Deep Tissue Laser Therapy

Deep tissue laser therapy, also called photobiomodulation, uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light, delivered by a Class IV therapeutic laser, to reach damaged or sore tissue and may help reduce pain and inflammation. PAR Physical Therapy offers deep tissue laser therapy for pain in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.

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What the light does in your tissue

Laser therapy aims to produce a photochemical response in damaged or dysfunctional tissue. The light is described as increasing blood supply to the area, oxygen delivered to cells, a stimulated lymphatic system that helps move swelling and inflammation out of the area, and more cell energy (ATP) production.

Class IV lasers reach deeper into musculoskeletal tissue than lower-power lasers. Treatment is performed by the physical therapist, who places the laser in contact with the skin so the light energy can enter the tissue. Chris Garavito (Owner, MSPT, TPIMP) lists deep tissue laser therapy among his advanced training.

From your first treatment to a full series

Evaluation first
Your therapist evaluates you and decides whether laser fits your plan. Laser is added to your care, not a stand-alone visit.
The treatment
The laser is placed on the skin over the area. It is painless and non-invasive, and you feel a deep, gentle warmth as your cells respond to the light.
How long it takes
Treatments last between 8 and 20 minutes depending on your injury and the body part being treated.
How many treatments
The number depends on the problem and how long you have had it. Some conditions may need as few as one treatment, and long-standing or deep-seated problems may take as many as 10. You should notice changes within 5 to 10 brief treatments.

What laser therapy is used for

Soft tissue injuries

Tendinitis
Back pain and neck pain
Tennis elbow (elbow pain)
Sprains and strains
Plantar fasciitis (foot and ankle pain)

Joint conditions

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Knee pain, including chondromalacia patellae
Shoulder pain

Safety with laser therapy

The laser is never used directly in the eye. Tell your therapist before treatment if any of these apply.

You have, or have had, a tumor in the area to be treated
You are or may be pregnant
Anything about your health or medications has changed since your evaluation

Questions about laser visits and cost

Is cold laser the same thing?

No. Low-level, or cold, laser is a lower-power version that penetrates up to two inches below the skin. Class IV deep tissue laser reaches deeper into tissue. Ask your therapist which one fits your problem.

Will my insurance cover it?

PAR accepts most insurance plans and tries to verify your benefits before your first visit. Call either clinic to ask how laser therapy is billed under your plan.

Do I need a referral?

No physician’s referral is needed to be evaluated by a physical therapist in South Carolina.

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