UNDATED (KTHV) -- Some may think it's like something out of Star Wars. A swipe of a laser light helping heal an injury or ailment inside the body.
In this months Prescription Arkansas report, we're talking about laser light therapy in conjunction with physical therapy.
Jerry Melnyk is a runner. But tendonitis in his right knee recently put a stop to his workouts. He's been working with physical therapist Coral Robison at Baptist Health Therapy Center on Bowman in Little Rock. "It got really bad during a race I ran a couple of weeks back in Lake Hamilton," Says Mike. "I was running in the middle of the race and it kept building and building and eventually I just had to stop because it was just hurting too bad."
Coral used the traditional therapeutic procedures to treat him, but added something else. Light therapy. "It's used to treat various injuries, bursitis, tendonitus, cartlidge tears, arthritis; it can be used for nerve damage pretty much you name it. Fractures, anything and it can help to decrease the pain and inflammation of the sight." She explains.
Light therapy is used beginning with the first visit. The cells take the energy from the light and start a metabolic process so the cells begin healing. "So it speeds up the healing process so the client can get back to work, or golfing, running whatever their activity is that their unable to do due to their pain."
It usually takes three to four treatments before the patient really feels a difference, although Coral says some patients feel relief after just one treatment. "I think it's really helped because before I came every time I'd take a step, like here and below the knee would be hurting and then after I started doing the weights, all the rest of the therapy, and the laser like the rest of the day I would feel it not hurting as much and now I can run fine on it."
Coral says along with traditional therapy, laser therapy holds the key to a fast recovery.