Laser Therapy in Delray Beach

Laser Therapy in Delray Beach

Laser Therapy uses specific wavelengths of therapeutic light to interact with tissues beneath the skin and support natural biological processes involved in recovery. It can be incorporated into conservative treatment plans for a variety of musculoskeletal problems.

At Alter Chiropractic, we use the M7 MLS® Therapy Laser. This advanced, FDA-cleared Class IV robotic laser uses Multiwave Locked System technology to deliver synchronized therapeutic wavelengths to targeted areas of the body.

The M7’s robotic delivery system allows therapeutic light energy to be distributed across a defined treatment area with consistent coverage. Treatment is non-invasive and does not require needles, injections, or surgery.

Patients may explore Laser Therapy for concerns such as:

• Back and neck pain
• Sciatica and radiating pain
• Disc problems
• Shoulder pain and rotator cuff tendonitis
• Hip and knee pain
• Joint pain and stiffness
• Arthritis and bursitis
• Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow
• Achilles tendonitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Tendon and ligament injuries
• Muscle aches and strains
• Sprains and soft tissue injuries
• Sports, work, and overuse injuries
• Recovery after surgery
• Pain associated with neuropathy, including diabetic neuropathy
• Inflammation and swelling

Rather than treating every patient the same way, Dr. Alter evaluates where you’re experiencing discomfort, how the problem affects your movement, and what may be contributing to your symptoms.

Laser Therapy can then be incorporated into a personalized care plan based on your condition and goals. Depending on your needs, it may also be combined with chiropractic care or other services available at Alter Chiropractic.

Whether you’re recovering from an injury, dealing with an overuse problem, or struggling with discomfort that keeps returning, our goal is to help you move more comfortably and return to the activities that matter to you.

What Is Laser Therapy?

Therapeutic Laser Therapy uses specific wavelengths of light energy to stimulate biological activity within targeted tissues. This process is commonly known as photobiomodulation and is designed to support cellular processes associated with recovery.

Unlike surgical lasers, therapeutic lasers are not designed to cut or remove tissue. Instead, controlled light energy is delivered to the treatment area without needles or incisions.

Laser Therapy may be incorporated into treatment plans for musculoskeletal problems involving pain, inflammation, swelling, restricted mobility, and soft tissue irritation.

At Alter Chiropractic, Dr. Alter uses the M7 MLS® Therapy Laser to provide this treatment. Your condition will be evaluated before care begins to determine whether Laser Therapy is appropriate and how it should fit into your overall treatment plan.

How Can Light Help With Pain?

Light is energy, and the cells in your body already use light in many ways. Sunlight, for example, helps your skin produce vitamin D.

Research into how specific wavelengths of light affect the body’s cells goes back decades. MLS® Laser Therapy uses specific wavelengths to support the body’s own processes for managing pain, improving local blood flow, and calming inflammation, which is why it is used for a wide range of painful musculoskeletal conditions.

Inside the body, this happens through a process called photobiomodulation. The light passes through the skin and is absorbed by the mitochondria, the energy centers of your cells, helping them produce more ATP, the energy cells run on. That extra energy sets off a chain of effects that supports tissue repair, better circulation, and less inflammation.

How MLS® Laser Therapy Works

As your body responds to the light energy, several therapeutic effects begin at the same time and work together:

• Anti-inflammatory: Helps reduce inflammation and swelling by supporting lymphatic drainage and local blood vessel dilation.
• Pain relief: Encourages the release of endorphins and enkephalins, the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals, which help block pain signals to the brain. Less inflammation and swelling can also mean less pain.
• Tissue repair: Light energy reaches deep into tissue and supports the cell activity involved in repair and recovery.
• Circulation: Supports local blood flow and the formation of new capillaries in damaged tissue.
• Less scar tissue: May help reduce the formation of fibrous scar tissue after an injury.

Common Reasons Patients Explore Laser Therapy

Laser Therapy may be considered when pain, inflammation, or an injury makes it difficult to move comfortably, exercise, work, or participate in normal activities.

Common reasons patients may explore Laser Therapy include:

• Acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain
• Sports and exercise-related injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Tendon and soft tissue irritation
• Joint stiffness and discomfort
• Recovery from repetitive-use injuries

Because different conditions require different approaches, Dr. Alter will determine whether Laser Therapy should be used alone or alongside other treatment options.

Benefits of Laser Therapy

One of the primary advantages of Laser Therapy is its non-invasive approach. Treatment does not require injections or incisions and can often be incorporated conveniently into a chiropractic or rehabilitation care plan.

