What Does a Laser Treat?

Lasers—highly-concentrated beams of light—have made a transition from essential elements of science fiction to a valuable tool used in real-world medical practice. As you encounter them more frequently in the health care field, it’s important to know which foot problems a laser can treat.

To start, lasers can be used in the treatment of various soft tissue injuries, especially those that affect connective tissues like tendons, ligaments, and fasciae (thin sheaths of fibrous tissue enclosing organs or muscles).

When you have heel pain from plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon problems, or an ankle sprain, there are many things you can do to help the healing process along. We will likely start you out with RICE therapy, shoe modifications to reduce irritation, or custom orthotics to correct faulty foot movements or foot structures. These, along with any anti-inflammatory medications we prescribe, can go a long way toward relieving your symptoms.

However, if you need pain relief from a chronic problem these remedies haven’t fully addressed, laser therapy can be the next step before trying injections or invasive surgery to solve your foot issues.

Laser treatment works by penetrating through body tissue to reach damaged cells and then stimulating your body’s natural healing processes by accelerating cellular reproduction and growth. The concentrated light beams also trigger anti-inflammatory responses, which is beneficial for reducing swelling and pain.

In addition to treating soft tissue injuries, lasers are also used in the treatment of fungal toenails.

There are other methods of treating cases of toenail fungus, but they have their respective downsides that are not associated with laser therapy. Oral medication is a treatment option, but may produce undesirable side effects. Topical medicine is another possible course of treatment, although it doesn’t address fungus residing under the nail. The laser therapy we offer in our office doesn’t have side effects, yet it can effectively eradicate the infection under your nails. It is truly the best of both worlds.

When we recommend using lasers as part of the treatment for your condition, you can expect a quick, pain-free session. It is a safe practice, as evidenced by the approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – the regulatory branch of the federal government tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that medical devices will not harm patients. FDA uses rigorous auditing and testing process to verify the safety and efficacy of medical equipment.

Premier Podiatry Group is committed to using state-of-the-art technology to provide treatments that are effective and safe for our patients. Scheduling your appointment with our Ebensburg, PA office is as easy as dialing (814) 472-2660. Of course, you can also connect with us by taking just a moment to fill out our online contact form. We look forward to the chance to provide the care you need and restore your feet back to health, so contact us today!