NIR Laser Light Therapy - It is not an uncommon occurrence for any horse to sustain an open wound injury. Lacerations, abrasions, and deep wounds in general can often be in areas that are difficult to treat or may require complicated surgery. Accidents can happen at any given moment. In the pasture, trailer, under saddle, or even their stall. However, there are new and novel ways of accelerating healing time using NIR lasers that don’t require a prescription from your vet or invasive techniques.
The process of utilizing non-ionizing photonic energy to trigger photochemical changes using low energy lasers in the near-infrared range (approximately 630 – 1000nm) or light-emitting diode (LED) arrays is known as photobiomodulation (PBM Therapy). This process helps to accelerate wound healing as well as provide therapeutic benefits. Light in the near-infrared range has shown clear evidence of modulating various biological processes in cell cultures, helping to heal wounds faster in subjects. This has been found in both human and animal tissues. Low-energy stimulation via NIR Laser Light Therapy shows increased cellular activity in wounds during the healing process in a promising way that is non-invasive.
Let’s break down the wound healing process into three phases.
substrate
proliferation
remodeling
A substrate is laid down.
Cells grow and divide in a process known as proliferation to cultivate new tissue.
The tissue is remodeled.
Laser biostimulation with light in the near-infrared range is especially helpful in the second stage, when the body is creating new cells. This is the stage when cells continually grow and divide, increasing exponentially. The mitochondria of the cells are receptive to monochromatic NIR light and have been shown to increase respiratory metabolism of certain cells. When exposed to this light, mitochondrial respiratory chain components activate, which results in a cascade of trigger events that promote the rapid proliferation of cells. Collagen production increases and new blood vessels develop at an accelerated rate. Using laser light has also been found to reduce the formation of proud flesh and minimize scarring.
Laser therapy is ushering in a new era of treatment that is time-efficient, non-invasive, nonpharmacologic, and effective for our equine friends.
Looking to bring your NIR laser light therapy device to market? Sheaumann is a manufacturer of class 3B and class 4 single-mode and broadband laser diodes in the 780-1070nm range, including the most common wavelengths for NIR laser light therapy: 808, 852, 915, 940, 980, and 1064nm. Our quality management system has achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification, and our products comply with RoHS 3 and REACH requirements.
More reading about Laser Therapy:
National Center for Biotechnology Information
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy
The Horse
