This article is part of our Cold Laser Therapy series at Warwick Chiropractic & Massage in Lacey, WA. For the complete overview, see the full guide:
When people ask what does cold laser therapy do, we explain it as low-level light therapy that does not get hot and is used directly on an area to support healing. In our experience, it increases ATP (adenosine triphosphate), brings more oxygen to cells, and the light penetrates soft tissue at many different levels and angles. It can be a powerful add-on to care, but it is not a cure for everything.
What does cold laser therapy do in the body?
In our clinic, we use a low-level laser. The key point is that this type of laser does not get hot in any way, so we can apply it directly to the area we are working with rather than constantly moving it around due to heat.
Here’s what we’re looking for when we apply the light:
- Increases ATP: We use it to bring and increase ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is part of the mitochondria and relates to the cells we rely on for repair and building.
- Brings more oxygen to cells: We’re aiming to bring more oxygen to the cells, because oxygen tends to offer more repair to the cell area and tissues.
- Penetration through soft tissue: We see that the light penetrates at many different levels and angles in soft tissue, including with relaxation, motion, exercise, or stretches.
At Warwick Chiropractic & Massage in Lacey, we use cold laser therapy as one tool within a bigger clinical picture—especially when we’re trying to calm an area down and support recovery while we also address how the nervous system and joints are functioning.
What kinds of problems have we used cold laser therapy for?
Our earliest experience with this technology was in a high-demand setting, where it was used on injured soldiers and applied across a wide range of complaints. In practice, we’ve used light therapy for many different situations, including:
- Severe injuries
- Disc problems
- Pain
- Wounds (including wound care)
- Vertigo
- Tinnitus
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Nerve-related peripheral neuropathy
- Lower back pain (various types)
- Neck pain
- TMJ
- Plantar fasciitis
Some patients are also referred to us from podiatrists, and in those cases (as in many others) we’re looking not only at the painful area, but also at how the body is communicating with that area.
What does cold laser therapy do during a session, and how long does it take?
Cold laser therapy is about using a frequency of light that can be healing for many people, especially when it’s used for a certain amount of time.
For this particular laser, we’ve observed the most effect around about 8 to 10 minutes. Start to finish, a patient is typically with the laser light for that 8 to 10 minutes, although we can do longer and include more repetitions when appropriate. We also observe that the number of frequencies in each session can build upon each other.
What does it feel like?
Many times, you won’t feel anything at all. Occasionally, if there’s enough inflammation present, some people (including us) can feel a pulse of light as it’s directed at the area. It isn’t painful—you’re simply aware of it, especially when there’s more inflammation in that area.
Why do we direct cold laser therapy at the spine as well as the painful area?
We don’t just apply the light to the area of contact. As chiropractors, we also like to direct it out from the spinal region where the nerve root exits and goes to that area. The reason is simple: we want direct supply to the nerve root—whether it’s a nerve or a cranial nerve.
When we start from the spinal area, we’re aiming to stimulate that area for better healing, balance, and tone—then we work locally where the symptoms are showing up.
How many sessions does it take to notice a difference with cold laser therapy?
One of the most common questions we hear—after what does cold laser therapy do—is, “When will I feel it?” What we’ve observed is typically a noticing factor at about 6 to 8 sessions, sometimes more, because it can start to create an accumulation for healing.
That timeline matters for decision-making: we want you to give it enough time to show its effect, and we also want to be realistic about when it’s appropriate to continue or change course.
What does cold laser therapy not do?
We’re very direct about limits: laser is not a cure for everything. We have seen situations where there hasn’t been improvement, and we have to be realistic about why that can happen. Sometimes a person has had a disease condition for such a long time; sometimes other disease conditions are complicating things; and sometimes there are unknown factors in how a person responds to laser.
Because of that, we treat cold laser therapy as an add-on to care, not a typical standalone treatment. In our experience, the biggest effect comes when we combine therapies thoughtfully rather than relying on light therapy alone.
Do we combine cold laser therapy with chiropractic adjustments?
Yes. We do recommend chiropractic adjustments because we consider that the key foundation to a healthy nervous system is having people adjusted and having better nerve flow to the tissue, cell, or organ involved. We view laser therapy as an additional modality that can accelerate healing and help with that.
We also know that when you use multiple therapies in a row, it has a bigger impact on people and situations. In our experience, that reduces the healing time.
When do we adjust the “direct area,” not just the spine?
