Laser Treatments

What type of laser treatments do podiatrists use?

Medical lasers typically use high-intensity light energy that produces results through heat. These lasers may serve as a precise scalpel, removing tumors by vaporizing them or targeting pigments and eliminating spider veins and age spots.

Podiatrists use a different type of laser — a low-intensity laser — that delivers low-level light therapy (LLLT), better known as cold laser treatment. These lasers aren’t actually cold. They use a level of heat that goes safely through your skin and triggers activities in cells below the surface.

How does laser treatment promote healing?

When LLLT interacts with cells, it activates cellular metabolism, causing a wide range of healing activities, including:

• Reducing inflammation
• Increasing energy production
• Improving circulation
• Triggering new tissue growth
• Stimulating nerve function
• Boosting the immune system

These actions accelerate healing in the tissues treated with laser therapy and provide effective pain relief.

What conditions improve with laser therapy?

Cold laser therapy treats many soft tissue injuries, ranging from arthritis and tendonitis to muscle spasms and peripheral neuropathy. 

However, the team at Forward Foot & Ankle Associates primarily uses laser therapy to treat Achilles tendon injuries and plantar fasciitis. 

What other advanced treatments improve foot conditions?

In addition to laser therapy, Forward Foot & Ankle Associates offers other advanced treatments that promote healing, including:

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

PRP contains plasma and a high concentration of platelets, which your provider makes from a sample of your own blood. Platelets are one of your body’s natural healing agents. 

When you’re injured, they travel to the damaged tissues and release growth factors. Growth factors accelerate healing, reduce inflammation, trigger new blood vessel production, and regenerate new tissues.

After your provider injects PRP into foot injuries, the platelets do the same thing, healing foot conditions involving tendons, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and bones. 

TenJet® debridement

TenJet uses a needle-like device to direct a high-intensity saline solution toward injured and diseased tendons. The solution cleans away damaged, dead, and infected tissues without harming the surrounding healthy tissues.

Your provider may use TenJet to treat inflamed and injured tendons and conditions such as Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis.

To learn how laser therapy or other advanced treatments can heal your foot condition and ease your pain, call Forward Foot & Ankle Associates or request an appointment online today.