Laser therapy: an overview

Abstract

This tutorial lecture will cover: /spl middot/ The medical uses of laser therapy /spl middot/ The clinical role of laser therapy in the stimulation of tissue repair and regeneration, using wound healing as an example /spl middot/ The stages involved in these processes, concentrating on the cellular changes which result in healing /spl middot/ The effects of laser therapy on cells necessary for successful healing /spl middot/ The cellular mechanisms producing these effects. Laser therapy can involve the use of either high or low power lasers. High power lasers produce clinically significant thermal changes in biological tissue; in contrast, the action of low power lasers is predominantly nonthermal.