Photobiomodulation
The therapists at Create Balance Laser Therapy are passionate about helping clients heal from persistently challenging health concerns and are determined to help their clients to live the life they deserve by utilising the most effective, innovative and evidence-based therapies.
Create Balance’s founder and lead therapist, Shannon Bowman, understands the significant effects of chronic pain, having suffered from neck and shoulder pain for many years. After finding relief from his persistent pain with photobiomodulation, he became a passionate advocate for the therapy and was motivated to help others find the same relief.
What is photobiomodulation therapy?
Photobiomodulation, formerly known as Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), is a unique and evidence based therapy that utilises the positive effects of light. It has been around for over 50 years, since its discovery by Hungarian physician Endre Mester in 1967. However, well before that, even the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians recognised the benefits of light, which they utilised for their phototherapy and heliotherapy.
Photobiomodulation is a gentle, safe and non-invasive therapy. It involves the shining of infrared and near infrared light onto targeted areas of the body, which then helps to stimulate, protect, repair and energise the body on a cellular level. Photobiomodulation ultimately assists the body’s ability to reduce pain and inflammation, increase the body’s range of motion and accelerate the body’s ability to heal itself.
Who can benefit from photobiomodulation therapy?
Mental Health
Photobiomodulation laser therapy is beneficial for a range of challenging mental health concerns and conditions. At Create Balance, photobiomodulation laser therapy is utilised for the improvement of a range of psychiatric disorders and concerns, as well as for some neurodevelopmental conditions.
It has also shown to improve degenerative diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as issues resulting from traumatic events such as traumatic brain injury, stroke and global ischemia. However, these are not conditions Create Balance treats at this time.
Create Balance’s founder and lead therapist, Shannon Bowman, understands the significant effects of chronic pain, having suffered from neck and shoulder pain for many years. After finding relief from his persistent pain with photobiomodulation, he became a passionate advocate for the therapy and was motivated to help others find the same relief.
What is photobiomodulation therapy?
- Photo = light
- Bio = life
- Modulation = change
Photobiomodulation, formerly known as Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), is a unique and evidence based therapy that utilises the positive effects of light. It has been around for over 50 years, since its discovery by Hungarian physician Endre Mester in 1967. However, well before that, even the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians recognised the benefits of light, which they utilised for their phototherapy and heliotherapy.
Photobiomodulation is a gentle, safe and non-invasive therapy. It involves the shining of infrared and near infrared light onto targeted areas of the body, which then helps to stimulate, protect, repair and energise the body on a cellular level. Photobiomodulation ultimately assists the body’s ability to reduce pain and inflammation, increase the body’s range of motion and accelerate the body’s ability to heal itself.
Who can benefit from photobiomodulation therapy?
Mental Health
Photobiomodulation laser therapy is beneficial for a range of challenging mental health concerns and conditions. At Create Balance, photobiomodulation laser therapy is utilised for the improvement of a range of psychiatric disorders and concerns, as well as for some neurodevelopmental conditions.
It has also shown to improve degenerative diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as issues resulting from traumatic events such as traumatic brain injury, stroke and global ischemia. However, these are not conditions Create Balance treats at this time.
Mental health concerns
radiation for major depressive disorder: Proof of concept study,” Psychiatry
Journal, vol. 2015, 2015.
Askalsky, P., & Iosifescu, D. V. (2019). Transcranial Photobiomodulation For The Management Of Depression: Current Perspectives. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 15, 3255–3272. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S188906
Hamblin M. R. (2016). Shining light on the head: Photobiomodulation for brain disorders. BBA clinical, 6, 113–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbacli.2016.09.002
Neurodevelopmental conditions
Pain Management
Photobiomodulation can be beneficial for the support of many pain and discomfort related concerns.
Photobiomodulation can be an effective, non-invasive, non-medicated way of finding relief from the painful symptoms of persistent or chronic conditions. Some of these conditions may include back and neck pain, wrist and knee pain, headaches and migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia pain, tennis elbow, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and sports injuries, which all have the potential to significantly affect a person’s quality of life.
How does photobiomodulation therapy work?
Photobiomodulation facilitates photons (packets of light energy) in near-infrared (visible) and infrared (invisible) light to be absorbed by the body. The photons enter the cell’s mitochondria and are absorbed by chromophores, including cytochrome-c oxidase (CCO). This then activates an increase in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which leads to healing and tissue repair, improved blood circulation, cellular function and cellular network communication.
What type of coloured light is used?
Colour is electromagnetic energy and each colour has its own wavelength and frequency. Photobiomodulation uses near-infrared (visible) and infrared (invisible) light. They sit on the edge, and just beyond, our visible light spectrum. The laser light used for photobiomodulation is collimated (focused in one direction), monochromatic (one specific wavelength of colour) and coherent (a strong and concentrated tight beam).
Is it safe?
