Dr. Terry Golden of Golden Sports Chiropractic offers cutting-edge healing technology with the Quantum IV, a low-level, non-invasive laser that speeds recovery, reduces pain and accelerates bone and wound healing. Quantum IV Lasers have been developed and manufactured by engineers with over 40 years of combined experience.  These lasers use electronic diode technology, are the highest quality, most state-of-the-art units and are approved by the FDA.  Laser therapy is used by nearly every professional sports team, including Lance Armstrong and the U.S. Postal Team (now Team Discovery) throughout all seven of their Tour de France victories.  A completely painless therapy, the low energy laser is applied to the affected body part, which may be sore or stiff. The body absorbs energy from the laser, which, in turn, stimulates its cells to produce greater amounts of cellular energy known as ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This energy is available to the body for healing and repair.

Further evidence of its efficacy is a reduction in healing time—which may be less than one-third to one-half as long as treatment without the laser. In some ways, the laser treatment resembles a plant taking up sunlight during the photosynthesis process. Other benefits of the Laser treatment include reduction in both swelling and the formation of scar tissue, as well as reduced pain. The laser is frequently used to treat burn victims, in which cases it assists with tissue healing and pain management.

The Laser is specifically designed to address disruptions in the information flow, or intelligence, in the nervous system.  For example, there could be interference in the flow of intelligence from the brain to points in the body that manifest as symptoms like numb hands, a tight lower back and knee pain.  Picture your body’s nervous system as the electrical system of your house.  If a fuse breaker blows, the power to certain areas of your house will go out.  The laser can help to “reset” the breaker.  By “resetting” the communication, the laser is a viable treatment for problems that range from the acute--like sprains/strains, inflamed tendons or household burns to chronic or neurological conditions like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Sciatica or Radiculopathy.

LASER FAQ's

What is low-level laser?
Unlike high power lasers that use heat and destroy tissue, low energy lasers affect the cellular energy of the underlying tissue. Hot lasers have a thermal effect and have an output of 1 Watt or above. Cold (or) Low Level Lasers do not have a thermal effect on tissue.  Lasers that stimulate biological function have an output below 10mw-milliwatts (ten-one thousands of a watt). The Quantum IV has 4 laser diodes at approx. 5 mW/diode.

What is Low Level Laser Therapy?
Low Level Laser Therapy refers to the modality of applying a "low" energy or "low level" laser to tissue that stimulates cellular processes and thereby enhancing biochemical reactions. For example, studies show that LLLT increases ATP production in the mitochondria of the cell. Since more energy is now available, the cell may utilize this fuel to function or operate more efficiently.

How does it work?
Many theories exist as to the mechanism of action for Low Level Laser Therapy but simply put, photonic energy is absorbed by the photo acceptor sites on the cell membrane which trigger a secondary messenger to initiate a cascade of intracellular signals that initiate, inhibit or accelerate biological processes such as wound healing, inflammation, or pain management.

What conditions can be treated?
Low Level Laser Therapy has been successfully used to treat many conditions such as acute and chronic pain reduction, repetitive use disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome, soft tissue strains and sprains, inflammation reduction, enhanced tissue wound healing, and cell regeneration.  The areas of use described within this section do not necessarily reflect Quantum IV’s approved "indications for use,"  (musculoskeletal pain)- case reference K041530.

Are there any side effects?
There are over 2,00 published studies and not one of them mentions any negative side effects of semi-conductor diode lasers at the 5mW range like the Quantum IV lasers. Low Level Lasers are safe, non-toxic and non-invasive; there has not been a recorded side effect in over 2000 publications. There are some necessary common sense precautions that need to be considered, such as avoiding pointing the laser beam directly into the eye and maintaining it there, which could prove to be damaging to the eye.

What makes one laser different from another?
A laser can differ in its wavelength, power source or whether it is a continuous or pulsed wave form. The first lasers were used to cut, cauterize or ablate tissue and were classified as "hot' lasers.” Cold", "Low Energy" or "Low Level" lasers are used to enhance metabolic activity at the cellular level through non-thermal reactions.

What is wavelength? And do the different wavelengths matter?
Light is measured in wavelengths and is expressed in units of nanometers (nm). Different wavelengths have different energy levels and can have various effects on tissue. Visable light occurs in the 380 to 760nm range. Below 380nm is the ultraviolet spectrum and above 760nm is infrared. All levels of light create biological effects as the research supports, but stimulation in the 630-640nm range appears to provide the greatest healing impact on neurological symptoms.  For example, the Quantum IV Laser is 635 nanometers, which is found within the "red" spectrum of visible light (400-800 nm) and has anabolic (building) tissue effects.

What is so special about the 630-640nm wavelength?
Research shows that laser stimulation of 630-640nm promotes:

• Wound Healing - Various studies suggest that laser therapy is effective for reducing wound size         and increasing healing times.
• Nerve Regeneration - Various studies have demonstrated the regenerative effects that laser has on damaged spinal cord and peripheral nerve tissue.
• Biomodulation - Refers to the balancing effect that laser therapy has on tissue. It stimulates damaged tissue towards repair and inhibits hyper-active tissue.
• Cellular Oxygenation - Research suggests that coherent (laser) light of 630nm is released during DNA replication.
• Cellular Detoxification - Research suggests that coherent (laser) light of 634nm is released during phagocytosis.

Is this laser FDA approved?
The Quantum IV Laser has been approved by the FDA for use in Pain Therapy for treatment of neck and shoulder pain of musculoskeletal origin.

How long are the treatments?
Treatments can vary in time from seconds to minutes depending on the condition. Research studies show that there may be a dose dependent response, so it may be more effective to treat at lower doses at multiple intervals than to treat a single time with a high dose.

How long does the treatment last?
A treatment plan may vary, depending on the condition. For instance, an acute soft tissue injury or open wound may require multiple short treatments initially then the interval between treatments will lengthen as the condition improves.

Where can I get more information about Laser Therapy?   
You can visit the Swedish Laser Medical Society at: www.laser.nu for a wealth of information on Laser therapy