Patients often choose MLS® Laser Therapy because it is:

• Drug-free and non-addictive
• Non-invasive, with no needles, injections, or incisions
• Quick, with sessions of about 10 to 15 minutes
• Comfortable, with most patients feeling little or no sensation
• Easy to combine with chiropractic care and other treatments

Laser Therapy may help support pain management, healthy inflammatory responses, local circulation, mobility, and natural tissue recovery. This makes it a useful option for patients dealing with both recent injuries and longer-term musculoskeletal concerns.

For patients looking for conservative treatment options, the M7 MLS® Therapy Laser gives Dr. Alter another advanced technology that can be combined with hands-on care and other treatment strategies when appropriate. It can be a non-invasive option to explore before turning to pain medication, steroid injections, or surgery.

Research on MLS® Laser Therapy

MLS® Laser Therapy continues to be studied. In a 2023 placebo-controlled study published in the Journal of IMAB, researchers followed 69 people with type 2 diabetes and painful diabetic neuropathy in their legs. Of those, 41 received MLS® Laser Therapy and 28 received a mock laser treatment.

In the MLS® group, pain scores dropped by 63.2% by the end of the nine-day treatment and were still 56.1% lower 90 days after treatment began. The mock treatment group showed only minimal change. The researchers concluded that MLS® Laser Therapy should be considered a safe, drug-free addition to standard care for painful diabetic neuropathy.

Individual results vary, and Dr. Alter will evaluate whether Laser Therapy is appropriate for your condition.

Source: Yosifova L, Vladeva E, Siderova M. Effects of MLS-laser on neuropathic pain in diabetic sensomotor neuropathy. Journal of IMAB. 2023;29(3):5079–5084.

What Makes MLS® Laser Therapy Different?

MLS® stands for Multiwave Locked System. Its patented design combines and synchronizes two wavelengths of light: a continuous 808 nm emission aimed at reducing inflammation and a pulsed 905 nm emission aimed at relieving pain. Working together, they allow light energy to reach deep into the body while treatment stays comfortable.

This combination is designed to address pain, inflammation, swelling, and muscle tightness at the same time, helping patients work toward a return to their everyday activities.

What Does Class IV Mean?

Lasers are grouped into classes based on their power:

• Class I: Very low power, like a grocery store scanner
• Class II: Low-power visible light, like a laser pointer
• Class III: Includes many low-level, or “cold,” therapy lasers
• Class IV: High-power therapy lasers, like the M7 MLS® Therapy Laser

Class IV lasers deliver more energy in less time, which helps the light reach deeper tissues during a short session. For safety, protective glasses are worn during treatment, and the M7’s robotic system keeps energy delivery consistent across the treatment area.

M7 Robotic Laser Therapy

Not all therapeutic laser systems are the same. Alter Chiropractic has invested in the advanced M7 MLS® Therapy Laser to provide patients in Delray Beach with another non-invasive option for managing pain, inflammation, injuries, and recovery.

The M7 is an FDA-cleared, robotic Class IV therapeutic laser that uses patented MLS®, or Multiwave Locked System, technology. This technology synchronizes therapeutic wavelengths of light and delivers controlled energy to targeted tissues.

Its robotic delivery system allows the laser to treat a defined area with consistent coverage while the patient remains comfortably positioned. Treatment settings can be selected based on the area being addressed and the individual patient’s needs.

For Dr. Ryan Alter, the M7 expands the treatment options available at Alter Chiropractic. Instead of relying on one approach for every condition, advanced Laser Therapy can be incorporated into a broader care plan based on your symptoms, activity level, and recovery goals.

Laser Therapy Alongside Your Other Care

MLS® Laser Therapy can be used on its own, and it can also be part of a broader care plan. At Alter Chiropractic, Dr. Alter may combine it with:

• Chiropractic care, including the Gonstead Technique and Activator Method
• Spinal Decompression
• Intersegmental Traction Therapy

Combining therapies lets your plan address your pain, movement, and recovery goals together. Dr. Alter will recommend the right approach after your evaluation.

Get Laser Therapy in Delray Beach

If pain, inflammation, or an injury is interfering with your daily life, Laser Therapy may be worth exploring. Alter Chiropractic now offers advanced M7 MLS® Laser Therapy for patients in Delray Beach and surrounding communities.

Dr. Ryan Alter will evaluate your symptoms, discuss your goals, and determine whether Laser Therapy may be appropriate for your condition. If recommended, your treatment plan will be personalized based on your needs and progress.

Contact Alter Chiropractic today to schedule your appointment and discover whether M7 MLS® Laser Therapy can be incorporated into your path toward better movement, recovery, and function.