Harnessing the power of light energy to promote wellness may not be new, but it’s experiencing a resurgence, not only in practice, but as a tool designed for use at home.
Championed by animal physiotherapists, massage practitioners, wellness experts, and increasingly by vets and vet nurses. It is a non-invasive treatment to promote natural healing across arrange of musculoskeletal conditions, atopic conditions, wound healing, and most recently noted for its calming capabilities too.!
With so many applications, PBM from a trusted reputable manufacturer is like an all -in -one solution that can be deployed every day, all year round, through pet’s life stages as a handy healing device.
For senior dogs it’s an asset to reduce or pre-empt arthritic conditions. For puppies it can help with teething issues, and help promote sleep. It’s ideal to help pups with growing pains, and help balance any over enthusiastic moves that could cause muscle bruising or strains.
It can also help with anxiety led issues like breaking the cycle of chewing and licking hotspots, and soothing itchy symptoms from allergy induced dermatitis. Not to mention taking the sting out of insect bites and speeding up recovery post injury or surgery.
With burgeoning science on the use of red-light therapy previously known as Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), in 2015 MeSH re-classified the modality as Photobiomodulation, which is now shortened to PBM.
What’s important to differentiate between is sourced red laser light in contrast to sourced red LED light (lighting emitting diodes).
Laser light offers a coherent beam, which penetrates deep beneath the skin to a specific area, offering a range of therapeutic and clinical applications. However, a therapeutic laser should only be used in practice, and requires protective eyewear as laser light can certainly pose a risk to the eyes and a highest class 4 laser also can cause thermal tissue damage.
In contrast, a device using LED sourced PBM, offers a diffused (non-coherent) beam, which covers a larger target area. Plus, as LED technology is safe to use without any eyewear, when combined with LED devices manufactured by a brand that benefits from a medical device approval will give peace of mind in its ‘assured’ wavelength technology.
PBM therapy is defined as a form of light therapy that uses non-ionising light sources in the visible (400 – 700 nm) and near-infrared (700 – 1100 nm) electromagnetic spectrum. Deployed for a wide range of acute and chronic health conditions, it is safe for daily use, especially at home with maximum benefits, and minimal risk.
The market for PBM has exploded in recent years, not least from its boom in the human beauty sector. With a growing choice of brands, it is difficult to ascertain the quality or the assurance of its evidence-based dosing. However, its success in the ‘human’ clinical and therapeutic sectors proves that in the right dose, PBM can have a huge positive effect on skin and coat conditions.
The magic of PBM occurs within the cellular powerhouse of the mitochondria. When cells receive an appropriate dose of Red and Near infra-red light, the key receptor, (cytochrome c oxidase), is activated during cell respiration. This activation enhances ATP production and boosts cellular energy and overall cell function by aiding the body’s natural healing processes.
PBM also increases circulation, lymph drainage, and oxygen release and reduces inflammation to the area treated, resulting in effective pain reduction whether it’s to alleviate arthritic symptoms, or help with an open wound.
Useful all year round not least to put a spring in your older dog’s step in the wintry cold weather, or to soothe an atopic summer allergy, but it’s a handy tool to promote healing for cuts, bruises and strains. Post-surgery it’s an asset to promote the road to recovery as part of rehabilitation. PBM is also noted for its calming effects., and helping dogs with anxieties, especially during the ‘fireworks’ season from October to January.
With many defining benefits, the application of LED sourced red and near infra-red light (PBM) is a non-invasive means of natural healing and promote wellness not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too.
