Soft laser treatment is a form of physiotherapy. It is non-invasive (i.e. treatment from outside the body) and completely painless. It has several names, but they all mean the same thing. They are also called soft laser, low-intensity laser therapy (LLLT), and cold laser. Some countries use the terms biostimulation or photobiomodulation. I think the term photobiostimulation is the most apt because it gives a clear indication of what it is: a beam of light directed into the body stimulates self-healing biological processes.
What is low-intensity laser (soft laser) therapy?
Soft laser therapy involves the application of a beam of low-energy laser light. The beam consists of only a single wavelength of light (650 or 808 nanometres for soft lasers) moving in the same phase (coherent)
Soft laser treatment improves the regeneration of ligaments, nerves, cartilage and muscles, speeds up blood circulation, rapidly reduces inflammation and relieves pain.
Today, soft lasers can be used safely by dermatologists, surgeons, traumatologists, orthopaedists, sports physicians, rheumatologists, plastic surgeons, dentists, physiotherapists, physiotherapists, massage therapists, acupuncturists and patients themselves for a wide range of conditions.
What to look out for when buying!
Soft laser devices are classified according to their energy output. This is necessary for safety reasons because laser light can be dangerous to the eyes and can cause fires. The higher the energy of a device, the more powerful its biological effect, but this also increases the risk of use (for example, certain lasers can no longer be bought by the layperson for home use).
Class 1 Lasers
These devices are low energy devices. The required treatment time at a single treatment point can be 2-5 minutes, i.e. that’s how long you need to keep the appliance in the same place.
They are considered completely safe for normal use without goggles. They are only dangerous to the eyes with an optical accessory, goggles are only required in such cases. Their effect is limited to the vicinity of the body surface, mainly affecting the skin and superficial formulas. Class 1 laser devices are exempt from most medical control requirements. This is why many manufacturers (including many in China) produce them.
Class 1 includes the B-Cure Classic.
Class 2 Lasers
Their power does not exceed 1 mW. The natural reflex of the eye against strong light ensures eye protection. The eye may be endangered if the laser beam is directed directly into the eye for more than 0.25 seconds (quarter of a second) without protection.
Class 3 Lasers
Class 3 lasers are medium-power lasers with an output power of 5 mW to 500 mW. They deliver the amount of energy required to produce a therapeutic effect in 10 to 20 seconds, which means that treatment time is significantly shortened. It is particularly beneficial for patients with polyarticular diseases and for surgeries and therapists.
The light beam emitted is dangerous if it enters the eye directly. Diffuse reflection (e.g. from a wall) is generally not a hazard, but diffuse reflection from a mirror or glass is. These devices should only be used with protective goggles. Class 3 lasers are not usually a fire hazard. They can be dispensed for use at home without the presence of a doctor.
Devices belonging to this category: Personal Laser L200, Personal Laser L400, Energy Laser L500 Pro, Energy Laser L800, Energy Laser L2000.
Class 4 Lasers
Class 4 lasers are high-power lasers with an output power exceeding 500 mW. Direct beam, specular reflection or diffuse reflection are all hazardous to both eyes and skin. Class 4 lasers may be flammable (an ignition hazard if the radiated power exceeds 2 W/cm2). They may only be used in a medical practice with appropriate protective equipment and may not be supplied to private individuals.
Devices covered: PhysioLaser 500, PhysioLaser 1000.
Some known devices
Based on the above, you already know that Class 1 laser devices are the safest for home use. However, their biological effects are inferior to those of higher laser class devices. The higher the class, the shorter the treatment time and the stronger the effect.
Let’s see where soft lasers on the market fall.
Class 1 Lasers
Devices include the B-Cure devices (e.g.: Classic)
With these devices, you should be able to treat risk-free. Treatment time for each point is a few minutes.
Class 2 Lasers
Devices includes the Safelaser 150. This device is suitable for the treatment of skin problems and scars.
