MLS Laser Therapy

Q: What does MLS mean?
MLS stands for "Multiwave Locked System". This technology uses a patented combination of wavelengths that reinforce each other, allowing you to achieve the individual benefits of each wavelength in one convenient session. These wavelengths work in unison, much like a symphony, to deliver deeper penetration for maximized results.

Q: How does it work?
During MLS laser treatment sessions, light energy penetrates deeply into your soft tissue and reaches damaged cells. In essence, light energy is converted into biochemical energy (think of this like photosynthesis in plants). This energy stimulates natural healing processes by speeding up cellular reproduction and growth. The specific light wavelengths produced by the MLS laser initiate strong anti-inflammatory responses by the cells in these tissues, which is essential for reducing swelling and pain.

Q: Why is MLS laser therapy a better option over other forms of therapy?
Older, lesser laser therapies offered only one energy wavelength, which meant they could only reduce inflammation or ease pain, but not both. With it's patented technology, MLS Laser Therapy is able to induce strong anti-inflammatory, anti-edema (swelling), and analgesic (pain-reducing) effects simultaneously and within a short period of time. On top of that, MLS laser does not require the use of drugs or surgery, has no known side effects, and is quick and convenient. Studies from many prestigious institutions (including Harvard University) have shown that laser therapy is equal to – or more effective than – other non-invasive techniques.

Q: Does it hurt? What does the treatment feel like?
There is little or no sensation during treatment. There is no pain associated with laser application. In fact, laser treatment is relaxing enough that some people even fall asleep.

Q: How long does the treatment take? 
A typical session is 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the area we are treating. This makes it a very quick and convenient treatment option – you’ll be in and out in under 20 minutes!

Q: How many treatments does it take?
Treatment plans are determined on a case-by-case basis and depend on the nature of the condition or injury being treated. The typical treatment plan calls for a total of 6 or 12 sessions, depending on it the issue is acute or chronic in nature, which are administered 2 to 3 times a week. Conditions such as severe arthritis may require periodic sessions to maintain the positive effects on pain.

Q: How long before results are felt?
This is also something that will depend on the patient and the issue being treated. These sessions are cumulative, meaning that they build on each session. Some patients have reported feeling improvement immediately after the first treatment, with most feeling improvement after the third treatment. In the case of chronic conditions, you may need as many as six visits before you start to really feel the benefits of laser therapy. Put simply, everyone responds to this therapy a little bit differently.

Q: Do the results last? 
Whereas some treatments are used to address symptoms, MLS Laser Therapy is about healing the damaged tissues that are causing you pain. When you start feeling better from this treatment, it’s because you are actually better. This means that unless you become injured again, the results are long-lasting.

Q: Can it be used at the same time as other treatments?
Absolutely. In fact, sometimes MLS therapy is even more effective when used in conjunction with other treatments, like physical therapy and massage therapy.

Q: Can laser therapy be used over medical implants, or over metal?
Yes. Laser therapy is a light treatment, not a heat one. This means no heating will affect any surgical or metal implants. If you have any such medical equipment, MLS therapy is still completely safe and will produce no adverse side effects. Additionally, this is a highly effective procedure that can be used to assist with postoperative wound healing.

Q: Is MLS Laser Therapy right for everyone?
While MLS laser therapy is supremely safe for the vast majority of patients, including people with metal implants, certain issues such as cancer or pregnancy may steer us toward recommending a different therapeutic method. We will conduct a careful evaluation to make sure MLS laser therapy makes sense for you.

Q: Is MLS Laser Therapy a regulated treatment?
MLS Laser Therapy was cleared for use by the FDA in 2009. The MLS laser was developed and tested following a strict course of biomedical and clinical research. The effectiveness of the combination of the emissions making up the MLS pulse was initially tested in vitro on cellular cultures, then in vivo on animals, and finally by means of controlled clinical trials run by major state-of-the-art health organizations for treating traumatic and degenerative painful diseases. 
 

Laser Therapy Aids in Post-Surgical Recovery 

Physicians are always looking for ways to improve recovery times and outcomes for patients for injured patients or patients recovering from a recent surgery.  Laser therapy is potentially an effective way to do just that.

How does laser therapy aid the recovery process? 

Laser therapy uses light beams at specific wavelengths that interact with cells in our body. These cells are capable of interacting with various light frequencies, and when those specific frequencies are used, it can trigger the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the body. This additional energy helps in the recovery process.  In addition, laser light stimulates fibroblast formation in damaged tissues.  Fibroblasts are the building blocks of collagen which is required to repair injured tissues.  Thus, cells are repaired more quickly, new cells are created, and additional nutrients and oxygen are rushed to the target site.  

Pain and inflammation are also reduced, which speeds up recovery. Through multiple mechanisms, laser therapy accelerates the healing process and can help improve a patient's post-surgical pain while they are healing.

Laser therapy treatments are 100% safe and effective. After just one or two treatments, many patients will show improved functionality, much faster healing, and a noticeable reduction in pain and inflammation. Perhaps best of all, there are no unpleasant side effects from the therapy treatments, so it won’t add to their recovery woes. 

