What Is MLS Laser Therapy?
Therapeutic lasers use specific wavelengths of light that pass through the skin into muscles, tendons and joints. This is sometimes called photobiomodulation, meaning the light is intended to change how cells behave. The goal is to reduce pain. The laser does not cut or burn tissue.
MLS stands for Multiwave Locked System. It combines two wavelengths of laser light, one continuous and one pulsed, delivered together. The manufacturer designed this combination for pain relief. Class IV refers to the laser's power level, which is higher than low-level lasers.
Many patients report less pain and easier movement after a course of treatment, and sessions are quick and comfortable. We use MLS laser therapy as part of a broader plan that includes exercise and other care, so each piece supports your recovery.
Performed in our office; each session takes only a few minutes and needs no needles or anesthesia.
Who Is a Candidate?
You may consider MLS laser therapy if you have pain from conditions such as:
- Tendonitis or tendinopathy, including tennis elbow
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Muscle strains and overuse sports injuries
- Shoulder pain from irritated tendons
It may appeal to people who want a treatment without needles or medication, or who want to add another option alongside physical therapy. Laser therapy is not used over the eyes, over known or suspected cancer, over the abdomen during pregnancy, or over the thyroid. Tell us if you take medicines that make your skin sensitive to light.
What to Expect
You sit or lie comfortably, and you and the staff member wear protective eyewear. The laser head is held over or moved across the treatment area. Most people feel nothing or only mild warmth. A session usually lasts a few minutes per area.
Treatment is usually given as a series of sessions over a few weeks. Your plan will set the number and frequency, and your progress will be reviewed along the way.
Risks and Side Effects
MLS laser therapy is generally well tolerated when used correctly. Possible side effects include:
- Mild warmth or temporary redness of the skin
- A short-term increase in soreness after the first sessions
- Eye injury if protective eyewear is not used, which is why eyewear is required
Recovery
There is no downtime. You can drive yourself and return to normal activities right after each session. If laser therapy helps you, any change usually appears over several sessions rather than all at once.
Our physical therapists work in the same office and share your chart with your physician. Many patients combine laser sessions with a stretching and strengthening program, since exercise is what builds lasting strength and function.
Physical therapy happens in our office, with therapists who share your chart. Learn about on-site physical therapy.
Insurance and Cost
MLS laser therapy is usually self-pay because many plans do not cover it. Coverage varies by plan, so please ask our team, who can explain any cost before you begin. Your office visit and any physical therapy are billed to your insurance as usual.
When to Talk to a Specialist
Call our office if joint, tendon or muscle pain lasts more than a few weeks, keeps coming back, or limits your daily activities. A physician visit first makes sure the cause is correctly diagnosed before any treatment.
Seek urgent care for a joint that is hot, red and swollen with fever, or for an injury with deformity or inability to bear weight.
