Hilary Martyn reports on a new Galway clinic offering low intensity laser therapy as a treatment for a variety of common ailments.

A unique healing alternative for dozens of common ailments, including sports injuries, arthritis, back/neck and shoulder pain, wounds and repetitive strain injury has just come to Galway.

Biolaser Clinic Director Gemma O'Grady treats Christy O'Connor Jnr's golfer's elbow at the launch of the clinic recently. Photo: Iain MacDonald.

Gemma O'Grady, CIBTAC and ITEC in massage, has opened Biolaser – Galway Laser Therapy Clinic in Lower Salthill, offering low intensity laser therapy.

Low intensity laser therapy was developed in the 1960s. It uses monochromatic light emission from a low intensity laser diode (250 milliwatts or less) or any array of high intensity Super Luminous Diodes (providing total optical power in the 1,000-2,000 milliwatt range) to treat musculoskeletal injuries, chronic and degenerative conditions and to heal wounds.

The light source is placed in contact with the skin, allowing the photon energy to penetrate the tissue, where it interacts with various intracellular biomolecules resulting in the restoration of normal cell function and enhancement of the body's healing processes.

Absorption as a result of photon bombardment of various bio-molecules in the cell results in the transformation of light into biochemical energy. This is cumulative and requires sufficient stimulation in order to initiate response. Typically five to twenty treatments varying from 30 to 60 minutes in duration are required. The end result of low intensity laser irradiation is the restoration of normal function of the cell unit. Worldwide research to date has failed to record any negative effects from this process. It should be noted that normally functioning cells are not adversely affected by the irradiation. In contrast to other therapies, Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT) is 'curative' rather than simply modulating pain.

Gemma became interested in laser therapy through her mother. Bernie O'Grady had suffered all her life with back pain, undergoing more than four major operations on her back since the 1980s. However, despite this, she found her initial pain was unaltered. When she heard about a laser clinic in Dublin that was treating new and old injuries, she immediately booked two treatments a week and within her third week could not believe how quick her back was responding.

Gemma began researching laser treatment, getting in touch with the Toronto Laser Company Meditech. Meditech, she says, have an outstanding 'Laser Hospital' in Toronto, treating up to 1,000 people a week.

Gemma completed her training in Toronto, describing her time there as a "mind blowing experience". She received a Low Intensity Laser Therapy qualification from Meditech International Inc. and is currently studying with the National Training Centre studying Neuromuscular Therapy.

"The laser team educated me on so many pathologies coming through the door every day. Sports injuries, back/neck/shoulder pain, fractures and tears were a majority of the conditions treated there, however they had branched out to wound healing, which really is the most remarkable area with regard to visibly seeing the laser therapy at its greatest, healing ulcers and deep wounds that without the laser's help would have left the patient with no other option but amputation," she says.

It was through her association with Meditech that she decided to open a laser clinic in Galway.

"Meditech International is a real blessing to the low intensity laser community. I am consistently in contact with them on many aspects of my daily routine in my new laser clinic."

"I am to return to Toronto in June for further education and to attend the fifth Low Intensity Laser Conference.