pulse diode therapy
More and more people are interested in gentle, complementary methods for managing pain. Pulsed diode therapy is attracting increasing interest from both users and therapists. This method utilizes targeted laser radiation as a non-invasive, complementary treatment. Currently, there is no scientifically proven, universally applicable effectiveness for treating specific conditions. In this article, we explain the operating principle of pulsed diode therapy, contextualize the underlying research, and present potential applications.
What is pulse diode therapy?
Pulsed diode therapy is a special form of laser therapy in which pulsed diode laser beams are applied directly to affected areas of the body. The diode lasers generate light pulses that penetrate the tissue. Whether and to what extent this contributes to pain relief or supports healing processes has not been conclusively proven scientifically. The application is non-invasive and is well tolerated by most users; however, a general exclusion of side effects cannot be guaranteed.
How Pulse Diode Therapy Works
The postulated effect of pulsed diode therapy is based on the concept of photobiomodulation – an interaction between light energy and biological processes in body tissue, which is discussed in research. The scientific literature discusses, among other things, the following mechanisms:
- Microcirculation: It is being investigated whether light of this wavelength can influence blood flow at the cellular level.
- Inflammatory processes: Individual studies are investigating a possible influence on inflammation-related messenger substances.
- Body’s own processes: A possible interaction with the body’s own pain-regulating mechanisms is discussed in research, but has not been conclusively clarified.
These mechanisms are discussed in the scientific literature on photobiomodulation in general, for example in a review article by Hamblin and Huang (2019) [ Hamblin & Huang, 2019 ]. Important: This research refers to photobiomodulation in general and was not specifically conducted on our pulsed diode therapy laser. Therefore, it does not allow for any direct conclusions regarding the effectiveness of our specific device.
Potential benefits of pulsed diode therapy
Compared to invasive treatment methods, pulsed diode therapy is often described by users as follows:
- Non-invasive: The application does not require surgical intervention and is generally well tolerated.
- Targeted application: The laser can be precisely directed at specific areas of the body, thus protecting surrounding tissue.
- Wide range of applications: The method is used as a complementary treatment for various ailments.
Scientific research exists on the effects of pulsed diode lasers in relation to pain perception, including studies by Chow et al. (2009) [ Chow et al., 2009 ]. However, it should be noted that these studies examine laser therapy in general and not our specific product; therefore, efficacy in individual cases has not been scientifically proven. We deliberately refrain from providing specific percentage figures for success rates, as such figures cannot be reliably applied to our device and its use.
Possible applications of pulsed diode therapy
Pulse diode therapy is used by practitioners in various fields as a complementary measure, including for:
- Back problems: as a supplementary measure alongside medical or physiotherapeutic treatment.
- Joint problems: as an accompanying, non-invasive application.
- Sports-related complaints: as a supplementary measure within the framework of regeneration.
- Other symptoms: after individual consultation with the treating physician or therapist.
General clinical research exists on laser therapy in connection with joint problems, for example by Bjordal et al. (2006) [ Bjordal et al., 2006 ]. This research also refers to laser therapy in general and not to our specific product; a transfer of the results from that study to the effectiveness of our device is not scientifically possible.
Note: The research mentioned in this article refers to photobiomodulatory and laser therapy procedures in general and was not conducted on the pulsed diode therapy laser from Bio Medical Systems. Scientific evidence of efficacy for our specific device is not available. Pulsed diode therapy does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment.