The human body constantly responds to physical activity, injuries, stress, inflammation, and changes in its surrounding environment. Its ability to regulate these responses depends partly on healthy nervous-system activity and communication at the cellular level.
Pima Chiropractic now offers Erchonia low-level laser therapy, a non-invasive treatment designed to support normal cellular activity and the body’s natural adaptive processes.
Rather than using the laser to directly treat a disease or guarantee a specific outcome, our goal is to help create a healthier physiological environment in which the nervous system and the rest of the body can communicate, regulate, and respond more efficiently.
Treatment may be incorporated into a broader chiropractic care plan based on your symptoms, health history, examination findings, and individual goals.
What Is Low-Level Laser Therapy?
Low-level laser therapy uses low-intensity visible light energy as a therapeutic modality. The laser is directed toward a targeted area of the body without needles, incisions, or surgery.
Erchonia explains that visible-light photons interact with molecules and electrons within cells. These interactions may influence cellular activity, including processes involved in energy production and normal physiological function.
This approach is sometimes referred to as photobiomodulation because light energy is used to influence biological activity rather than cut, burn, or remove tissue.
At Pima Chiropractic, low-level laser therapy may be used to complement chiropractic treatment, movement-based care, and other non-invasive services.
Supporting the Body’s Adaptive Physiology
Your nervous system helps coordinate movement, sensation, muscle activity, circulation, and many of the body’s automatic regulatory functions.
Physical injuries, repetitive strain, inflammation, prolonged stress, or altered movement patterns can affect how effectively different parts of the body communicate and adapt.
Erchonia laser therapy is designed to support normal nervous-system function and healthy cellular communication. The treatment does not replace the body’s own healing processes. Instead, it is intended to support the physiological environment in which those processes occur.
Potential goals of treatment may include:
- Supporting normal cellular function
- Promoting healthy nervous-system communication
- Supporting the body’s response to physical stress
- Improving comfort and mobility
- Complementing recovery from musculoskeletal strain
- Supporting a broader chiropractic care plan
The exact purpose of treatment will depend on what Dr. Wilson identifies during your examination.
GVL Green and Violet Laser Technology
The Erchonia GVL combines two visible-light wavelengths:
- A 520-nanometer green wavelength
- A 405-nanometer violet wavelength
The manufacturer developed this wavelength combination for clinical applications involving pain and range of motion. Erchonia states that the GVL was evaluated for improving range of motion and decreasing pain during a treatment session.
The green and violet wavelengths interact with cellular processes differently, giving the provider additional options when developing an individualized laser protocol.
The GVL does not deliver a chiropractic adjustment or physically reposition a joint. Instead, it may be used alongside chiropractic care to support the body’s response to treatment.
EVRL Red and Violet Laser Technology
The Erchonia EVRL combines:
- A red wavelength of approximately 640 nanometers
- A violet wavelength of 405 nanometers
The EVRL is a handheld device that allows the provider to direct the laser toward specific treatment areas. The red portion of the device has FDA clearance for adjunctive use in providing temporary relief of minor chronic neck and shoulder pain of musculoskeletal origin.
Pima Chiropractic may use the EVRL as part of a broader approach intended to support comfort, movement, and healthy physiological function.
The different wavelength combinations available through the GVL and EVRL allow Dr. Wilson to select the technology most appropriate for the patient’s examination findings and treatment goals.
Why Use Different Laser Colors?
The color of a therapeutic laser corresponds to its wavelength. Different wavelengths of visible light are absorbed and processed differently by cells and tissues.
Using more than one wavelength gives the provider flexibility when addressing different treatment goals. The decision to use the green, red, or violet wavelength—or a particular combination—is based on clinical judgment rather than the color alone.
Patients do not need to select which device they receive. Dr. Wilson will determine whether low-level laser therapy is appropriate and which protocol best fits the care plan.
What Conditions May Be Evaluated for Laser Therapy?
Low-level laser therapy may be considered for patients experiencing musculoskeletal symptoms such as:
- Neck or shoulder discomfort
- Restricted or uncomfortable movement
- Muscle soreness or tension
- Joint stiffness
- Discomfort following physical activity
- Sports- or work-related strain
- Symptoms associated with repetitive movement
- Difficulty returning to normal activity after an injury
Being listed here does not mean that laser therapy is appropriate for every case. Similar symptoms can have different causes, which is why an examination should be completed before beginning treatment.
What Happens During a Laser Therapy Session?
Laser therapy begins with an evaluation of your symptoms and the area being treated.
During the session, Dr. Wilson or a trained member of the clinical team directs the handheld laser over specific areas of the body. The treatment is non-invasive and does not require injections or incisions.
A session may involve one treatment location or several related areas, depending on the findings of the examination.
Protective eyewear may be used during treatment in accordance with the device’s safety requirements. Erchonia identifies eye protection as a general precaution when certain classes of therapeutic lasers are used.
Most patients can return to their normal daily activities after the appointment.
How Many Laser Treatments Will I Need?
There is no single treatment schedule that is appropriate for everyone.
The recommended number and frequency of visits may depend on:
- How long you have experienced the problem
- Whether the symptoms are acute or persistent
- The location and severity of the symptoms
- Your activity level
- Your response to the initial treatment
- Whether laser therapy is being combined with chiropractic care
Some patients may receive laser therapy during a limited series of visits, while others may have it incorporated periodically into a broader care plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is low-level laser therapy painful?
Low-level laser therapy is non-invasive. Most patients do not describe the treatment itself as painful, although the area being treated may already be tender or sensitive.
Is this the same as a surgical laser?
No. Low-level laser therapy uses low-intensity light as a therapeutic modality. It is not being used to make an incision, remove tissue, or perform surgery.
Does the laser treat a specific disease?
At Pima Chiropractic, the laser is used to support normal physiological function and the body’s adaptive processes. It is not presented as a guaranteed cure for a particular disease or diagnosis.
Does laser therapy replace chiropractic care?
Not necessarily. Laser therapy may be used on its own in an appropriate case, but it can also complement chiropractic adjustments, mobility work, rehabilitation, and other services.
How will I know whether it is right for me?
Dr. Wilson will review your health history, symptoms, and examination findings before recommending treatment. Certain medical conditions, medications, or other factors may affect whether laser therapy is appropriate.
Support Your Body’s Natural Ability to Adapt
Erchonia low-level laser therapy gives Pima Chiropractic another non-invasive option for supporting healthy cellular communication, nervous-system function, mobility, and overall physical wellness.
Dr. Wilson has served chiropractic patients in Tucson since 1989 and develops care plans based on each patient’s needs rather than applying the same treatment to everyone.
Call Pima Chiropractic at (520) 722-1585 or request an appointment online to learn whether Erchonia low-level laser therapy may be appropriate for you.
