapy with HBOT?

Yes. Depending on what you're recovering from, laser therapy and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can be used as part of the same recovery plan. Laser allows us to focus treatment on a specific area, while HBOT takes a more whole-body approach.

Is there downtime afterward?

No. One of the nice things about laser therapy is that there's generally no downtime. You can usually go right back to your normal day after treatment.

How do I know if laser therapy is right for me?

That's something we can help you figure out. We'll look at what's bothering you, how long it's been going on, what may be contributing to it, and what you've already tried. If we think laser therapy would actually add value to your care, we'll recommend it. If we don't think you need it, we won't.