Watch the video on pain relief

In the area of pain treatment, BIOPTRON Light Therapy can be used as a stand alone or supporting treatment for the following conditions:

- Soft tissue injures of muscles, tendons and ligaments such as: muscle spasm, sprains, strains, tendonitis, ligament and muscle tears, dislocations, contusions, repetitive strain injury RSI and tennis elbow read more

- Rheumatism: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (chronic) read more
- Physiotherapy: low back pain, should and neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, scar tissue, musculoskeletal injuries read more

- Sports medicine: muscle spasm, sprains, strains, tendonitis, ligament and muscle tears, dislocations, contusions and tennis elbow read more

A single unit emits a broad range of light wavelengths at a constant intensity for safe light therapy
Employs innovative new technology for visible results.
Is a mobile, easily manageable and maintenance-free device.
Developed and produced by BIOPTRON AG, Switzerland.
BIOPTRON’s technology is endorsed and used by leading physicians in major universities and clinics        across five continents.

 

BIOPTRON Light Therapy Systems are are specially designed for use in medical practices, clinics, specialist treatment centres, beauty salons and for treatment at home for the treatment of :

Soft tissue injuries

What is arthritis - soft tissue injuries are those that occur in tissues other than bone, such as muscles, ligaments and tendons. Soft tissue issues can be caused by repeated overuse or by a single episode of trauma e.g. a sudden jerk a fall or being hit my an object. Types of soft tissue injury include sprains, strains, contusions, tendinitis/tenosynovitis and bursitis. The main symptoms of soft tissue injury are pain and swelling. Soft tissue injuries are very common and can in some cases cause significant disability and pain.
What is a sprain?
A sprain is an injury to a ligament. Ligaments are bands of tissue that connect one bone to another and are important holding joints together. Sprains occur when a ligament is overstitched (simple sprain) or torn (partial tear or complete tear). Common areas are the ankle, knee and wrist.
What is a strain?
A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon. Tendons are bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Muscles and tendons provide support and stabilise joints. Strains occur when muscles and/or tendons are overstretched or torn and, as with sprains, a tear can be partial or complete areas commonly trained include the upper arm, elbow, thigh, knee, angle, abdomen and groin.

As with sprains and strains they are often common in people involved in sport. Activities such as gardening, manual labour and lifting heavy objects. The symptoms and treatment of a strain are similar to those described for sprains (see above).

What is a contusion? A contusion is a bruise i.e. bleeding into the tissues without breaking the skin surface. As the blood pools around the injured area it discolours the tissue, making appear dark purple/black. Within a few days or weeks the blood in the bruised area is broken down by the body and changes colour, going from purple to green and then yellow.

Contusions are caused by an object hitting the body and they can occur in many situations such as gardening, building, cleaning etc. Also they are very common in playing contact sports such as football, rugby, judo, boxing, wrestling etc.

The symptoms of a contusion are pain and swelling and dependent on the severity of the injury. Most contusions are mild and responds to simple measures such as rest ice packs compression and elevation.

What is tendinitis (tenosynovitis)Tendinitis is inflammation around a tendon and tenosynovitis is inflammation of the sheath covering the tendon. Both conditions are caused by overuse or overloading of the tendon. Tendinitis is often seen in sports people and examples include damage to the knee tendon (patellar tendon) or to the tendon at the back of of the lower leg/ankle (Achilles tendon).

Tenosynovitis is commonly caused by repetitive actions such as typing, working on an assembly line and usually affects the hands are arms. They symptoms of both tendinitis and tenosynovitis are pain, stiffness, numbness and weakness in the affected joint. Tendinitis is usually considered more painful than tenosynovitis and results in a greater restriction of movement.

Symptoms improve after rest but then return on reuse of the joints. Treatment usually involves rest, although drugs may be prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation. On rare occasions the continued use of the inflamed tendon may cause it to rupture which may require surgical repair.