In addition to all the wonderful benefits obtainable through laser therapy, most patients also experience a boost to their immune systems and benefit from a kind of detoxification process that is stimulated by laser therapy. This helps eliminate any toxins that may have built up in the body from previous medications or anesthesia or any other toxins that have accumulated. All this promotes the recovery process and helps shave days or even weeks off the time necessary to restore patients to good health.

Faster recovery after surgery 

For patients who want to recover faster from surgery, taking a proactive approach and seeking laser therapy can be their best bet. They will quickly notice a reduction in pain and inflammation, and they will have more peace of mind, knowing that the recovery processes in their bodies are being accelerated and enhanced by the benefits delivered by laser therapy.

10 Potential Benefits of MLS Laser Therapy

 1. Anti-Inflammatory: MLS Laser Therapy has an anti-edema effect as it causes vasodilation, but also because it activates the lymphatic drainage system which drains swollen areas. As a result, there is a reduction in swelling caused by bruising or inflammation. 

2. Analgesic: MLS Laser Therapy has a beneficial effect on nerve cells. It blocks pain transmitted by these cells to the brain which decreases nerve sensitivity. Also, due to the decreased inflammation, there is less edema and less pain. Another pain blocking mechanism involves the production of high levels of pain killing chemicals such as endorphins and enkephalin from the brain and adrenal gland. 

3. Accelerated Tissue Repair and Cell Growth: Photons of light from lasers penetrate deeply into tissue and accelerate cellular reproduction and growth. The laser light increases the energy available to the cell so that the cell can take on nutrients faster and get rid of waste products. As a result of exposure to laser light, damaged cells are repaired faster. 

4. Improved Vascular Activity: Laser light will significantly increase the formation of new capillaries in damaged tissue which speeds up the healing process, closes wounds quickly and reduces scar tissue. Additional benefits include acceleration of angiogenesis, which causes temporary vasodilation and increase in the diameter of blood vessels.

 5. Increases Metabolic Activity: MLS Laser Therapy creates higher outputs of specific enzymes, greater oxygen and food particle loads for blood cells. 

6. Trigger Points and Acupuncture Points: MLS Laser Therapy stimulates muscle trigger points and acupuncture points on a noninvasive basis providing musculoskeletal pain relief. 

7. Reduced Fibrous Tissue Formation: MLS Laser Therapy reduces the formation of scar tissue following tissue damage from cuts, scratches, burns or surgery.

 8. Improved Nerve Function: Slow recovery of nerve functions in damaged tissue can result in numbness and impaired limbs. Laser light speeds the process of nerve cell reconnection and increase the amplitude of action potentials to optimize muscle healing. 

9. Immunoregulation: Laser light has a direct effect on immunity status by stimulating immunoglobulins and lymphocytes. Laser emissions are absorbed by chromophores (molecule enzymes) that react to laser light. Upon exposure to the laser, the enzyme flavomononucleotide is activated and starts the production of ATP (adenosinetriphosphate), which is the major carrier of cell energy and the energy source for all chemical reactions in the cells. 

10. Faster Wound Healing: Laser light stimulates fibroblast development in damaged tissue. Fibroblasts are the building blocks of collagen, which is the essential protein required to replace old tissue or to repair tissue injuries. As a result, MLS® Laser Therapy is effective post surgically and in the treatment of open wounds and burns.

Laser Classifications

Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) Class 3B

These lasers use very low power, are limited to surface biostimulation, and often require many treatment sessions and long treatment times.  Results are only achieved at the end of the treatment cycle, and results are limited because of the use of only one or two wavelengths that are not synchronized.

High Power (HP) Class IV

These lasers were developed with the expectation that greater power corresponded to better efficiency.  On the contrary, unless suitably controlled, high power can thermally damage the treated tissue.  Therefore, the majority of high power lasers cannot operate at their maximum power without causing damage.

Multiwave Locked System (MLS) Class IV

MLS Laser Therapy is a patented emission system created to achieve an efficient and simultaneous effect on pain, contracture, inflammation, and edema within a short period of time.  The patented control system that generates the MLS pulse synchronizes the emissions to achieve optimum results.  Due to this characteristic synchronization, the various therapeutic effects not only take place at the same time, but reciprocally reinforce each other, without the risk of thermal damage.

Science

The patented MLS pulse was developed as a result of nearly three decades of scientific research that studied the biological and therapeutic effects of different emission components and methods.

The departments of biology at both the University of Turin (Italy) and the University of Padova (Brazil), as well as the Department of Anatomy and the Orthopedic Clinic at the University of Padova have studied and verified the remarkable effectiveness of MLS Laser Therapy.

A collection of studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of MLS Laser Therapy can be read here: MLS® Laser Therapy – Innovation is built on results 

Are Laser Treatments covered by insurance?

Unfortunately, Medicare and most private insurance consider novel treatments such as platelet rich plasma injections, stem cell injections and treatment  with the MLS Laser experimental/investigational and will not cover for these treatments.  However, if you are interested in this treatment there are financing options through a third party.

• Other Treatments

• Conservative Therapy
• Joint Injection
• Lumbar Epidural Injection
• Lumbar Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
• Medial Branch Block
• MLS Laser Therapy
• Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
• Regenerative Therapy
• Sacroiliac Injection (SI)
• Spinal Cord Stimulation For Diabetic Foot Pain
• Sympathetic Nerve Block
• Trigger Point Injection