title: [Equipment for low reactive level laser therapy including that for light therapy].
abstract: Equipments used for light therapy include machinery used for irradiation by low reactive level laser, xenon light and linear polarized infra-red ray. Low reactive level laser is divided into two types of laser according to the medium by which laser is obtained ; semiconductor laser and helium-neon laser. Low reactive level laser has only one wave length and produces analgesia by action of light itself. On the other hands, Xenon light and linear polarized infra-red ray produce analgesia by warming effect induced by light in addition to the action of light itself. There are four methods of irradiation by these light sources; irradiation of acupuncture points, of trigger points, along nerves causing pain and of stellate ganglion area. Indication for light therapy includes various kinds of diseases such as herpes zoster, post herpetic neuralgia, cervical pain, lumbago due to muscle contracture, complex regional pain syndrome, arthralgia etc. However, we have to know that light therapy does not exert analgesic effects equally to all patients. But light therapy does not accompany pain and rarely shows any side effects. Therefore it is thought to be an alternative for patients who reject injection or patients who are not indicated for nerve block because of patients' conditions such as bleeding tendency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Nihon University School of Medicine (Surugadai Nihon University Hospital), Tokyo.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saeki
mesh_terms: D006371:Helium; D053685:Laser Therapy; D009356:Neon; D059408:Pain Management; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012666:Semiconductors
chemical_list: D006371:Helium; D009356:Neon