What is bursitis? Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa which is a small fluid-filled sack located between muscle/tendons and a bond. It serves to reduce the friction in a joint by allowing the tendon to move smoothly over the bone. Bursitis is usually caused by repeated overuse of a joint and is often found in people with tendinitis.

Common sites for bursitis are the elbow, knee and heel. Elbow bursitis can occur after trauma to the arm, however there is no precipitating cause to be found. Knee bursitis is commonly seen in people who spend a lot of time kneeling e.g. carpet fitters. Bursitis of the heel occurs in people with arthritis and is also found in runners and ballet dancers.

The symptoms of bursitis are mainly pain which gets worse with movement and swelling. Bursitis is treated with rest and anti-inflammatory drugs and in severe cases may occasionally require the surgical removal of the bursa.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) In certain types of soft tissue injury such as tendinitis/tenosynovitis and bursitis are becoming increasingly common mainly due to the widespread use of computers and these three conditions are now a part of a group of disorders called Repetitive Strain Injury RSI also called Work Related Upper Limb Disorders or WRULDs. RSI also includes injuries to ligaments such as tennis elbow and nerve damage such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

RSI has a hugh impact on society by causing many people to take time off work or even leave their job permanently. RSI is estimated to cost the UK between 5 to 20 billion pounds per year in medical treatment, lost income and lost productivity. One in every 50 workers in the UK report suffering from RSI.

What is tennis elbow?

What is arthritis - Tennis elbow is the name given to pain occurring in the outside area of the elbow (also know as lateral elbow pain, rowing elbow and lateral epicondylitis).

Who gets tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow is one of the commonest arm lesions seen by doctors. It occurs in 1.3% of the population usually in men and women between the age of 40-60.

What are the causes of tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow is caused by damage to the tendon that joins the muscles in the lower arm (extensor muscles) to the bone of the upper arm (humerus). This tendon is anchored to the area of bone on the outside of the elbow (lateral epicondyle of the humerus). Tendon damage can occur in two ways 1] by a single episode of trauma e.g being hit on the arm or 2] by repeated overuse of the arm. Common activities that can result in tennis elbow include manual applications in building work, house maid/cleaners, car mechanics, gardening, sports activities focusing on repeated throwing, swimming, tennis or golf.

What are the common treatments for tennis elbow?
Symptoms tend to develop slowing and commonly occur in the arm of the dominant hand with the main symptom of pain in the outside area of the elbow although some people also have pain in the surrounding muscle areas. Grip in the hand is often reduced due to the pain which therefore reduces daily activities such as carrying shopping, working and using certain tools.

What treatment is available for tennis elbow? If treated as soon as the symptoms appear the condition is more likely to heal quickly. Resting the arm is important but may difficult for many people particularly if their employment relies on its use. Mild cases of tennis elbow can be treated at home using ice pack, a brace or sling to support the arm and/or simple pain reliving medicines.

Moderate cases may require further treatment from the family doctor such as the prescription of stronger pain killers and/or referral for physical therapy. Physical therapy reduces pain and improves the muscle strength and includes therapeutic exercises, massage, ultrasound, heat therapy and low power laser light therapy. More severe cases of tennis elbow may require surgery.

Most cases of tennis elbow normally improve within a few weeks or months however prolonged pain and discomfort can occur in a minority of cases with symptoms lasting up to several years. Manual workers are particularly prone to have a recurrence of the condition as they tend to resume the work that caused the initial injury.

Treatment The BIOPTRON Light Therapy System is believed to reduce pain sensation in several ways. By improving local blood supply and reducing muscle spasm - reducing the release of chemicals that stimulate pain receptors (this is termed an anti-inflammatory effect) - inducing the release of the body's natural pain killing agents called endorphins - and a direct action on nerve fibers to prevent transmission of pain impulses to the brain. Therefore the application of BIOPTRON Light Therapy over the injured area e.g. the elbow helps reduce pain and discomfort.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME is caused by compression of a nerve in the wrist called the median nerve. The median nerve provides sensation to part of the palm and fingers (thumb, index and middle fingers, part of the ring finger) and alsop controls movement in certain muscles in the thumb. When the nerve is compressed it cannot function normally with resulting loss of sensationa and movement in the hand.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow anatomical passageway on the palm side of the wrist, formed by the small bones of the wrist and a fibrous ligament the carpal ligament. Tendons from the muscles used to bend the fingers/hand pass through this tunnel, accompanied by the median nerve. Any swelling in the tissues around the carpal tunnel can press on the median nerve and cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is faily common and it occurs in around 1-3% of the population. It is more common in women as they have narrower wrists, particularly in women aged over 40. It is a conditon that also occurs in men.

