High Intensity Laser Therapy
for Pain Relief and Recovery

High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT), also known as photobiomodulation, is a FDA-cleared treatment option that has proven success in reducing pain and healing damaged tissues. Laser therapy is one of the most powerful modalities available to relieve pain and restore motion – without the risk and side effects of drugs, injections, or surgery. Originally developed to treat professional athletes, our patients have exclusive access to high intensity lasers that cannot be found anywhere else in Iowa.

Benefits

OF HIGH INTENSITY LASER THERAPY

Relieves Pain

Pain is one of the biggest barriers to restoring movement. Laser therapy reduces pain by stimulating the release of endorphins and enkephalins (the body’s natural pain killers) from the brain and adrenal glands. This, combined with other benefits of laser therapy, work together to reduce pain.

Softens Scar Tissue

Scar tissue is tight, weak, painful tissue that forms in the body as a result of an injury. Scar tissue prevents you from moving, and when you can’t move, you can’t heal. Laser light softens existing scar tissue and prevents new scar tissue from forming, enabling you to regain mobility and range of motion.

Calms Muscle Spasm

When injured, muscles will go into “guard” mode for protection. This might be helpful in the short term, but for your body to begin healing from the injury, you need to relax the muscles and get your body moving again. HILT relaxes muscle spasms to reduce pain and facilitate movement.

Improves Blood Flow

When blood flows through the body, it delivers oxygen and other vital nutrients that your body needs to heal. HILT improves blood flow and increases the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) in damaged tissues to help injured areas heal faster.

Reduces Inflammation

Improved blood flow to an injury reduces swelling by carrying away excess fluids. Laser therapy increases blood flow by increasing the formation of new blood vessels and by enabling better muscle movement. When muscles move, they physically pump more blood throughout the body, further reducing inflammation.

Increases Collagen

Collagen is essential to joint health and function. As you age, collagen production decreases. Laser therapy increases collagen production which increases the health of cartilage. Collagen also combats scar tissue by reducing the formation of new scar tissue and softening existing scar tissue.

Resets Pain Cycle

Chronic pain can be made worse when your body memorizes pain signals in the inter-neurons (which connect the sensory and motor functions in your body). Laser light reaches into the interneurons to reset pain memory and restore proper communication between your brain and body.

Improves Nerve Function

HILT improves communication between your brain and nerves. It blocks incorrect signals while at the same time stimulating proper signals. It also speeds up the process of nerve repair and recovery by increasing nerve growth and myelin formation so that nerves can transmit information more efficiently.

Speeds Healing

In addition to improving blood flow, laser light reaches deep into the cells of the body to energize the cells. This increases cellular metabolism, speeds up cell reproduction and growth, activates immune system cells, and accelerates RNA and DNA repairs at the cellular level.

Free On-Demand

CHRONIC PAIN WEBINAR

Two Names, Same Therapy

Q: Is laser therapy safe?

<p>Yes, laser therapy has been cleared by the FDA for treating pain and has been used by European physicians since the 1970s. Laser therapy, when used by a properly trained profession, has no known side effects.</p>

Photobiomodulation = High Intensity Laser Therapy

IMPROVED HEALING AND PAIN RELIEF WITH MORE POWERFUL LASERS

Not all lasers are created equal. The high intensity lasers used at InMotion Pain Solutions are among the most powerful available anywhere in the world. More powerful lasers enable the healing light to reach deeper into damaged tissues, treat surrounding and supporting tissues, and provide better outcomes for our patients. Learn about the difference between High Intensity Laser Therapy and Low Level Laser Therapy. Patients at our Cedar Rapids clinic have exclusive access to these high intensity lasers that cannot be found anywhere else in Iowa.

One Size Does Not Fit All

While photobiomodulation is the cornerstone of our care plan, we bring together a variety of FDA-cleared, drug-free treatment modalities to create an individual plan for each patient. This blended approach is one reason why our patients experience lasting pain relief not seen with traditional pain management approaches. Learn more about the InMotion Difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is laser therapy safe?

Yes, laser therapy (also known as photobiomodulation) has been cleared by the FDA for treating pain and has been used by European physicians since the 1970s. Laser therapy, when used by a properly trained profession, has no known side effects.

What should I expect during a HILT session?

During a high intensity laser therapy session at InMotion Pain Solutions in Cedar Rapids, you will be resting comfortably in a dimly lit, private room with the laser light pointed at the treatment area. Some patients will feel warmth from the light, while others may not feel anything. The length of your HILT session will depend on your individual treatment plan. It’s important to know that the therapeutic effects of high intensity laser therapy continue to work within your body even after your treatment session has ended. Also, the benefits of HILT are cumulative, meaning each therapy session builds upon the one before. While some patients may feel relief after just a few sessions, most experience gradual improvements over a series of treatments.

How does laser therapy work?

To better understand laser therapy, it helps to compare it to photosynthesis. In science class, we learned that plants convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy to fuel growth. In a similar way, your body converts light energy from the laser into chemical energy to fuel cell growth and healing within your body.

What is photobiomodulation?

Laser therapy was first developed in the 1960s in Europe. As it has become more widely available, the terminology used to describe it has varied. Most recently, “photobiomodulation” as become the preferred name among scientists.

If we break down the term “photobiomodulation,” we can get an idea of why it is the preferred name. “Photo” comes from the Greek word for light. “Bio” is also from the Greeks. “Bios” means the course of human life. “Modulation” which has its roots in Latin, means to alter, change, or adapt.

If you put it all together, it roughly translates to “light that changes life”.

Scientifically speaking, “changes life” refers to biochemical changes within the cells of the body. But as we have seen with our patients, the healing effects of laser therapy can, in fact, be life changing.

At InMotion Pain Solutions, we’ve found that our patients prefer the term high intensity laser therapy.

Does laser therapy hurt?

No, high intensity laser therapy does not hurt. HILT uses therapeutic lasers to stimulate healing and relieve pain which are different from surgical lasers used to cut tissue. Therapeutic laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment during which a laser light is shone over an area of the body. Some patients do not feel anything during treatment, while others experience a warming sensation (similar to sitting under a heat lamp). Most patients describe laser therapy as a soothing and relaxing experience.

How long will a laser therapy session take?

The length of each laser therapy treatment will vary by patient, condition, and area of the body that is being treated. It is also important to know laser therapy is just one portion of your overall pain relief and mobility treatment plan at InMotion Pain Solutions. Laser therapy will be combined with other treatments and therapies while you progress through care at our clinic. The doctor will discuss all aspects of your care plan with you, including the length of your appointments.

How many laser treatments will I need?

The pain relief and healing that is provided by laser therapy occurs over time and requires a series of appointments. The number of treatments will depend on the patient, condition, and treatment area. The doctor will explain the entire treatment plan with you prior to beginning care.

Can laser therapy be combined with other treatments?

Yes. In fact, studies have shown that blended treatment approaches are far more effective than treatments used in isolation. At InMotion Pain Solutions, High Intensity Laser Therapy is combined with other treatments to create an overall care plan that is uniquely designed for you and your condition. We have found that it is the combination of modalities that provides the best outcomes for our patients. As you proceed through your care plan, these treatments may be adjusted according to the progress that you are making.

Will I need any downtime after a laser therapy session?

No. One of the best aspects of our FDA-cleared, non-invasive, drug-free approach to care is that patients can continue with their daily activities while progressing through treatment. On occasion, some patients may experience mild soreness as we work to restore mobility, but it should not impact your daily living and you should not require any downtime after your treatments.