Articles

Chinese Herbal Formulae for Knee Pain and Injury Chinese Herbal Medicine has been used to successfully treat traumatic injury for centuries and although the surgical methods that were once part of Chinese Medicine have been replaced by modern methods, the herbal formulae and acupuncture point prescriptions are still effective today and can speed up recovery time in the case of acute injuries and often be the only alternative in chronic cases. It is well known that the combination of Xu Duan and Du Zhong is the pairing of choice when it comes to knee pain. The literal translation of Xu...

The Importance of LLLT Dosage Recommendations While studies into the efficacy and proper use of LLLT are ongoing, sufficient evidence has been gathered that the World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT) has established recommended dosages for a number of LLLT treatments. These dosage recommendations may change over time, but for now they are the best guidelines available to determine the most effective dosage for treating patients. A recent meta-analysis on the effects of LLLT as pain relief for joint areas highlights the importance of these dosage recommendations. Dose table 904nm for Low Level Laser Therapy WALT 2010 Dose table 780-860nm...

People receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for cancer of the head and neck often develop oral mucositis (OM). OM often causes significant pain which can interfere with oral function and nutrition; these problems can be so severe they lead to treatment discontinuing. To date, no methods of treating or preventing OM have been found. A study of the effects of LLLT on OM was published in the September issue of Radiotherapy and Oncology. Researchers from Manipal University in Udupi, India conducted a triple blinded randomized control trial to determine if prophylactic LLLT might be an effective treatment for OM. 221 patients...

Rheumatoid arthritis has been treated for several decades with laser therapy. While there is reason to believe the effects of laser treatments are based on cellular and photochemical mechanisms, the exact process of these mechanisms is still unknown. Last May, researchers from the National Institute of Rheumatology and Physiotherapy in Hungary published an ex-vivo study looking for new insights into the way laser therapy effects rheumatoid tissues. The study looked specifically at protein expression in synovial membranes. Five people who were undergoing knee surgery for RA donated tissue samples. One sample from each person was treated with near-infrared laser at...

For patients suffering from OA, Low Level Laser Therapy may be a useful adjunct therapy to medication. Several studies have looked into the effect of LLLT on osteoarthritis and demonstrated that LLLT can benefit people with OA. In particular, LLLT has been found to increase joint flexibility and range of motion. Three studies listed in the PubMed database illustrate the benefits of LLLT for OA. The first was published in February 2011, in Arthritis Research and Therapy. This study was a systematic review of rehabilitation interventions for OA in the hands. Interventions covered included: exercise, laser, heat, splints, massage and...