Laser therapy for acute back pain is an effective treatment modality that does not require extensive downtime or a prolonged recovery period. Acute back pain is a common problem that often develops after an accident or injury. Low-level laser therapy is an effective and non-invasive treatment to help alleviate various painful symptoms related to a lower back injury.
While traditional laser therapy uses hot lasers that can warm the tissues and muscles, low-level laser therapy uses a laser that does not heat the tissues. Because low-level laser therapy does not heat the skin or tissues, it minimizes the risk of potential side effects.
What Is Acute Back Pain?
Back pain is a common condition, and it can take two forms — chronic back pain and acute back pain. Chronic back pain is an ongoing issue where back pain may come and go throughout life or persist for extended periods of time. Acute back pain often develops suddenly and is usually triggered by something specific, such as an injury or accident.
In most cases, acute pain does not last longer than six months and typically resolves when the underlying cause of pain is treated. Acute back pain may develop due to a fracture, damaged spinal disc, spinal stenosis, sprains, tears or other injuries related to the spine and lower back. While sudden pain may be the most obvious sign of acute back pain, there can be several symptoms, including:
- Aches: Some instances of acute lower back pain may also cause a dull aching sensation in the lower back. This general soreness may occur alongside pain or discomfort.
- Stinging: A stinging, burning or even sharp stabbing sensation can occur due to several causes of lower back pain. Sudden shooting pain is often a sign of a back injury or acute back pain.
- Inability to stand or sit for extended periods: Some patients with acute back pain experience a smaller range of motion, causing them to be unable to stand or sit comfortably for extended periods of time. Acute back pain can make walking or sitting uncomfortable and difficult.
- Muscle spasms: Muscle spasms, tightness and contractions can develop in the lower back and hips, often worsening pain from a sore or sensitive back. In addition to causing pain, muscle spasms can be generally uncomfortable and make sitting or lying down difficult.
- Limited mobility: Depending on the severity of lower back pain, some patients may experience a decreased range of motion and limited mobility. Acute back pain can sometimes make sitting upright or even walking painful or impossible.
- Radiating pain: In some cases, acute back pain may travel throughout the lower body. Patients may experience a radiating pain or discomfort that originates in the lower back but travels through the pelvis, hips, thighs and even lower legs.
Laser Therapy for Acute Back Pain
Low-level laser therapy, commonly known as cold laser therapy, is an innovative back pain treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to penetrate the body’s tissues and stimulate the healing process. Cold laser therapy is exceptionally useful for treating instances of acute back pain. Patients can experience relief of acute back pain with this treatment modality because it can help reduce inflammation, swelling and edema.
In addition to its ability to reduce swelling, laser therapy can reduce muscle contractions or spasms that limit mobility while helping to restore a proper range of motion and functionality. Experts estimate that approximately 80% of Americans will experience back pain in their lifetimes. Because back pain is such a prevalent medical complication, it is important that effective treatments are available to improve symptoms.
Effectiveness of Lasers for Acute Back Pain
Low-level laser therapy uses laser technology of varying wavelengths to penetrate the skin and relieve acute back pain. Physicians can target injured or damaged areas of the back with the utmost precision during a cold laser treatment. The wavelength used or length of the laser treatment will vary on an individual basis and depend on the injured area’s severity and size.
In addition to alleviating discomfort and painful symptoms, low-level laser therapy can help provide numerous other benefits. A laser-based back treatment can help relieve pain without the need for surgery or intensive treatments. Some of the most common benefits of laser therapy for acute back pain include:
- Reduced inflammation: Inflammation can cause additional pressure to build around sensitive nerves or muscles, worsening painful or uncomfortable symptoms. Laser therapy can effectively reduce inflammation or swelling that may contribute to or worsen back pain.
- Non-invasive: One of the most important aspects of laser therapy for back pain is that it is a non-invasive treatment modality that can improve symptoms related to acute back pain. Because laser therapy is non-invasive, patients can quickly return to daily activities and do not have to worry about an extensive recovery time that is often associated with surgery or more invasive treatments.
- Expedited recovery: Laser therapy for acute back pain can expedite the recovery process and help regenerate damaged bone and tissue. Low-level laser treatments can also help stimulate the production of fibroblasts, which are cells that are essential to collagen production and play an important role in your body’s natural healing cycle.
- Improved blood circulation: A laser treatment can help stimulate blood flow and restore proper circulation to painful areas of the back. Adequate circulation and blood flow are essential to your body being able to heal itself.
- Accuracy: Laser treatments are highly accurate because they use innovative technology to precisely target the source of acute back pain. Prompt, effective laser treatments can minimize painful symptoms and help patients heal more quickly from back discomfort.
- Stimulated nerve regeneration: Low-level laser therapy can relieve acute back pain by stimulating regeneration of damaged or unhealthy nerves. Laser therapy can help optimize nerve regeneration and recovery by facilitating your body’s natural production of growth factors.
- Faster recovery time: Cold laser therapy uses revolutionary laser technology to expedite the recovery process and reduce the overall downtime associated with acute back pain. In addition to minimizing discomfort, the goal of laser therapy is to help patients return to their daily life comfortably and as quickly as possible.
Trust the World Leaders in Low-Level Laser Technology
Erchonia is a leader in the field of low-level laser technology with a commitment to integrity, quality and diligence. We prioritize quality in every aspect of our business, with a strong belief in the various potential applications of low-level laser technology. Our team of experts remains committed to furthering the advancement of laser technology through extensive scientific resources and clinical studies.
Browse our products or contact us online today to learn more about low-level laser technology and its many benefits.
Find a ProviderBecome a Provider