Yes! And we take safety seriously. Create Balance Laser Therapy uses a Class 3B laser. It is sometimes referred to as a "cold laser" due to the fact that it is non-thermal. It is not considered a burn hazard. Our staff are fully trained in the safe use of the laser equipment. They ensure that the lasers are not directed towards people's eyes and protective eyewear is used for additional safety measures.
Why photobiomodulation therapy?
Photobiomodulation therapy may appeal to people who experience persistent, chronic and distressing health concerns and who have engaged in a range of therapeutic interventions but have not yet achieved their therapeutic goals. They may be looking for an additional or an alternative support to the interventions that are already engaged in - whether that is ‘talk therapy’ for mental health or chiropractic services for pain management, for example. Photobiomodulation may also provide people with the opportunity to utilise safe and side effect free ways to replace medication.
What can I expect from photobiomodulation therapy?
A session of photobiomodulation treatment is quick and painless. Initial consultations are usually 30-40 minutes long. However, standard consultations usually take no longer than 20-30 minutes. It’s possible for some people to experience immediate relief from their mental health or pain concerns, however it usually takes multiple sessions (8-12) for successful treatment, depending on the complexity of the concern.
Create Balance is unique in that it offers clients with mental health concerns or conditions the opportunity to combine photobiomodulation therapy with psychotherapy to maximise the effectiveness of the treatments and to minimise the length of time required to achieve their therapeutic goals. Sessions which include both psychotherapy and photobiomodulation therapy are 60 minutes in length.
Feel free to contact us should you have any questions regarding photobiomodulation.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Addiction
- Sleep disturbance
radiation for major depressive disorder: Proof of concept study,” Psychiatry
Journal, vol. 2015, 2015.
Askalsky, P., & Iosifescu, D. V. (2019). Transcranial Photobiomodulation For The Management Of Depression: Current Perspectives. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 15, 3255–3272. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S188906
Hamblin M. R. (2016). Shining light on the head: Photobiomodulation for brain disorders. BBA clinical, 6, 113–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbacli.2016.09.002
Neurodevelopmental conditions
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Pain Management
Photobiomodulation can be beneficial for the support of many pain and discomfort related concerns.
- Inflammation
- Musculoskeletal trauma
- Muscles
- Bones
- Joints
- Skin and tissue trauma
- Nerve trauma
Photobiomodulation can be an effective, non-invasive, non-medicated way of finding relief from the painful symptoms of persistent or chronic conditions. Some of these conditions may include back and neck pain, wrist and knee pain, headaches and migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia pain, tennis elbow, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and sports injuries, which all have the potential to significantly affect a person’s quality of life.
How does photobiomodulation therapy work?
Photobiomodulation facilitates photons (packets of light energy) in near-infrared (visible) and infrared (invisible) light to be absorbed by the body. The photons enter the cell’s mitochondria and are absorbed by chromophores, including cytochrome-c oxidase (CCO). This then activates an increase in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which leads to healing and tissue repair, improved blood circulation, cellular function and cellular network communication.
What type of coloured light is used?
Colour is electromagnetic energy and each colour has its own wavelength and frequency. Photobiomodulation uses near-infrared (visible) and infrared (invisible) light. They sit on the edge, and just beyond, our visible light spectrum. The laser light used for photobiomodulation is collimated (focused in one direction), monochromatic (one specific wavelength of colour) and coherent (a strong and concentrated tight beam).
Is it safe?
Yes! And we take safety seriously. Create Balance Laser Therapy uses a Class 3B laser. It is sometimes referred to as a "cold laser" due to the fact that it is non-thermal. It is not considered a burn hazard. Our staff are fully trained in the safe use of the laser equipment. They ensure that the lasers are not directed towards people's eyes and protective eyewear is used for additional safety measures.
Why photobiomodulation therapy?
Photobiomodulation therapy may appeal to people who experience persistent, chronic and distressing health concerns and who have engaged in a range of therapeutic interventions but have not yet achieved their therapeutic goals. They may be looking for an additional or an alternative support to the interventions that are already engaged in - whether that is ‘talk therapy’ for mental health or chiropractic services for pain management, for example. Photobiomodulation may also provide people with the opportunity to utilise safe and side effect free ways to replace medication.
What can I expect from photobiomodulation therapy?
A session of photobiomodulation treatment is quick and painless. Initial consultations are usually 30-40 minutes long. However, standard consultations usually take no longer than 20-30 minutes. It’s possible for some people to experience immediate relief from their mental health or pain concerns, however it usually takes multiple sessions (8-12) for successful treatment, depending on the complexity of the concern.
Create Balance is unique in that it offers clients with mental health concerns or conditions the opportunity to combine photobiomodulation therapy with psychotherapy to maximise the effectiveness of the treatments and to minimise the length of time required to achieve their therapeutic goals. Sessions which include both psychotherapy and photobiomodulation therapy are 60 minutes in length.
Feel free to contact us should you have any questions regarding photobiomodulation.
