Healing at the Speed of Light

While many people may have hand and wrist pain, how do you know if it is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?  In this episode Dr. Rountree and Kristi discuss what causes carpal tunnel syndrome, what the symptoms look like, how you can test for it at home, and what tests you may receive from healthcare providers to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome. Listen along to learn about conservative care for carpal tunnel...

What is the rotator cuff? And what should be done in the case of an injury? Do I have to get surgery? Join Kristi and Dr. Rountree as they explain the function of the shoulder rotator cuff, how to catch an injury early, and how to properly address the injury so that you may avoid surgery. Learn about the importance of exercise and strengthening in order to protect the rotator cuff structures, and...

Learn what the research says about light interactions with the cells of the brain with Dr. Rountree and Kristi! They discuss the complex web of cellular functions in the brain, what neurodegeneration is, how laser therapy interacts with the brain, and how it can benefit patients with neurodegenerative disorders. Follow along to learn more about how laser therapy could be used to slow the progressi...

Dr. Rountree and Kristi discuss what exactly shoulder impingement is, the areas of the shoulder it can affect, and the keys to successfully recover from shoulder impingement pain. A study from January of 2021 regarding subacromial impingement syndrome shows laser therapy plus exercise is superior to placebo laser plus exercise in reducing pain, improving quality of life, and increasing muscle stre...

While Parkinson’s disease affects over 1% of people aged 60+, and is a disease that steadily progresses, there is no cure. However, a study done in January of 2021 claims that hydrogen water and laser therapy significantly reduces the severity of Parkinson’s. Join Dr. Rountree and Kristi as they discuss whether laser therapy can help Parkinson’s, if hydrogen water has benefits, and whether laser t...

While laser therapy is a great tool to help reduce diabetic neuropathy symptoms and promote healing, there are a few things that diabetic patients can do in addition to laser therapy to help reduce neuropathy. Dr. Rountree and Kristi discuss the importance of diet, exercise, as well as things you should avoid as a diabetic. Dr. Rountree explains how cellular mechanisms are affected by diabetes, th...

Dr. Rountree reviews a 2018 study on laser therapy for the experimental treatment of COPD on mice. What is COPD? Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-a progressive, debilitating life long disease. Laser therapy for COPD is not yet FDA approved. Follow along as Dr. Rountree explains the prevalence of COPD, factors that contribute to COPD, the body’s natural response in the lungs, and the effect of...

Dr. Rountree and Kristi talk about what happens when you put laser therapy and physical therapy “head to head” for neck arthritis pain. It turns out, everyone wins! But in the 2018 study they are looking at, there's definitely an advantage to one competitor-which one comes out on top? Listen along to learn more about laser therapy for neck pain, learn how the PT results compared, and get your ques...

What the heck are back mice? No, we're not talking about little rodents in your back but rather an abnormality also called episacral lipomas. Join Dr. Rountree, chiropractor and founder of the Laser Therapy Institute and Kristi, a certified Laser Therapy technician as they discuss what back mice are and how they contribute to low back pain.    We have begun live-streaming this podcast. Watch this...

Failed back surgery syndrome pertains to patients who experience numbness or pain following surgery and who are dissatisfied with their results. Is surgery always a simple and perfect solution for back pain? Learn what the research says about patient satisfaction and surgical after-effects!   We have begun live-streaming this podcast. Watch this episode on Facebook right here , and see the next ep...

Mitochondrial decline due to aging causes visual decline to begin around the age of 40, and by age 70, approximately 30% of your retinal rods have died and the cones have significantly reduced function. Can light therapy, or photobiomodulation, be used to recharge the mitochondria and thus reduce or even reverse age-related visual decline? Join Dr. Rountree and Kristi as they discuss a 2020 study...

Photobiomodulation (laser therapy) has been shown to promote healing and improve quality of life for various oral conditions: Burning mouth syndrome, oral lichen planus, oral mucositis, dry mouth, extraction pain and swelling,  and even orthodontic tooth movement. Join Dr. Rountree and Kristi as they discuss what these conditions look like and how research is showing how laser therapy can help the...

