Athletics are a healthy way to stay fit, but they also carry the risk of foot and ankle injuries that cause immense pain and impact performance. But what's worse? Recurring inflammation and a lack of professional podiatry care often result in joint degeneration and arthritis, meaning your days in the field are over faster than you want them to be.
Fortunately, Multiwave Locked System (MLS) laser therapy is an effective, safe, and quick solution for alleviating inflammation and injury. At Sunshein Podiatry, we specialize in helping athletes at every level recover more quickly by using laser therapy in the treatment of various sports injuries. Is it the right solution for you? Here's what you need to know.
How Does MLS Laser Therapy Heal Foot and Ankle Problems?
This non-invasive treatment promotes tissue, muscle, and bone healing after injuries. Laser energy photons penetrate the skin around the injured region, where the body absorbs them and facilitates cell regeneration and growth. Most importantly, laser therapy stimulates blood flow to the injured area, which delivers oxygen, water, and nutrients to accelerate healing.
The use of light in therapy has been around for decades since a physicist invented the laser in 1958. Later in the 1960s, Endre Mester discovered the medical use of laser therapy after noting that when he shaved the back of a rat and illuminated light on it, the hair grew faster.
Since then, laser therapy has gained popularity and received FDA approval. Doctors now utilize this technique to treat a wide range of injuries and diseases. Additionally, using light energy helps minimize discomfort by stimulating the production of endorphins, which aid in pain management.
Why Is Laser Therapy Useful for Treating Sports Injuries?
Sport-related foot and ankle issues are mainly caused by overuse of tendons, ligaments, and joints. In addition to reducing severe pain and inflammation, laser treatment accelerates new cell regeneration in the affected areas, promoting more effective healing. As a result, laser treatment also improves muscle performance during physical activities. When injuries take longer to recover, numbness and reduced mobility often result. However, this approach also helps improve nerve regeneration, which otherwise results in loss of motor function.
Many of our patient-athletes also appreciate that MLS laser therapy is non-invasive and has minimal side effects, making it an ideal treatment for sports injuries and helping them return to peak performance more quickly.
What Are the Main Sports Injuries That Benefit From Laser Treatment?
Laser therapy enters the skin and effectively treats sports injuries that most doctors only treat through surgery and injections. While light from a laser can be intense, our skilled Centerville podiatrists control the beam to focus only on destroying damaged tissues. Many of our patients experience great success using laser treatment for the following conditions.
Achilles Tendinitis
Your Achilles tendon is on the back of the ankle and is often injured during strenuous physical activity or overuse. Laser therapy helps relieve Achilles tendinitis symptoms, such as pain and swelling, by increasing blood flow to the tendons and enhancing healing. Additionally, this treatment also minimizes nerve sensitivity and reduces pain.
Plantar Fasciitis
Athletes and sports lovers constantly exert pressure on their feet, which can lead to plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia tissue then weakens and causes a stabbing pain in the heel. Laser therapy accelerates tissue repair by penetrating deeply into the heel, thereby reducing inflammation. The treatment also stimulates the immune system to fight inflammation and reduce pain.
Ankle Sprains
It’s common for anyone to twist, turn, or roll their ankle, resulting in a sprain. When this happens, the strong ligaments supporting the ankle tear and cause pain. Repeated sprains result in bigger issues like arthritis, thus the need to treat them with laser therapy. The treatment stimulates tissue growth and regeneration, reduces heel inflammation, enhances blood flow, and promotes better healing.
Does Laser Therapy Speed Up Recovery Time?
Yes, this method is the way to go if you want a faster recovery. Unlike more traditional treatment options, which require a lot of rest and therapy during recovery, MLS laser therapy expedites healing by repairing and generating new cells and providing nutrients and oxygen to the affected area. Within one to two treatment sessions, you'll notice a reduction in pain and inflammation and, ultimately, a quick recovery.
Are you experiencing excruciating pain after a sports injury, or are you struggling with recurring conditions that take a long time to heal? MLS laser therapy at Sunshein Podiatry is the key to ending the pain and reclaiming your sports freedom, whether it’s a new or old injury.