Class 3 Lasers
Devices includes the Personal-Laser L200 and L400, and the Energy-Laser L500 Pro, L800 Proand L2000 Pro. These deliver as much energy to the body in seconds as the Class 1 and 2 devices, making them significantly more efficient to use.
Class 4 Lasers
Devices includes high-powered devices (pe.g. PhysioLaser 500, PhysioLaser 1000), which cannot be purchased for home use. They are intended for use in a doctor’s surgery or physiotherapy practice.
Soft lasers with different laser classes
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Laser power class 1- 808 nanometer laser beam
- PW (pulsed) laser
- 250mW power
- 6 minutes / 5 Joule
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Personal Laser devices
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- Laser power class 3
- 660 nanometer laser beam
- CW (continuous wave) laser
- 200 mW power
- 25 sec / 5 Joule
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- Laser power class 3
- 808 nanometer laser beam
- CW (continuous wave) laser
- 400 mW power
- 12.5 sec / 5 Joule
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High-end soft laser
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- Laser power class 3
- 808 nanometer laser beam
- CW (continuous wave) laser
- 500 mW power
- 10 sec / 5 Joule
- Android app – Bluetooth connection
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- With devices of the same laser class and wavelength, you can expect roughly equivalent effects. For example, B-Cure is class 1, its main effect is biostimulation and regeneration aid.
- Laser class 3 devices (Personal Laser, Energy Laser) provide a much stronger treatment effect than class 1 devices (B-Cure and Safelaser).
Basic operation of your body
Your body’s cells produce the substances needed to renew itself. Think of cells as tiny “factories” that “produce” different things. One protein, one hormone, the next stimulus transmitter, etc.
Like a factory, think of a cell as a factory that makes “chemicals”.
And your body “rebuilds” and regenerates itself from these. It corrects faults, eliminates diseases, destroys pathogens.
The cell is bounded on the outside by a cell membrane (like a wall of a factory building).
The blood (and lymph) brings the raw materials the cells need for production and carries the finished products.
But energy is needed to get the material in and out of the cell (to open the “gates” in the cell wall and allow the transfer to take place).
If the cell is lacking energy, the transport of material through the cell wall is interrupted (imagine that the automatic gates do not open due to a power failure, i.e. neither in nor out).
And if the supply stops, no raw materials arrive for production, then the plant stops, no product is made. In the case of your body, this means that it cannot produce the materials needed to regenerate, heal, kill the pathogen, etc., so it does not recover, you are left in a permanently diseased state.
The aim of all medical treatment is to restore, stimulate and assist the body’s ability to heal itself, i.e. the “manufacturing function” of the cells!
You are wrong to think that medicine, ultrasound, laser, magnetic field, electric current, etc. heal!
These cannot “work” for the cell. Their only function is to help the cells to produce the substances they need in abundance, to get it out the “door” to other parts of your body.
How does soft laser treatment work?
The soft laser device emits electromagnetic radiation, which is one of the methods used to help heal people.
The energy from the laser beam entering the body is used by cells to produce ATP (energy) through a complex process. Using this energy, regenerative substances enter the cell and the finished products, as well as decomposition products (toxins, etc.) that hinder healing, are released.
Soft lasers also stimulate the mitochondria of the cells, i.e. directly the “manufacturing machines”. The main effect is to stimulate your body’s self-healing processes, so that the body slowly “corrects the mistake” and fights off the disease.
The laser beam causes your body to release pain-relieving substances (called endorphins), which results in a reduction in pain.
This is why it takes time for the effects of soft laser treatment to take effect! A few minutes of treatment – apart from a temporary pain relief effect – will not make any real difference.
Just think how long it takes for a broken bone to heal! Even months of tennis elbow treatment and the elimination of inflammation can’t be done with a single soft laser treatment.
But soft laser treatment does cause a change in the energy supply to the cells, the production of regenerative substances “kicks in” and regeneration slowly begins. Impatience is not helpful.
By stimulating the energy supply to the cells, soft laser treatment is not only symptomatic but also curative.
