Class IV laser therapy is a relatively new, innovative approach to pain relief that has rapidly grown in popularity in recent years for treating various painful chronic musculoskeletal conditions. It’s a fast, non-invasive treatment method that can relieve symptoms quickly, improving patient care and comfort.
It has been successfully used to treat various conditions, including tennis elbow, low back pain, sciatica, sports injuries, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
What Is Class IV Laser Therapy?
Class 4 lasers are a form of low-level laser therapy, also called LLLT, that has become a modern standard of care for many musculoskeletal injuries and chronic conditions. It uses specific wavelengths of light in the red and near-infrared end of the spectrum to stimulate processes in the body that help promote healing, reduce discomfort and swelling, and increase mobility.
There are lower classes of LLLT, like Class 3, which are cold lasers that produce no heat. On the other hand, Class 4 differs in that it produces a mild warming sensation in the body that patients also find soothing and therapeutic.
How Does Class IV Laser Therapy Work for Pain Relief?
Doctors and clinicians use a hand-held laser device that emits red and near-infrared wavelengths. They hold the device over the target area, and the light penetrates deeply into nerves, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
These wavelengths can penetrate deeper and more effectively than Class 3 lasers. The treatments are also very fast, with most sessions only requiring 2 to 6 minutes. It allows treatments to be done on multiple injuries during a single session, significantly improving recovery time and patient experiences.
They work by flooding the tissues with photons of light from the lasers. Those photons act at a cellular level, where they stimulate the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy used to fuel cellular metabolism. This process is called photobiomodulation or PBM. PBM induces cell proliferation, enhances stem cell differentiation, and increases circulation in the target area.
It can speed healing on a cellular level because the cells have more energy available for cellular repair processes, and patients often experience improvement after a single session, with lessening discomfort, reduced swelling, and an increase in range of motion. Patients usually find the mild heat of the laser itself immediately soothing as well.
Conditions Treated With Class IV Laser Therapy
The FDA approved this treatment method in 2003 to treat minor muscle and joint pain. Since then, doctors and chiropractors have used it to treat a wide range of conditions associated with pain, swelling, and limited mobility. Here are just a few examples.
Chronic Achilles Tendonitis
Doctors frequently use this type of LLLT for Achilles Tendonitis, the swelling, inflammation, and associated discomfort in the Achilles tendon. It is better adapted for use on the tendons than many other treatment modalities because it can penetrate more deeply and promote healing on a cellular level. The immediate relief provided by its soothing warmth also provides better patient experiences than other methods.
Tennis Elbow and Elbow Pain
Tennis elbow, or epicondylitis, is a painful condition caused by the swelling or tearing of elbow tendons. Studies have found significant improvements in patients treated for chronic epicondylitis compared to the control groups who received a false treatment method.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful chronic condition that occurs when the median nerve in the wrist becomes compressed. This type of LLLT treatment immediately reduces discomfort in the short term while also improving hand grip strength and sensory nerve action for long-term benefits.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition causing widespread pain and tenderness throughout the entire body. A double-blind, randomized control trial on women with fibromyalgia found significant improvement from pre- to post-treatment compared to no change or a minor worsening of symptoms in the control group receiving a false treatment.
Low Back Pain
Studies have also found that laser treatments work well on low back pain, with 10 out of 11 patients reporting at least 50% pain reduction immediately following the procedure. This therapy's results were also better than radiofrequency, and lidocaine injections, and the positive results reportedly lasted longer after treatment than other methods.
Sciatica
Sciatica, the pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve, is another chronic condition that responds well to Class 4 treatments. It helps ease suffering in patients with sciatica by relieving pressure on the sciatic nerve, promoting circulation, and stimulating healing on a cellular level. It has improved patient mobility and flexibility, making patients more mobile again.
Sports Injury and Post-Activity Recovery
Class 4 is also frequently used for sports injuries and to speed recovery after strenuous activity. It is often found on the sidelines of pro, college, and Olympic sports teams throughout the USA, as well as parts of Europe and Asia.
It has proven effective in improving post-activity recovery times after injuries and as a preventative method for reducing delayed-onset muscle soreness.
What Are the Benefits of Class IV Laser Therapy?
Pain Relief
Many patients think lasers will hurt, but they cause no discomfort at all. They simply provide a soothing warmth that is not only painless but has also been shown to help relieve pain. It does this by promoting circulation and stimulating healing at a cellular level.
Non-Invasive and Drug-Free
LLLT treatments are completely non-invasive outpatient procedures that require no drugs. In fact, because they are so effective at reducing pain, they can significantly reduce the need for extensive drug therapies.
Short Recovery Time
Since they are non-invasive, require no recovery time after the procedure itself, and immediately start promoting healing on the cellular level, they result in shorter recovery times from injuries. They may even provide immediate relief in some cases. And since they produce no additional symptoms from the treatment, patients can resume normal activities faster than ever before.
Tissue Regeneration
Class 4 lasers increase tissue regeneration, including soft tissue and bone repair, leading to faster healing. They can even improve nerve regeneration and function and increase cellular metabolism, enzymatic responses, collagen production, and the creation of new blood vessels.
So, even though they provide immediate relief, they also continue to work on a cellular level, explaining their longer-term benefits compared to other treatments.
Reduces Swelling
Since it promotes circulation and stimulates healing at the cellular level, it also reduces swelling. This, in turn, reduces patient discomfort and improves the range of motion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Class IV Laser Therapy FDA Approved?
Yes, Class 4 therapy was approved by the FDA back in 2003 to treat minor muscle and joint pain and has quickly become the preferred treatment method for a wide range of painful chronic musculoskeletal conditions.
Final Thoughts
Class 4 laser therapy offers a range of benefits, from immediate pain relief to promoting long-term healing at a cellular level. By enhancing circulation, encouraging tissue regeneration, and reducing inflammation, this therapy stands out as a safe, non-invasive, and drug-free treatment option.
If you’re considering effective pain management tools for your patients, get in touch with Maven Imaging today for Class IV Laser Therapy equipment.