Some common causes for the condition include injury to the wrist as a result of a sprain or fracture, after a bone infection or tendons of the hand/wrist or in association with bone diseases such as arthritis or gout. The condition can also be due to retention of fluid within the carpal tunnel caused by pregnancy, menopause, kidney failure or an underactive thyroid. Othere conditions associated with carpal tunnel syndrome include diabetes, obesity and the use of oral contraceptive pills. Although many diseases are associated with carpal tunnel syndrome most people who have the condition have no identifiable cause.

Common Symptoms are where carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms occur in the dominant hand but for some people they develop symptoms in both hands. Tingling, aching or numbness occur in the area of the hand but in some cases this can also occur in the arm and/or shoulder. The symptoms are worse at night and may interupt sleep. I severe cases the muscles of the tumb can weaken and shrink. Certain movements of the wrist will worsen the symtoms of carpal tunnel syndrome including hold a book or newspaper, gripping the steering wheel of a car and the use of certain tools such as knives for cutting meat.

What are the treatments available? Simple treatments include the use of ice packs, resting the hand/wrist and the use of splints to keep the wrist straight. Certain pain killing druges can reduce swelling called non-steriodial anti-inflammatory agents and decrease the symptoms in a small number of sufferers however these drugs also have possible side effects such as nausea, irrittaion of the stomach lining.

In severe cases the doctor will adminsiter a steriodal injection into the wrist area to reduce swelling. However this treatment can only be given once or twice to provide temparary relief. Doctors can prescribe stronger drugs to reduce pain. If none of these treatments have a demonstrable effect then surgery to cut the carpal ligament and enlarge the carpal tunnel is then necessary.

BIOPTRON FIGHTS AGAINST RHEUMATISM

BIOPTRON Light Therapy in the treatment of rheumatic diseases can help to :

  • Relieve pain and decrease its intensity
  • Strengthen muscles and expand body motion
  • Increase walking distance and speed
  • Improve quality of sleep

(13, 14)

BIOPTRON Light Therapy helps to alleviate pain and disability in patietns suffering from various forms of rheumatism. This therapy can be the ideal complimentary treatment method for a variety of pain management pgorammes. Its beneficial influence can affect the patients general condition and can bring relief from pain symptoms. (12,18)

Rheumatoid Arhritis Light Therapy can be an effective complementary treatmetn for relieving paind improving the quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (19,20)

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, multisystem disease. Although there is a variety of systemic manifestations, the characteristic feature of this form of arthritis is persistent inflammation of joints, causing cartilage destruction and bone erosion and subsequently permanent joint deformaties.

In centres specialising in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, BIOPTRON Light Therapy has become part of the standard therapuetic procedures during hospitilzation. This form of light therapy can be also be used by patients in their home to control pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

BIOPTRION KEEPS ATHLETES ON TRACK

BIOPTRON Light accelerates tissue regeneration helping athletes to shorten the healing time of various sports injuries.

BIOPTRON Light Therapy can help athletes to:

  • Bring relief to aching muscles
  • Soothe muscle and joint pain
  • Increase the range of active and passive movements of joints
  • Allow quicker recovery of muscular and joint activity
  • Support the treatment of painful sports injuries such as tendon problems, muscle problems, contusions, dislocations, strains, sprains, abrasions and bruises
  • reduce inflammations and swellings

Different sports injuries can be treated with BIOPTRON Light Therapy in order to accelerate tissue regeneration and healing. (16,17) >>back to top

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