Foot and Ankle Arthritis: How Cold Laser Therapy Eases Symptoms and Improves Mobility

Wouldn’t life be easier if you could walk without fearing pain might arise at any moment? 

For over 50 million Americans with arthritis, pain has become one of the most used words in their vocabulary. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be part of yours. 

Arthritis is notoriously hard to treat, as the medications used manage the pain and inflammation only address the symptoms but don’t help the tissues heal, allowing the condition to progress. 

Our experts at Ledesma Foot and Ankle use cold laser therapy, a novel treatment that helps your tissues heal from the inside out, without having to undergo surgery or take medications.

Read on to find out the underlying mechanism behind cold lasers and the effectiveness of these treatments.

What do cold lasers do?

Cold lasers, as the name implies, don’t heat the issues. Instead, they use light that’s absorbed by the cells, triggering an increase in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the energy currency in the cell. When more ATP is produced, cell metabolism speeds up, accelerating the healing process. 

Another effect of cold lasers is the reduction of inflammation in the treated areas, which can help with joint function and pain relief. 

Cold laser's effectiveness for arthritis 

It all sounds good on paper, but do cold lasers work?

A 2022 study suggests that they do! And their results last for a long time. According to the study, after only three weeks, the participants saw a significant reduction in pain and needed less pain medication to manage their arthritis. The positive results were maintained even at 52 weeks after the treatment. 

While the treatment  has only recently gotten more attention, the usage of cold lasers for arthritis isn’t new. Cold laser therapy has been studied for its ability to increase cell metabolism since the 1980s. 

What to expect from cold laser treatment

Cold laser treatments are painless. You can relax while one of our specialists delivers the laser energy to your feet and ankles. 

Each session can last anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes. A typical treatment plan involves multiple sessions spread over several weeks.

Once the treatment is finished, you can return to your routine with no changes. 

The improvement in pain and mobility is gradual, as it takes time for your tissues to regenerate. However, most people see results soon after their first few sessions. 

Treat your foot and ankle arthritis with us 

If arthritis is getting in the way of everyday life, know there are treatment options that go beyond pills. Contact us to schedule an appointment to get a careful examination of your feet and ankles and find out which is the best treatment course for you.