The following is an excerpt from an article about the benefits of Laser Therapy fro treating injured horses:
Laser therapy, which uses an intense beam of light, stimulates the body’s processes, activates waste removal, increases repair activity, relieves swelling, heals surface wounds, and stimulates blood and lymphatic systems. It also increases serotonin, thereby achieving a calming response. “Laser is especially useful,” says Spalding, “to enhance the repair process in tendon and ligament injuries, superficial joint and bone injuries (including fractures), open and post-surgical wounds and ulcers, old fibrous injuries, bursitis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Laser has also been shown to be effective when used over acupuncture points.”
Notes Snyder, “Therapeutic lasers seem to be very good on open wounds that are not healing well; lasers are very good at promoting and stimulating healing.”
Lavallée says that physiotherapists mostly work with cold (low-intensity) lasers. “This is ideal for acute cases as it does not increase tissue temperature, increase bleeding, or aggravate the inflammatory phase.”