Sometimes you need both. For example, with plantar fasciitis or TMJ, we may also adjust that direct area to improve the function of that joint, allow maximal movement, and reduce interference in that area. Then the light supports healing in addition to that, rather than being used by itself.
When would we stop using cold laser therapy or refer you out?
There are two main categories we consider: clinical progress and safety.
- Progress: If you are not getting better in a reasonable timeline, we may send you to another provider.
- Safety: We do not typically use it on anything that is cancer related, and we don’t follow a protocol for that. And you definitely don’t shine a laser into the eyes.
For eye safety, special protective glasses are worn unless you’re face down and we’re accessing a different portion of the body (like the lower back or feet) where eye exposure isn’t an issue.
When we are evaluating whether to continue, we keep the typical “accumulation” factor in mind: we generally want to allow at least six to eight sessions, sometimes a little more, to really feel its effect and allow time for healing.
Key Takeaways
- Cold laser therapy (low-level laser) does not get hot and can be applied directly to the area being treated.
- We use it to increase ATP (adenosine triphosphate), bring more oxygen to cells, and support repair in soft tissue.
- A typical session with the laser light is about 8 to 10 minutes, and many people feel nothing during treatment.
- In our experience, many people notice changes around 6 to 8 sessions, sometimes more, as effects can accumulate.
- We often combine laser with chiropractic adjustments, directing treatment to both the symptomatic area and the spinal region where the nerve root exits.
- It is not a cure for everything; if you are not improving in a reasonable timeline, we may refer you to another provider.
Where to Go From Here
If you’re in the Lacey area and want to understand whether cold laser therapy makes sense for your situation—especially when combined with chiropractic adjustments—we’re happy to evaluate you and explain what we’re doing and why. You can find us at Warwick Chiropractic & Massage at 8650 Martin Way E Ste 207, Lacey, WA 98516, and our office phone is 360-951-4504 if you need it for directions or questions. Walk ins welcome, or schedule online for an appointment now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does cold laser therapy do?
Cold laser therapy is low-level light therapy that does not get hot and can be used directly on an area to support healing. We use it to increase ATP (adenosine triphosphate), bring more oxygen to cells, and support repair in soft tissue at many levels and angles.
What conditions have you used cold laser therapy for?
We have used cold laser therapy for a wide range of situations, including severe injuries, disc problems, pain, wounds and wound care, vertigo, tinnitus, headaches, migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve-related peripheral neuropathy, neck pain, various types of lower back pain, TMJ, and plantar fasciitis.
How long is a typical cold laser therapy session?
A typical session with this laser is about 8 to 10 minutes, which is where we observe the most effect. You can do longer sessions and more repetitions when appropriate, and we also observe that the number of frequencies in each session can build upon each other over time.
What does cold laser therapy feel like?
Many times you won’t feel anything during cold laser therapy. Occasionally, when there is enough inflammation present, some people feel a pulse of light as it is directed at the area. It is not painful; you are simply aware of it, especially in more inflamed areas.
How many sessions does it take to notice results with cold laser therapy?
In our experience, people often notice changes at about 6 to 8 sessions, sometimes more, because it can create an accumulation effect for healing. We generally want to allow at least six to eight sessions, sometimes a little more, to really feel its effect and allow time.
What will cold laser therapy not do, and when would you stop?
Cold laser therapy is not a cure for everything, and we have seen situations where there hasn’t been improvement. We may refer you to another provider if you are not getting better in a reasonable timeline. For safety, we do not typically use it for cancer-related issues and never shine a laser into the eyes.
Ready to feel better? Walk in today, no appointment needed. The wait is typically 10–15 minutes.
Dr. David Warwick, DC, is a board-certified chiropractor with over 30 years of experience helping people find fast, effective relief from back and neck pain. He is the only chiropractor in Lacey, WA certified in the Zone Technique — a specialized healing method that restores balance to the body’s six systems for long-term wellness.
At Warwick Chiropractic & Massage, Dr. Warwick focuses on short-term, results-driven care, helping patients return to life without unnecessary long-term treatment plans. His clinic welcomes walk-ins and offers convenient online scheduling for modern, flexible chiropractic care.
Dr. Warwick is committed to educating his patients and the public about natural pain relief, spinal health, and how chiropractic care can be both simple and life-changing.
Originally spoken aloud by Dr David Warwick DC. Edited with AI assistance and reviewed before publication by Rich Hull.
