Stamford Chiropractor Introduces Low-Level Laser Therapy for Chronic Pain

Imagine being able to have the pain in your tennis elbow significantly reduced with just a few painless, five-minute treatments that involve no surgery, medication, needles or lengthy doctor visits. That is exactly what has been offering its patients for the past four months.

Dr. J. Christopher Sova and Jason Zwickler, LMT recently launched the new Chiro Laser Center at Stamford Healthcare Associates, which offers low-level laser therapy to those dealing with a range of injuries, including sciatica, broken bones, strained muscles and swollen joints. Although the treatment has been used internationally for the past 30 years, low-level laser therapy has only been widely introduced in this area over the last few years.

Here's how it works: the laser is administered through a small device that sends light to source of the pain (without any heat), penetrates the skin and creates electromagnetic energy triggering a series of chemical reactions to stimulate cells and the body’s natural healing process. The device is kept on the injured area for an average of five minutes.

"After being treated, patients can expect their mobility to improve," Zwickler told Patch. "Their pain and stiffness is decreased and their range of motion is increased. We're able to cut [patients'] pain in half, as well as reduce inflammation."

The device that Zwickler and Dr. Sova use to administer the treatment is called the Erchonia Laser and is the first to be approved by the FDA to treat chronic pain. The therapy itself has no known side effects. Treatments, however, are currently not recommended for pregnant women and cancer patients.

According to Zwickler, depending on the severity of the injury, most patients will experience a reduction in pain within one to three visits. Stamford Healthcare Associates currently offers a plan where patients pay between $600 and $1,000 for up to 10 treatments. Most health insurance plans assist in treatment coverage.

Low-level laser therapy is especially beneficial for athletes. In fact, Zwickler, who's been a licensed massage therapist for the past 12 years, trained with Dr. Jeffery Spencer, D.C. who took part in the development of the equipment and served as team chiropractor for Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France championships. Tiger Woods, the New York Jets and other professional athletes and teams have also utilized the therapy, which was endorsed by the U.S. Olympic Committee in 2004.

Zwickler stressed, however, that how well the treatment works depends on the patient and their level of activity. 

"I've [recently] been working with a dancer with a broken toe," Zwickler said. "After six treatments, her pain was reduced significantly to where she could dance again with little pain. And when she stopped dancing altogether, her pain was almost gone. So rest is a part of the equation."

Stamford Health Associates also uses massage therapy and exercise in conjunction with the low-level laser therapy to ensure full range of motion.

"As long as patients follow our recommendations, they get better faster," Zwickler said.

For more information about The Chiro Laser Center at Stamford Healthcare Associates, visit www.stamfordhc.com