MLS Laser Therapy for Foot and Ankle

What You Need To Know

Learn how MLS Laser Therapy works and the conditions it can help treat.

Understanding MLS Laser Therapy

When you think of pain relief, you think of something that will work without causing more pain. MLS Laser is one treatment that fits the bill. It is a pain laser that is, in fact, painless. This laser uses light energy and converts it to biomechanical energy by stimulating your body’s healing mechanisms at the cellular level. It recruits your body’s own naturally occurring cellular turnover so your body can fight pain and inflammation.

MLS stands for Multiwave Lock System. It delivers light in two distinct wavelengths, 808 nanometers and 905 nanometers. The lower one concentrates on reducing inflammation and edema, and the higher one concentrates on pain reduction, resulting in an analgesic effect. The combination produces greater pain relief as the wavelengths affect different pathways. The dual action low energy laser light targets the mitochondria, considered the power houses of the cells, which promotes healing.

Whether you have an acute injury such as a sprain, strain, broken bone, or stress fracture, or chronic pain from an arthritic condition, neuropathy, or post-operative pain, MLS Laser therapy may help. Conditions such as plantar fasciitis, chronic heel pain, Achilles tendinitis, and ankle sprains respond well to this therapy. It can also be used on non-infected wounds to help them heal faster with less scarring.

If you are living with foot or ankle pain and want a non-invasive option, schedule a consultation with our team to see if MLS Laser Therapy is right for you.

Benefits and What to Expect

One of our favorite parts of MLS Laser Therapy is how many benefits it offers patients. It is non-invasive, meaning there is no break in the skin. When using the robotic arm, the laser stays approximately 8 inches away from the skin, so there is no down-time after a session. Many patients schedule appointments during their lunch break so treatment does not take extra time out of the day.

MLS Laser has been on the market since 2009, and there are no known side effects when you keep at least one day in between sessions so cells can regenerate and heal. The therapy has a sometimes immediate analgesic effect, which helps patients who want to avoid oral NSAIDs or reduce the amount of post-operative pain medication they take. It can also be used alongside other therapies such as physical therapy, where the effects are additive over time.

For your first visit, you will sign a consent form, watch a short introductory video, and have the chance to ask questions. Protective eyeglasses are worn throughout the treatment, and the doctor and laser technician remain in the room. Since there is no pain, patients often find the sessions very relaxing, with some even dozing off. The average treatment takes between 10 and 30 minutes.

Treatment frequency depends on your condition. Most acute injuries respond well to 6 sessions, done 2 to 3 times a week for 2 to 3 weeks. Chronic conditions typically need 12 sessions over 4 to 6 weeks, sometimes followed by a maintenance program. Your doctor will tailor the plan to your specific needs so you can get back to the activities you enjoy.