The NEW Laser Therapy Handbook!

Introducing the NEW Laser Therapy Handbook by Jan Tunér and Lars Hode, the most comprehensive compendium on Laser Therapy!


The New Laser Therapy Handbook is a guide to the current literature and a wealth of laser therapy knowledge. The book contains 847 pages with colour images and a soft cover, and is loaded with new information about the clinical and scientific aspects of laser therapy. Among other things there are now over 2100 references.

From the back cover:

Laser phototherapy - the future of medicine

The development of pharmaceuticals has dramatically contributed to improved global health. However, pharmaceuticals are also creating severe side effects for patients and the environment. Researchers are therefore looking for non-pharmaceutical therapies. This book describes one of the most promising therapies in this search - laser phototherapy.

After more than 40 years of use, still no serious side effects of using laser light as a medical treatment modality have been observed. Low energies of laser light affect the natural and basic mechanisms of our cells and restore their impaired function, thereby triggering a cascade of positive effects. Some of these lead to improved wound healing, reduction of oedema, healing of neurological injuries, increased microcirculation and to pain relief, just to mention a few of the indications reported in the scientific literature.

Laser phototherapy is often looked upon as an "alternative" medical modality. More than 2100 scientific references in this book are telling a different story. As with all kinds of scientific work, new discoveries generate new questions. In spite of great steps ahead in the scientific understanding of the medicinal effect of light, we still do not know all the optimal parameters. But we do know enough to make laser phototherapy a strong candidate for a therapy based upon evidence. Some of that evidence is presented in this book.

Download the Table of Contents 75 KB

Buy it NOW!

The New Laser Therapy Handbook is $75 plus a flat shipping rate of $18 (USD). Your book will ship from either the USA or Australia depending upon your delivery address.

LaserTherapyBooks.com is jointly owned and operated by SpectraMedics Pty Ltd and SpectraVET Inc

WHAT IS LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY?

Low Level Laser Therapy, commonly known as LLLT, cold or soft laser, or laser photobiostimulation, is a form of phototherapy which involves the application of monochromatic and coherent light to injuries and lesions to stimulate healing.

Unlike non-coherent light emitting devices, such as common LEDs and so-called SLDs (just a marketing name for infrared LEDs), the coherent, monochromatic and polarised radiation emitted by LASER has unique, specific, and scientifically-proven effects that persist deep into the tissue.

Laser therapy is used to increase the speed, quality and tensile strength of tissue repair, resolve inflammation, and give pain relief.

Clinical Uses of LLLT

There are a number of potential clinical uses for laser therapy, such as those in medical, dental, acupuncture, podiatric, chiropractic, osteopathic, and cosmetic applications. The most popular applications for low-level lasers are in veterinary, physiotherapy, and acupuncture practice.

Click here for an interesting article by the Dr Roberta Chow, in which she discusses the clinical uses of laser therapy in more detail. Link opens a new window.

Treatable Conditions

Low-Level Laser has been shown to be effective in, but not limited to, the treatment of the following indications:

780-830nm Infra-Red Wavelengths - Deep Tissue Penetration:

• Sprains & strains
• Wounds and abrasions
• Haematomas
• Ligament & tendon injuries, bowed tendon
• Inflammation
• Joint injuries
• Myofascial trigger points, pain points and deep-tissue acupuncture points
• Chronic & acute pain
• Non-union & small-bone fractures

630-700nm Visible Red Wavelengths - Shallow Tissue Penetration:

• Wounds & abrasions
• Superficial acupuncture points
• Mucous membranes
• Post-surgical wounds

How Does It Work?

The effects of laser therapy are photochemical and photomechanical, not thermal - at least, not on a macro-scale.

There are two primary forms of effects generated by laser irradiation of biological tissues: photon-absorption (the basis of photobiological action, and generated by all forms of light), and speckle formation, which is unique to laser therapy.

Photon-absorption effects occur when photons enter the tissue and are absorbed by photoreceptive molecules, called chromophores, in the mitochondria and at the cell membrane. Photonic energy is then converted to chemical energy within the cell, and is utilised in the form of ATP.

A number of the effects of laser irradiation, however, are unique, and are due to the speckle field that is created when coherent laser radiation is reflected, refracted and scattered. The speckle field is not simply a phenomenon created at and limited to the tissue surface, but is generated within a volume of tissue, persisting to the total extent of the depth of penetration of the laser beam.

Laser speckles formed deep in the tissue create temperature and pressure gradients across cell membranes, increasing the rate of diffusion across those membranes. Further, photons within each speckle are highly polarised, leading to an increased probability of photon absorption (one possible reason for why laser therapy has been shown to consistently out-perform other non-coherent light sources, especially for deeper tissue treatments).

Advantages Over Other Modes of Therapy

Laser therapy has been found to offer superior healing and pain relieving effects compared to other electrotherapeutic modalities, especially in the early stages of acute injuries, and for chronic problems. Low-level lasers can also be used for Acupuncture Point stimulation.

Laser therapy is a universal method of treating muscle, tendon, ligament, connective tissue, bone and skin tissue with one simple piece of equipment, however, excellent results are also achieved when it is used to complement other treatment modalities, such as ice for acute injuries, or shockwave for more chronic conditions.

The portability and diversity of battery and mains-powered diode laser systems allows treatment to be carried out in clinical, hospital, and field locations. This opens up possibilities for the immediate and therefore more effective treatment of sporting and athletic injuries, such as muscle tears, haematomas, and tendinopathies.

This applies equally to the veterinary use of LLLT, which has applications in both large and small animal physiotherapy for both performance and companion animals. It is especially popular in the treatment of competition horses, racing greyhounds and agility dogs.

It is an attractive form of treatment for both human and animal athletes, especially those involved in professional sports, due to the prospect of shorter recovery and lay-off times. Importantly for athletes, laser therapy is a non-invasive, drug-free modality that can be applied on competition day without risking disqualification by drug-vetting tests.

Contact Details

Australia/New Zealand

North America

Other Resources