Does Laser Therapy Really Work for Pain? What the Research Says…

One of the most reasonable questions someone can ask me about laser therapy is:

“Does it actually work?”

I understand the skepticism. I had it myself when I first learned about laser therapy.

There are a lot of treatments marketed to people who are in pain, and unfortunately, there are also a lot of big promises. So rather than asking you to simply believe that laser therapy works, let's look at what we actually know.

First, What Is Laser Therapy Doing?

Therapeutic laser treatment falls under the broader field of photobiomodulation, or PBM.

Photobiomodulation uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to produce biological effects in tissue. Researchers have studied PBM for a variety of conditions, including its potential effects on pain and physical function.

The important thing to understand is that we're not simply trying to temporarily numb an area so you don't feel the pain.

Photobiomodulation interacts with biological processes involved in the body's response to injury and pain.

What Does the Research Say About Pain?

This is where I think it's important to be straightforward.

There isn't one study that proves “laser therapy works for everything.”

That's not how good medical research works.

Researchers study laser therapy for particular conditions using particular wavelengths, doses and treatment protocols.

For example, systematic reviews have found evidence of pain reduction with photobiomodulation in people with knee osteoarthritis. Research has also found improvements in pain in conditions such as plantar fasciitis.

But the evidence isn't equally strong for every condition, and researchers continue to study which treatment parameters produce the best results.

That's important.

It means I don't believe anyone should promise that laser therapy will work for every kind of pain or every person.

Why Do Research Results Vary?

There are many possible reasons, but one of them connects directly to my last blog:

Not all lasers are created equal — and neither are all laser treatments.

Wavelength, power, dose, treatment time, treatment area and the way the energy is delivered can vary considerably between studies and between devices.

Even researchers have pointed to differences in treatment parameters as one reason results can be difficult to compare.

That's why simply asking whether someone has “tried laser therapy” doesn't always tell me very much.

I want to know what kind of laser was used and how it was used.

What About “Cold Laser Therapy”?

If you've been searching for cold laser therapy for pain, you may have landed on my website even though I use a Class IV K-Laser.

“Cold laser” is a term commonly associated with lower-powered laser therapy. You'll also see terms such as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and photobiomodulation used online.

There is overlap among these terms, but the equipment and treatment parameters can vary substantially.

At Laser Therapy of Oregon, I use a professional Class IV K-Laser, which allows me to adjust treatment parameters depending on the person, the area being treated and what we're trying to accomplish.

That doesn't mean more power automatically equals a better treatment.

The goal is to deliver an appropriate dose for the tissue and condition being treated.

Will Laser Therapy Work for Everyone?

No.

And I think that's important to say.

I've seen people respond extremely well to laser therapy. I've also seen situations where the progress wasn't what I wanted to see.

That's why I pay attention to what happens from one treatment to the next.

Is your pain changing?

Are you moving differently?

Can you do something you couldn't comfortably do before?

Are we seeing enough progress to justify continuing?

If the answer is no, I don't believe the solution is automatically to keep doing the same thing over and over.

Sometimes I adjust the treatment. Sometimes physical therapy, further medical evaluation, shockwave therapy or another approach may make more sense.

How Quickly Should Someone Notice a Difference?

This varies too.

Some people notice a change relatively quickly. Others need several treatments before they can tell whether laser therapy is making a meaningful difference.

The condition itself matters.

A recent injury isn't the same as a problem someone has lived with for ten years. The tissues involved, severity of the problem and many individual factors can influence how someone responds.

That's why I don't like making promises such as “You'll be better in three treatments.”

Bodies don't work that way.

A Note About the Research

If you like looking at the science yourself, there is a growing body of published research on photobiomodulation and laser therapy.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have reported promising results for pain in certain musculoskeletal conditions, including knee osteoarthritis and plantar fasciitis.

At the same time, researchers continue to point out limitations in the evidence. Studies don't always use the same devices, wavelengths, doses or treatment protocols, and the certainty of the evidence varies depending on the condition being studied.

I think that's worth acknowledging.

Promising research doesn't mean we should promise results.

It means we have another treatment option that may be worth considering when it is appropriate for the person and the condition.

So, Is Laser Therapy Worth Trying for Pain?

For the right person and the right condition, I believe it can be a very reasonable option to consider.

It's non-invasive, treatments are generally brief, and it can often be used alongside other approaches to care.

But my goal isn't to convince everyone with pain that they need laser therapy.

My goal is to help someone figure out whether it makes sense for their situation.

If you've been dealing with pain and wondering whether K-Laser Therapy might be worth exploring, you're welcome to ask me about it.

Sometimes the first step is simply finding out whether you're a good candidate.

Let's see if we can help.

Research referenced

• Oliveira S, et al. Effectiveness of Photobiomodulation in Reducing Pain and Disability in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. Physical Therapy, 2024.

• Stausholm MB, et al. Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Pain and Disability in Knee Osteoarthritis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trials. BMJ Open, 2019.

• Dos Santos SA, et al. Effects of Photobiomodulation Therapy on the Management of Pain Intensity and Disability in Plantar Fasciitis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Lasers in Medical Science, 2023.