NIR Class 4 Laser Therapy
NIR class 4 laser therapy speeds healing and reduces pain /swelling / inflammation
NIR class 4 laser therapy speeds healing and reduces pain
/inflammation
LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
What is NIR class 4 laser therapy?
A red/near infrared
(NIR)frequency of light (~700-1000
nanometers) is
applied via a class 4 laser to
problem areas of the body at an appropriate dosage and power level.
SImilar to Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT, aka cold laser therapy), this therapy
is also referred to as photobiomodulation , whereby laser energy is absorbed by
specific chromophores in the body:
Melanin in skin
Cytochrome C oxidase (to promote cellular energy production);
Hemoglobin (to enhance oxygen delivery to cells)
Water (to improve circulation)
The overall functional effects are:
Improved cellular function;
Increased cell
growth;
Repair/production of enzymes, proteins, immunoglobulins and DNA/RNA.
In
contrast to LLLT, the higher wattage utilized in class 4 laser therapy also produces a
mild photothermal
effect, which aids vasodilation, muscle relaxation and nerve conduction. Note
that an excessive photothermal effect can damage tissue.
Infrared Class 4 laser therapy produces biomodulating reactions that
can very effectively:
Reduce pain
Reduce inflammation
Enhance tissue healing (in hard and soft tissues, incl. muscles, ligaments,
bones)
What defines a class 4 laser?
By definition a class 4 laser must be able to deliver power of at
least ½ a watt (i.e. 500 milliwatts). Unfortunately this category does
not distinguish between the different power levels required for cosmetic /
hair-removal use, healing, surgical lasers or even military lasers (capable of shooting
down a satellite!).
The Class 4 laser is more powerful than low level
laser (or light) therapy (LLLT) devices. This
extra power enables class 4 lasers to penetrate deeper into the body to reach muscles, and areas such as spine and
hip . In contrast to high powered lasers, LLLT does not produce a healing photothermal effect. The typical power level employed in class 4 lasers used for healing
is around 5-8 watts, compared to 5 milliwatts - 1/2 watt for LLLT class 3a and
3b lasers.
Most common class 4 therapy uses a gallium-aluminum-arsenide (GaAlA)
semiconductor diode to produce an infrared laser beam.
A diode may produce
either a continuous wave or pulsed frequencies of 2-10,000 Hz. Infrared
beams are carried by a fiber optic cable and naturally diffuse (not focussed) to a 10-12° angle to produce beam diameter sizes of 10-25mm
(this produces a spot treatment area of 0.8 - 5cm2 ). Power densities
are typically in the 0.4 - 3 W/cm2 range. Primary inteactions with
tissue reach a depth of ~4 centimeters; secondary and tertiary photon effects on
tissue and body systems are seen at greater depths. Pulsed frequencies typically
have a 50% duty cycle (meaning
the pulse is active half the time between pulses).
Effects of laser photon beam
Infrared class 4 lasers were FDA-approved in 2005 as medical therapy
devices (class 3 lasers were FDA-approved in 2002):
However, the FDA consider them only as an infrared
heating lamp. The FDA does not recognize the
bio-stimulatory effects of the laser; interestingly,
Europe has been researching and recognizing
the benefits of using lasers for therapy for over 3 decades;Infrared class 4 lasers
are prescription medical devices available for sale and use only to health
professionals. These are then trained by the manufacturer in
their use. The U.S. has many class 4 laser therapy providers across the country.
Treatment cost (~$50 -75 / treatment) is not usually
covered by insurance.
How to obtain class 4 laser treatment
Brand
Specs. (CW=continuous wave)
Cost
K-laser (still available,
K-800. 0.1 - 8 watts
Summus lasers
P-4. 0.5-24 watts in continuous mode or 28 watts peak / av. 15
watts pulse.
Eltech Klaser
12-15 watts
~$20-28k
EVOlaser
9 - 20 watts
~$10-15k
Pilot Laser
9 watts
~$8k
Apollo Laser
.5 - 5 watt
$5k and up
References
Dr. Mercola
(www.mercola.com) interview with Dr. Phil
Harrington,a chiropractic physician
who was involved in the development of the K-laser
