Injuries are an unfortunate reality in the world of sports. This is true whether you are a pro athlete or a novice. There is always a chance that someone playing hard will get injured. Today’s athletes are looking to advanced technology to help them heal and, for many, that will mean therapeutic lasers.

Chiropractic care is already a go-to approach for anyone looking for restoration and pain relief from a musculoskeletal injury. Chiropractors can further expand their treatment capabilities and harness the power of the laser to help their sports injury clients get back in the game.

How Does Laser Therapy Work?

Therapeutic lasers use waves of light to promote healing by triggering the body’s natural ability to repair damage at the cellular level, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain. When the laser light hits the skin, the mitochondria — the powerhouse of the cells — absorbs it. That stimulates the production of a critical enzyme, ATP, and the regeneration of cellular energy.

There are five classes of lasers available. The highest is a Class IV or “high intensity” laser therapy, which uses increased energy to exponentially increase healing potential.

How Does Laser Treatment Feel?

Laser therapy is noninvasive, unlike many other treatment options in regenerative sports medicine. As the laser hits the skin, it will yield warmth. The patient should feel no pain during the treatment. When applied therapeutically, the light does not burn the skin or get painfully hot.

5 Benefits of Laser Therapy for Sports Injuries

Sports injuries take time to heal, whether you have a minor injury like a strain or a more serious problem that requires surgical intervention. Laser therapy as part of chiropractic care offers significant benefits for healing.

1. Accelerated Healing for Sports Injury Physical Therapy

It’s the first question many athletes ask when discussing an injury: “How long will it take to heal?” When a chiropractor adds laser therapy to the overall care plan, the increase in cellular energy can accelerate the healing process. By speeding up the cell metabolism, laser treatment can reduce downtime and get players back out there faster.

2. Pain Regulation

Pain works against the healing process and sports injuries can come with a lot of pain. Laser therapy also stimulates the production of endorphins, which are nature’s natural pain relievers. Endorphins are what some people call the “feel-good” enzymes because they provide a sense of euphoria and dull pain naturally. That means laser treatment can ease pain without medication.

3. Laser Therapy for Inflammation

Inflammation, or swelling, is a natural response to an injury. However, like pain, it works against the healing process to impede recovery. Laser therapy helps to reduce inflammation. That allows for better, faster, and more efficient healing.

Inflammation also interferes with mobility. As laser therapy helps to reduce the swelling, the injured person can move around more, especially when combined with physical therapy.

4. Improved Blood Flow

Laser treatments are effective in increasing blood flow to soft tissue after an injury. That allows for better healing at the injury site. Blood means more oxygen and nutrients as the tissue mends. It also carries away waste products.

5. Little to No Side Effects

Laser treatment is noninvasive and typically comes with typically minimal contraindications or side effects. That is something that can’t be said about most medications or surgery. People, including athletes, generally tolerate laser therapy well. Because it generates warmth, it may leave mild redness, and because it’s an intense beam of light, eye exposure is to be avoided.

Are Lasers Safe for Sports Injuries?

Laser therapy is safe for most people — there are very few contraindications. Some possible exceptions would include but are not limited to::

  • Cancer Diagnosis: Lasers stimulate cell growth and that can make active cancer worse.
  • Pregnancy: In some cases, a pregnant woman might still be able to have laser treatment. The light should not go over the abdomen or lower back, though. It is unclear how the laser would affect a developing fetus.

Benefits of Laser Therapy Paired With Sports Surgeries

Chiropractic care for sports injuries often coincides with traditional medical treatment, which may involve surgery. There is no getting around it when a torn ligament might need reconstruction. 

Even those patients who do need surgery can benefit from laser therapy as part of their recovery plan, and in certain cases, class IV laser therapy can promote enough natural healing to make surgery unnecessary. Consider some advantages for those who did have surgical repair:

  • Quickens Rehabilitation: Laser therapy accelerates healing. Not only will it speed up the injury healing process — it can also help patients recover from damage done during the procedure, such as the incision. Partnering laser therapy from the chiropractor with traditional rehabilitation can mean faster recovery.
  • Pain Relief: Pain relief after surgery is always a concern. Laser therapy naturally helps to relieve pain without the need for stronger and potentially dangerous medications like opioids.
  • Less Scar Tissue: Scar tissue can make mobility during recovery more difficult. Laser therapy will stimulate the rebuilding of the skin and can make scar tissue more flexible.
  • Enhanced Circulation: Surgery disrupts blood flow to the injured area and surrounding tissue. Laser therapy intrinsically enhances circulation, which means more oxygen to the healing site and more efficient removal of waste products. The benefits of laser therapy for sports injuries are numerous, and it is a safe treatment with little to no side effects.

Class IV Laser Therapy For Injury Prevention and Sports Performance Therapy

The Class IV laser for physical therapy can play a role in reducing the chance of a recurrence of an injury or another injury occurring. It can work to increase blood flow before warming the body up.

Lasers also can enhance muscle conditioning by stimulating cell growth which strengthens connective tissue and reduces the likelihood of an injury. This is especially helpful for overuse injuries such as tendonitis or sprains in high-impact sports. This therapy can enhance muscle integrity for injury prevention.

Add a New Chiropractic Treatment Option With Medray Lasers

Class IV laser therapy offers targeted solutions for sports injuries, addressing pain, inflammation, and healing at the cellular level. Integrated with chiropractic care, it accelerates recovery and strengthens connective tissue to reduce the risk of future injuries. For athletes, this technology provides a practical path to faster healing and enhanced performance.

Medray devices provide innovative solutions for sports injury recovery and rehabilitation, combining advanced technology with proven therapeutic benefits. To learn more about how Medray devices can help, get in touch today and explore the possibilities for your practice or recovery journey.