Unpacking Pain Relief: MLS Laser Therapy vs. Radial Shockwave Therapy

When you're dealing with persistent pain or recovering from an injury, finding the right treatment can feel like navigating a maze. Two advanced therapies that often come up in discussions about effective pain management and tissue regeneration are MLS (Multi-wave Locked System) Laser Therapy and Radial Shockwave Therapy. Both are powerful tools, but they work in fundamentally different ways. Let's break down the distinctions so you can better understand which might be best suited for your specific needs.

MLS Laser Therapy: The Power of Light for Cellular Healing

At Tripod Laser Services, MLS Laser Therapy is a cornerstone of our approach to pain relief and accelerated healing. What makes it so effective? It all comes down to light.

MLS Laser Therapy uses synchronized wavelengths of light to penetrate deep into tissues without heat or discomfort. This patented technology delivers therapeutic light energy to damaged cells, triggering a cascade of beneficial effects:

• Reduced Inflammation: It significantly decreases swelling and inflammation, which are primary contributors to pain.

• Pain Relief: By blocking pain signals and promoting the release of endorphins, MLS therapy offers rapid pain reduction.

• Accelerated Tissue Repair: The laser energy stimulates cellular metabolism, increasing ATP production (the fuel for cells). This accelerates the repair of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.

• Improved Blood Flow: It promotes vasodilation, increasing circulation to the injured area, which brings essential nutrients and removes waste products.

Imagine your cells are like tiny batteries that have run low due to injury or chronic stress. MLS Laser Therapy recharges those batteries, empowering your body to heal itself more efficiently. It's a non-invasive, drug-free option that addresses the root cause of pain by fostering natural healing.

Radial Shockwave Therapy: Mechanical Force for Tissue Regeneration

Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT), sometimes simply called Shockwave Therapy, operates on a very different principle. Instead of light, it uses pneumatic energy to generate high-energy acoustic waves. These "shockwaves" are delivered through the skin to the affected tissues.

Here's how Radial Shockwave Therapy typically works:

• Microtrauma and Neovascularization: The mechanical stress from the shockwaves creates controlled microtrauma within the tissue. This, in turn, stimulates a healing response, including the formation of new blood vessels (neovascularization), which improves blood supply to the area.

• Breakdown of Calcifications: It's particularly effective at breaking down calcified deposits often found in chronic tendon issues (like rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy or Achilles tendinopathy).

• Pain Reduction: While it can be temporarily uncomfortable during the treatment, it helps reduce pain over time by stimulating nerve fibers and depleting Substance P (a neurotransmitter associated with pain).

• Collagen Production: It can stimulate the production of collagen, a crucial component for tissue repair and strength.

Think of Radial Shockwave Therapy as a targeted "reset" button for stubborn, chronic conditions. It's often utilized when tissues have become stagnant in their healing process.

Which One is Right for You?

Neither therapy is "better" than the other; they are simply different tools for different jobs.

• MLS Laser Therapy is an excellent choice for broad pain relief, managing inflammation, accelerating healing across a wide spectrum of acute injuries (sprains, strains, post-op recovery), chronic pain conditions (arthritis, back pain), and nerve-related issues. It's often preferred for its comfortable application and its ability to enhance the body's natural healing processes without discomfort.

Ready to Recharge Your Healing? Take the Next Step!

If you're tired of temporary fixes and are looking for a powerful, non-invasive, and drug-free solution to tackle your pain and accelerate your recovery, MLS Laser Therapy may be the answer you've been searching for.

At Tripod Laser Services, we specialize in harnessing the advanced healing power of light.

Stop managing your pain and start healing it.

Call us today at 248-360-3888 to schedule your consultation. Let's discuss how MLS Laser Therapy can get you back to living life without limits!

Laser Therapy Guide

The world of laser therapy can be a confusing place. Terms like class IV, cold laser therapy (CLT), low-level laser therapy (LLLT), and even photobiomodulation (PBM) are all over the internet and can make digesting information about therapeutic laser treatment hard. In this blog post we’ll be attempting to answer some common questions, point out important information to look for, and hopefully provide you with enough basic laser knowledge to ensure you get the most out of your laser therapy experience as possible.

Are there different types of Laser Therapy?

We’re often asked what CLT, LLLT, and PBM mean, so we’ll begin with defining those terms. Class IV describes the classification of lasers that are used in laser therapy. These lasers are typically higher powered and allow for better tissue penetration than class I-III lasers, which are found in your home, office, or manufacturing.

When laser therapy first became available for human use many terms were coined to describe the therapy process. These terms included cold laser therapy and low-level laser therapy. As with most devices, once laser therapy became available to the public, a rash of late-night devices hit infomercials everywhere claiming to fall under these categories. This influx of inferior machines spurred the need in the laser world for clear barriers in what laser therapy is and can do. Photobiomodulation is now considered the appropriate term for the use of laser therapy on tissue.

What is Laser Therapy and what does it do?

 Laser therapy is the non-invasive, non-thermal application of light energy to stimulate cells. Once stimulated by the near-infrared light, cells in the affected area generate more energy and undergo self-repair. There are no known negative side effects from the use of PBM on cells.

When looking into laser therapy remember that not all laser devices are created equal. It’s important to use a PBM provider that utilizes a class IV laser that works somewhere between 808-908nm wavelengths. These ranges are great for not only tissue regeneration, but also in managing inflammation, and pain relief.

Can I be treated if I don’t have a diagnosis?

Laser therapy should always be performed by knowledgeable staff and under the direct supervision of a physician. Currently, some establishments do not require a diagnosis before treatment begins. Doing so is a bit like shooting at a target blindfolded. Treatment protocols for conditions vary widely in time, intensity, and technique. Having a diagnosis before treatment is essential in evaluating the efficacy of a treatment protocol for the patient, and in understanding how to manage that treatment for the best possible results.

What kind of training is required to perform laser therapy?

Right now several states including Michigan do not require certification for laser therapy technicians. So how do you ensure you’re receiving the best treatment and care possible? Ask about requirements for your state and the technician’s experience, and if the same technician will be performing each treatment. Typical training for laser therapy includes topics such as laser history and theory, application of techniques, and courses on common conditions treated as well as basic healing, bandaging, and wound care in some cases.

As always if you have any questions, or would like to see us tackle a specific topic, please leave us a comment below. We hope you found this information helpful, and we look forward to helping you #livepainfree.