Another effect of laser is to heat up the tissues, thereby increasing blood and lymph circulation. This further improves the healing effect, as faster circulation delivers more oxygen and “building blocks” and also removes toxins more quickly.
Proven biological effects of laser light
- Increases cellular activity
- Increases cellular metabolism
- Increases ATP production in mitochondria
- Lymphocytes, leukocytes and macrophages migrate to the site of inflammation
- Induces vasodilation and improves blood circulation
- Collagen production is increased
- Oxygen uptake by cells is improved
- The Na-K pump in cell membranes is restored
- Membrane potential of diseased cells is restored
Results
- Anti-inflammatory effect. Laser light stimulates anti-inflammatory processes, resulting in reduced swelling, reduced redness and reduced sensitivity.
- Improved microcirculation. Resulting in reduced edema and more efficient regeneration.
- An analgesic effect. Endorphins are released as a result of nerve cell stimulation. These are powerful painkillers produced in the body. Endorphins reduce the sensitivity of pain receptors to toxins. By stimulating the nerve endings, a strong analgesic effect is achieved. In addition to relieving pain, endorphins also support the anti-inflammatory effect.
- Increase production of “building blocks”The energy increases the production of ATP in the mitochondria, which provides sufficient energy for the production of proteins and healing substances.
One important process is collagen production. Collagen is part of almost all tissues – especially in the lower layers of the skin. Laser light stimulates collagen synthesis and thus improves wound healing.
The right amount of collagen ensures that wounds heal without scarring. - Release of waste products from cells. This effect is of great importance in the treatment of e.g. tissue injuries and haematomas.
What does the laser effect depend on?
The laser effect depends on the amount of energy emitted by the device, the wavelength of the light beam and whether the radiation is continuous or pulsed.
It is easy to understand that greater energy has a greater effect. A stronger laser will also have a stronger effect. That is, a class 3 laser is more effective than a class 1. It’s kind of like racing a car. A Formula 1 car is certainly faster than any production car. A Personal Laser L400 or Energy Laser L500 is certainly more effective than any Safelaser or B-Cure.
Most soft lasers use a diode that emits light at a wavelength of 660 or 808 nanometres. .
The 660 nm laser is red and visible.They are mainly used to treat skin and formations up to 1-2 cm under the skin. They cannot penetrate deep into the skin, but their energy is fully harnessed close to the surface. They are very effective for skin, small joints, teeth complaints.
The light from the 808 nm laser is infrared and invisible to the eye. Such devices also emit artificial, visible light when they are operating, but this is only used to “aim” the treatment and indicate operation. This laser beam penetrates deep into the subcutaneous tissue. Class 1 lasers can reach a depth of 3-5 cm, while Class 3 lasers can reach up to 5-10 cm. Therefore, 808nm lasers are suitable for treating larger joints, articular cartilage, ligaments and other formations, even in deep joints such as hips, knees and spine. Because the light penetrates the skin quickly, they can have a milder surface effect than 660nm lasers.
Laser beam penetration and distance
This diagram shows how to control the depth of penetration of the laser beam. If you keep a distance of 5-10mm between the head of the device and the skin, the energy is harnessed close to the skin. If you want to apply the energy as deeply as possible, place the head on the skin and press in lightly.
Laser Modes
Two types of soft laser are produced. One is continuous wave (CW) and the other is pulsed wave (PW).
Continuous laser light flows uninterrupted, so it can inject large amounts of energy in a short time. Its effect is twofold: heating (stimulating circulation) and enhancing energy production (biostimulation).
They could be beneficial in degenerative processes (cartilage wear, tendinopathy, etc.). Among these devices are the SafeLaser models, which employ a prism to disperse light, limiting their heating effect and necessitating longer treatment durations.
The Personal-Laser and Energy-Laser are prismless, i.e. their heating effect is significant. They inject a large amount of energy in a short period of time, so protective goggles and cautious use may be required.
Pulsating light (PW) delivers less energy, so there is no heating effect. However, the biostimulation effect is strong. Some physicians say the pulsed mode is more effective for wounds, ulcers and surface inflammation. Pulsed lasers are emitted by B-Cure Lasers.
