KLaser Therapy (Low Level Light Therapy)
We utilize a Class IV Therapeutic Laser (K-Cube 4 from K-Laser USA). We have been very pleased with the ability of therapeutic laser treatments to assist in decreasing inflammation and pain, specifically in cases of chronic arthritic or inflammatory conditions. Laser therapy has also been indicated for use in the treatment of tendons, wounds and incision lines, decreasing healing time and helping to decrease patient rubbing and itching at incisions sites.
There is growing interest in this therapeutic modality as an adjunctive treatment to chiropractic and acupuncture as well as its use in athletic patient populations for treatment of chronic conditions and increasing the interval between traditional medical therapies (anti-inflammatories, intra-articular injections, etc).
Class IV Laser Therapy is wonderful for treating sore or “cold backed” horses. It increases blood flow, which causes the body to warm the back muscles naturally, and stimulates the release of free radical scavengers and molecules that decrease pain and inflammation.
Many conditions will be treated with three sessions in the first seven days and then one therapeutic laser session/week for the following three weeks. Follow up therapy can be managed as needed.
What is KLaser or Laser Therapy?
Laser Therapy or "photobiomodulation", is the use of specific wavelengths of light energy (red and near infrared) to create therapeutic effects. These effects include improved healing time, pain reduction, increased circulation and decreased swelling.
Laser therapy has the potential to have MANY beneficial effects and you may have seen or heard some seemingly outrageous claims over the years with regards to what lasers can do.
That said there are four widely accepted therapeutic benefits of laser therapy that can be backed up with peer reviewed scientific research:
1) Biostimulation/Tissue Regeneration
2) Reduction of Inflammation
3) Pain reduction, either chronic or acute
4) Antibacterial and Antiviral
Bio-stimulation and tissue regeneration are the first effects cited in much of the literature.
So what does this do for the patient?
Some therapeutic applications which have shown promising results in horses based on studies include:
Arthritis • Back Pain • Dental Applications • Laminitis • Nerve Regeneration • Pain (Musculoskeletal, Myofascial, Nerve) • Scars • Skin Disorders • Sports Injuries • Tendonitis • Wound Healing
The effects of red light on cellular function have been known since 1880 however the clinical benefits were only discovered by accident during laser safety tests in 1967. The first low-power lasers suitable for treating pain became available commercially in the late 1970's and ever since then, laser therapy has been widely utilized in Europe by physical therapists, nurses and doctors. Now, after FDA approval in 2001, laser therapy is quickly gaining popularity in the USA.
Dr Bonny is very excited to be able to offer K-Laser therapy to her Chiropractic patients, especially to help relax muscles and decrease inflammation in areas that the patient may dislike having adjusted. For her Accupuncture clients, she is able to utilize a setting on the K-Laser that is used to stimulate accupuncture points, allowing treatment of needle shy animals, or of points that may be difficult to place needles.
Dr Bonny applying KLaser therapy to a hind leg with some tendon sheath filling (wind puffs).
Dr Anne has been using therapeutic K-Laser treatments on some of our older arthritic patients and has been seeing improved movement and decreased pain! She's very excited to have K-Laser therapy available to the equine athlete portion of our patient population as well, and will be using K-Laser therapy as an adjunctive treatment for sports medicine conditions.
Dr Anne using K-Laser therapy to treat a senior horse with chronic abscess and founder.
We also offer K-laser therapy to help speed wound healing and decrease the formation of proud flesh and scar tissue!
