- Office 5, Level 1, 300 Point Cook Road, Point Cook, 3030
We use photobiomodulation delivered through laser to reduce pain and inflammation while accelerating healing for a range of problems including sports injuries, difficult-to-heal wounds, and chronic pain.
Photobiomodulation is the name of the process that is stimulated when focused light penetrates our cells, leading to reduced pain and inflammation which promotes the body’s healing and repair process. This precise focused light is produced by lasers of which we use two types: the THOR laser and the K-laser.
Backed By Evidence
Photobiomodulation is strongly supported by over 700 randomised controlled trials and over 7,000 published papers to support its uses, benefits and efficacy. Its effects are studied in both humans and animals and have shown to be helpful for a range of conditions and extend beyond musculoskeletal pains and injuries to include multiple sclerosis, Azherimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, concussions, brain injuries, strokes, depression, movement disorders and more.
To learn how the laser works on a cellular level, please see our FAQs below.
Previously referred to as low-level laser therapy, our THOR laser uses both red and near red infrared light administered slowly at a low frequency to reduce inflammation and pain, stimulate wound healing, and accelerate the repair of tissues, tendons, muscles and ligaments. We find it fantastic for longstanding (chronic) injuries, as well as inflammatory conditions like arthritis. It can even help release trigger points in the muscles with a similar effect as acupuncture, but without the needles.
Aside from the results, our patients love THOR because it:
Like the THOR laser, K Laser also utilises painless low frequency light for pain and inflammation reduction, healing and repair. The difference is that it also offers higher frequency settings that are administered faster to produce additional effects on the body. One of these is transforming the energy delivered by the laser into heat, which transforms the deep tissue layers of the targeted area into heat points – enabling the K laser to:
No, it doesn’t. The laser treatment we use to reduce pain and swelling while stimulating repair and healing is safe and painless, and does not produce any heat. For laser treatments that specifically generate focal heat points like for fungal nail and wart treatments, these are performed manually by your podiatrist who is in control during the entire session, and ensures the heat produced doesn’t exceed a level you are comfortable with.
Our sessions generally take between 20 – 30mins. Research indicates that prolonged treatment provides no additional benefit to the patient. In other words, there is an optimal dose time of approximately 20mins. There may be some conditions that require a longer treatment time, such as when treating all ten toenails infected with nail fungus. In this case, you’ll be advised of the appointment time when making your booking.
To answer this, we need to look at what happens on a cellular level. Each of your cells contain mitochondria which is known as the powerhouse of the cell – because it makes ATP energy that powers all the functions of the cell. Now, when your cell is stressed, a molecule (nitric oxide) binds to the part of the mitochondria that is involved in the ATP production process, meaning that the cell can’t work so well.
When the red or near infrared light from the laser reaches the cell, however, the nitric oxide molecule comes off the cell, binding instead to an oxygen molecule that then passes out of the cell and encourages blood flow to the area. So, the cell can produce ATP effectively again and work better to stimulate repair, you’ll also have extra blood flow, oxygen and nutrients to the area which assist healing, and you’ll have reductions in pain and inflammation.
As we treat a wide variety of conditions with our two lasers, and the severity and nature of problems or injuries can be very different, your session number can vary greatly. For muscle healing and repair we generally say 4-6 sessions, but your podiatrist will update you with an informed estimate after your assessment, and this may change depending on your body’s response to the laser.
Laser is a unique system that introduces no foreign chemicals or objects into the body, and as such, in over two decades of use and study of photobiomodulation, very few negative side effects are reported. The most common one may be that occasionally, as part of the activated healing and repair process, your injuries may feel a little aggravated as the body’s systems kick in and focus on the area.