What are the benefits of soft laser treatment?
- Non-invasive, meaning the treatment can be performed from the outside
- Non-toxic (completely drug-free)
- No known adverse effects, i.e. no side effects
- safer and more effective than drugs, ultrasound, infrared light or microwave treatment
- Simple and easy to use, no special training required
- Highly effective! With a success rate of over 95%
The effects of soft laser treatment
- Improves vascular activity, increases blood circulation to the damaged area.
- The energy delivered to the cell stimulates ATP production and thus accelerates cell proliferation and growth, speeding up regeneration processes.
- Stimulates fibroblast development and accelerates collagen synthesis in damaged tissue, accelerating wound healing.
- More scar tissue is formed, so the wound, the surgical scar, “heals” better and becomes stronger.
- Anti-inflammatory, quickly reduces pain, relieving stiffness and returning normal joint and muscle function.
- Edema reducing, i.e. it reduces swelling, whether it is swelling around an injury, nerve root edema or even lymphedema.
- Stimulates nerve function, accelerating nerve cell regeneration, which could reduce pain and numbness associated with nerves (e.g. neuropathy)
Conditions that could be treated with soft laser
Thousands of scientific and clinical studies have demonstrated beneficial effects. The Word Association for Laser Therapy (WALT), an organisation of doctors who practice laser therapy, identifies the following as the main applications of laser light therapy
Musculoskeletal problems
| Status | Energy demand | Appliances suitable for treatment (treatment time) |
| Arthrosis (joint wear, degeneration) Diseases associated with lesions of the tendons (tendinopathy, fasciitis) Tunnel syndromes (wrist, foot) |
15-25 Joule | B-Cure Classic (18-30 min) / B-Cure Sport (15-25 min) / B-Cure Pro (14-24 min) Personal Laser L400 (35-60 sec/point) / Energy Laser L500 Pro (30-60 sec/point) / Energy Laser L2000 (30-60 sec) |
| Arthritis (arthritis, which can present in about 100 forms) Rheumatoid arthritis Periarthritis (inflammation of the joint and the tissues around the joint) Epicondylitis (tennis elbow, golf elbow) Cervical spondylosis (calcification) Sclerotic arthritis |
10-15 Joules | B-Cure Classic (12-24 min) / B-Cure Sport (10-20 min) / B-Cure Pro (10-18 min) Personal Laser L400 (25-35 sec / Energy Laser L500 Pro (20-30 sec) / Energy Laser L2000 (10 sec) |
| Bruises, contusions, sprains, mild musculoskeletal injuries injury, bursitis |
4-10 Joules | B-Cure Classic (6-12min) / B-Cure Sport (5-10 min) / B-Cure Pro (5-9 min) Personal Laser L400 (10-20 sec / Energy Laser L500 Pro (10-15 sec) / Energy Laser L2000 (10 sec) |
Nervous symptoms (nerve fibre under pressure)
| Status | Energy demand | Appliances suitable for treatment (treatment time) |
| Trigeminal neuralgy (facial nerve pain) | 10-15 Joules | Personal Laser L200 (50-75 seconds)/ Personal Laser L400 (25-35 seconds / Energy Laser L500 Pro (20-30 seconds) |
| Intercostal neuritis and neuralgia | ||
| Facial nerve palsy (Bell’s palsy) | ||
| Sciatica Lumbago – lower back pain Disc hernia Piriformis syndrome |
15-25 Joules | B-Cure Classic (18-30min) / B-Cure Sport (15-25 min) / B-Cure Pro (14-24 min) Personal Laser L400 (35-60 sec/point) / Energy Laser L500 Pro (30-60 sec/point) / Energy Laser L2000 (30-60 sec) |
Dental and Ear, nose and throat conditions
| Status | Energy demand | Appliances suitable for treatment (treatment time) |
| Tinnitus | 15-25 Joules | Personal Laser L200 (75-125 seconds)/ Personal Laser L400 (35-60 seconds / Energy Laser L500 Pro (30-60 seconds) |
| Involuntary hearing loss (inflammatory, infectious) | 10-15 Joules | Personal Laser L200 (50-75 seconds)/ Personal Laser L400 (25-35 seconds / Energy Laser L500 Pro (20-30 seconds) |