Oftentimes low back pain is treated with inappropriate medications, surgery, and other risky interventions. However, medical guidelines say that conservative care should be the first option tried. Join Dr. Rountree and Kristi as they discuss low back pain studies, laser therapy for low back pain, and why surgery should be avoided for some patients. We have begun live-streaming this podcast. Watch...

Medication management of opioid use disorders tends to have problems like relapse and dropout, but light therapy may provide a new way to treat the brain imbalances that promote addictive and destructive behavior. In this 2021 study, photobiomodulation used on only one side of the brain, with or without buprenorphine, was found to be superior to sham in reducing opioid cravings. This same research...

In this episode, Dr. Rountree reviews a 2012 meta-analysis of multiple studies regarding laser therapy treatment for joint pain. Joint pain significantly affects the older population and takes on many forms including arthritis. Laser therapy has been shown to be a good alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for elderly patients, as laser therapy has no known side effects. Study menti...

Nerve blocks are a common method to treat low back pain, particularly chronic low back pain.  Can photobiomodulation therapy have results equal to RF or lidocaine nerve blocks? In this summary of a 2016 study on lidocaine injections vs radio frequency nerve blocks vs laser nerve blocks, results showed that laser nerve blocks had better long-term results. Study mentioned in this episode: Photobiomo...

Oral Lichen Planus is a painful inflammatory condition that affects the mucous membranes of the mouth resulting in white or red patchy spots that can be swollen and painful. Oral lichen planus is typically treated with topical corticosteroids, but the medication comes with a few side-effects including secondary fungal or yeast infection, excessive dryness, and possible scarring. This study showed...

32% of acute back pain cases go on to develop long-lasting pain. Using the wrong treatment for acute low back pain can increase the risk of developing chronic low back pain. What can be done to reduce that transfer rate from acute to chronic low back pain? Are there other risk factors contributing to the development of chronic low back pain? A brand new study gives us answers to these questions.  ...

Can laser therapy help tendon injuries? In a study done in September of 2020, researchers tested the effect of high intensity laser therapy with exercise vs exercise alone on tendon tears in 12 horses, using a standardized lesion model. Listen along to hear the results of the study and what the possibilities are for tendon and ligament tears in humans, such as Achilles tendon tears.   Study mentio...

About 50% of the veteran community suffers from chronic pain which puts them at higher risk of drug and alcohol abuse, opioid addiction and overdose, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts. Can laser therapy and other conservative care options lower these? In a massive 2019 study of hundreds of thousands of veterans, when non-drug therapies, including laser therapy, were used to manage chronic pai...

Dr. Rountree explains a new study from August 2021 in which they tested the effectiveness of laser therapy with wound dressing vs only wound dressing for chronic wound healing. Chronic wounds include: chronic ulcers, post-operative infections, diabetic foot ulcers, bed sores, severe burns, venous leg ulcers, and traumatic wounds. Is it possible that laser therapy can help expedite the healing proc...

Dr. Rountree breaks down a 2012 study on the effects full-body light therapy on sleep, production of melatonin, and performance for athletes. He also goes over the potential full-body light therapy has, and the pros and cons of the study that was conducted.    Study mentioned in this episode: Red light and the Sleep Quality and Endurance Performance of Chinese Female Basketball Players. Visit the...

How can laser therapy improve the quality of life for cerebral palsy patients? Dr. Rountree summarizes a new study on cerebral palsy patients with jaw muscle spasticity problems. Non-invasive laser may have a positive effect toward improving their quality of life by improving muscle force levels and mouth opening ability.   Study mentioned in this episode: ·        Evaluation of Low-Level Laser in...

Near infrared LEDs and lasers used on the head have been shown to have positive effects in dementia patients by decreasing inflammation in the brain and promoting synaptogenesis and neurogenesis: creation of new synapses and neurons in the brain. Light therapy, or photobiomodulation, also improved quality of life for dementia patients by promoting longer, peaceful sleep, improved memory recall and...

A new study concludes that photobiomodulation therapy, properly done, does NOT work for chronic, non-specific low back pain. Dr. Rountree brings you highlights from this well-designed trial to show that the researchers did not apply proper dosing as claimed. Could the research conclusion be misleading?   Study mentioned in this episode: Photobiomodulation therapy does not decrease pain and disabil...