| Ear and sinus infections Periodontitis and gingivitis Stimulating healing after dental surgery Afta and herpes treatment |
4-10 Joules | Personal Laser L200 (20 sec/point)/ Personal Laser L400 (10-15 sec / Energy Laser L500 Pro (10 sec) |
Blood vessel-related conditions
| Status | Energy demand | Appliances suitable for treatment (treatment time) |
| Superficial varicose veins Vasculitis An ulcer caused by varices Acute and chronic ulcers Swelling | Edema |
4-10 Joules | B-Cure Classic (6-12min) / B-Cure Sport (5-10 min) / B-Cure Pro (5-9 min) Personal Laser L200 (20 seconds/point)/ Personal Laser L400 (10-15 seconds/point Energy Laser L500 Pro (10mp/point) / Energy Laser L800 (10mp/4cm2) / Energy Laser L2000 (10mp/4cm) |
Stimulating the healing process
| Status | Energy demand | Appliances suitable for treatment (treatment time) |
| Ulcer caused by diabetes Ulcers and bedsores of varicose origin Burn wound healing Stimulation of surgical scar healing Polyneuritis, neuritis, neuropathy |
4-10 Joules | B-Cure Classic (6-12min) / B-Cure Sport (5-10 min) / B-Cure Pro (5-9 min) Personal Laser L200 (20 seconds/point)/ Personal Laser L400 (10-15 seconds/point Energy Laser L500 Pro (10mp/point) / Energy Laser L800 (10mp/4cm2) / Energy Laser L2000 (10mp/4cm) |
Contraindications
Do not point the laser beam towards your eyes! Do not want to look into it! All persons in the room must wear safety goggles for laser category III devices (B-Cure devices do not require such protection!)
Thyroid: do not aim the laser beam at the thyroid gland, you may compromise thyroid function.
Pregnancy: do not treat the uterus directly, do not direct the treatment to the fetus (especially not in the first trimester).
Epilepsy: low frequency pulsed visible light (<30 Hz) may induce seizures in epileptic patients, i.e. do not use visible range lasers in such cases.
Patients with cancer and haemorrhagic diseases are prohibited from using soft lasers.
Skin: do not treat moles with lasers!
Performing soft laser treatment
Soft laser treatment is one of the easiest treatments to perform. There are two ways: point treatment and scanning.
Point treatment
The amount of energy to apply in each condition is known, as shown in the table below. It is possible to calculate how long it takes to deliver this energy based on the device’s power. This duration determines how long the device should be held at the specified point. Once the treatment time has passed, the device should be shifted to the next treatment point. This method allows for a fairly accurate calculation of the required treatment time.
Scanning
Based on the size of the affected area (cm2), the required dose, the energy output of the device and the size of the handpiece, it is possible to calculate the total amount of energy to be administered in a given case.
Once this has been calculated, the head should be moved slowly and continuously until the calculated time has elapsed.
The disadvantage of this method is that no matter how you move the head, you can’t treat the area completely evenly (but this isn’t always a problem)
I recommend using panning treatment for wounds, ulcers, scars, acne, herpes, etc.
For arthritis, tendonitis, cartilage problems, abrasions, treat point by point.
It takes longer to administer the same amount of energy with the lower power device. Some devices, such as B-Cure Lasers, have a large treatment head that treats a huge 4.5cm2 area at a time and takes 4-6 minutes per point. SafeLaser devices usually take 2-3 minutes to do the same, while Personal Laser and Energy Laser devices take a few seconds (but the latter treat a smaller area at a time).
If you’re suffering from inflammation of a single joint, such as a wrist, then all of them may be suitable, with each taking just a few minutes to treat.
If you have a multi-joint complaint, e.g., you need to treat 28 finger joints in ten fingers of your hand, the higher energy and point laser will require a significantly shorter treatment time.
Attention! Soft lasers are not toys. Make sure it does not get into the hands of small children!
Treatment Frequency
In acute cases (if the disease is recent), treat daily for 1-2 weeks, then 3-4 times a week until symptoms resolve. Although you may see improvement on the first treatment, this is not a cure. Treat for a minimum of 14 days or until full recovery.
For long-standing conditions (more than 8-10 weeks old, prolonged), one should treat them less frequently but for a longer duration. One treatment every other day is sufficient for the first 10 days, and then every third day thereafter until symptoms have resolved or significantly reduced.
Recovery from persistent illness obviously takes longer (up to months!). After the first few treatments, the pain may temporarily increase, but after a few days it will disappear. Inflammatory processes particularly commonly trigger this reaction, as toxins leach out, temporarily exciting pain receptors.
More is not always better
In the case of soft laser treatment, longer treatment than recommended does not give better results, in fact! Let me explain.
To get the beneficial effect, i.e. stimulate cellular processes, a certain amount of energy is needed. The suggested treatment times inject this energy. If you keep it there for shorter periods, you are not giving enough. And if you give too much, it can inhibit the healing processes because you can’t stimulate the cells beyond a certain level.
It’s similar to sun exposure. If you just get out in the sun, it doesn’t warm you up, you don’t get a tan. Or you sunbathe for 20 to 30 minutes, it warms you up and tans you. Or you go out for 3 hours, you get a sunburn, you get sore, you damage your skin.
Treat enough to ensure the beneficial effects.
Repeat the treatment to maintain the healing process you have started. Achieving the effect requires repeated treatments, much like sunbathing, which yields results only after several days of repeated “treatment”. For a mild effect, a few treatments may be enough. Lasting results can only be achieved with persistence!
| bruises, contusions, sprains, mild musculoskeletal injuries | 4-10 Joules | B-Cure Sport / Pro, Personal Laser L400 / L500 Pro |
| improve microcirculation (blood and lymph circulation), reduce hematoma | 4-10 Joules | B-Cure Classic / Sport / Pro, Personal Laser L400 / L500 Pro |
| ulcer treatment and diabetic foot | 4-10 Joules | B-Cure Classic / Sport / Pro, Personal Laser L200/ L400 / L500 Pro / L800 / L2000 |
| acute and chronic inflammations (tendon and tendon sheath inflammation, bursitis, tunnel syndrome) | 4-10 Joules | B-Cure Sport / Pro, Personal Laser L400 / L500 Pro |
| dental and oral health | 4-10 Joules | Personal Laser L400 / L500 Pro |
| skin problems (acne, scar, stria) | 4-10 Joule | Personal Laser L200 / L400 / L500 Pro / L800 |
| pain relief | 15 Joules | Personal Laser L400 / L500 Pro / L2000 |
| severe musculoskeletal condition (knee hip shoulder arthritis) | 15 Joules | Personal Laser L400 / L500 Pro / L2000 |
| cartilage regeneration (arthrosis) | 20-25 Joules | Personal Laser L400 / L500 Pro / L2000 |
| ligament, tendon and muscle tears | 20-25 Joules | Personal Laser L400 / L500 Pro / L2000 |
Soft laser treatment points
Helpful – but not a miracle worker!
When used properly, soft lasers help your body’s self-healing processes to speed up recovery. In contrast to many drugs and symptomatic treatments, soft lasers can also be a real help in eliminating disease.
Soft lasers don’t work on anything! See the list above. If you want to treat one of these diseases or conditions, it could be a good choice. If you can’t find one, it’s unlikely to help. But you can’t eat soup with a fork either – that means the right tool for the job will help!
Soft lasers don’t work in an instant. A single or a few treatments can have minimal effect, although they may have an immediate pain-relieving effect.
You can expect the results of treatments after a few weeks if you persist with them.