Many people dealing with chronic pain have already tried the usual options. Medication, rest, physical therapy, maybe a cortisone injection. Some of those things help for a while. Some don't help much at all. If you are still looking for something that works differently, Class IV laser therapy is worth understanding.
It does not mask pain. It works at the cell level to reduce inflammation and support tissue repair. This post explains what it is, how it works, who it tends to help, and what a session looks like at Burghealth Physical Medicine in St. Petersburg.
What Is Class IV Laser Therapy?
Laser therapy in a clinical setting uses concentrated light at specific wavelengths to interact with tissue beneath the skin. The classification "Class IV" refers to power output. It means the device operates at a wattage high enough to reach deep tissue structures, not just the surface layers of skin and muscle.
Most clinical lasers used in chiropractic and physical medicine settings are low-level devices, typically operating under 0.5 watts. A Class IV device runs at significantly higher output. Burghealth uses a 40-watt continuous-power device. That is not a minor difference in a spec sheet. It determines whether the light reaches the structures actually causing your pain, such as an inflamed joint capsule, a damaged tendon, or a disc pressing on a nerve root, or whether it stops well short of them.
Higher power also means shorter sessions. Because the device delivers more energy per minute, treatments typically run between 5 and 15 minutes per area, rather than the much longer sessions required by lower-powered units to achieve any therapeutic effect.
How the Light Works Inside Your Body
The mechanism behind laser therapy is called photobiomodulation. The term sounds technical, but the underlying process is direct.
Light at specific wavelengths penetrates the skin and is absorbed by structures inside your cells, particularly the mitochondria. Mitochondria are responsible for producing ATP, which is adenosine triphosphate, the primary energy currency of cellular activity. When mitochondria absorb the right wavelengths of light, they increase ATP production. More available energy means more capacity for cellular repair.
Alongside that, photobiomodulation reduces the chemical signals that sustain inflammation, increases local circulation in the treated area, and stimulates collagen production. Collagen is a structural protein that tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue depend on to hold together and recover from damage.
This is not heat therapy. A Class IV laser does not work by warming tissue the way a heating pad or therapeutic ultrasound does. It delivers targeted light energy that triggers a biological response inside the cells themselves. The goal is to change what those cells are doing, including how much they are inflaming, how quickly they are repairing, and how efficiently they are managing waste from damaged tissue.
Which Conditions Respond Well to Laser Therapy?
Because photobiomodulation works through a cellular mechanism rather than a structural one, it applies across a range of musculoskeletal and soft tissue problems. The common thread is that the condition involves inflammation, damaged tissue, or a cellular repair process that has slowed or stalled.
- Joint pain and osteoarthritis - Inflammation in and around the joint capsule is a primary target. Laser therapy helps reduce the inflammatory load that makes arthritic joints stiff and sore with activity.
- Tendonitis - Inflamed tendons, including rotator cuff tendons at the shoulder, the Achilles tendon at the heel, and the patellar tendon at the knee, respond to the collagen-stimulating and anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation.
- Chronic muscle spasms and tension - Laser therapy supports relaxation of contracted muscle fibers and interrupts the pain-spasm cycle that keeps muscles locked up even when the original injury has resolved.
- Soft tissue injuries - Strains, sprains, and ligament damage benefit from the increase in local circulation and the boost to cellular repair activity that follows treatment.
- Neck, shoulder, and back pain - Especially when the source involves disc-related inflammation, facet joint irritation, or the soft tissues surrounding the spinal column.
- Post-surgical rehabilitation - Laser therapy can be introduced during recovery to reduce post-operative inflammation and support tissue healing around a surgical site.
Whether laser therapy makes sense for a specific condition depends on what is actually happening in your body and how long it has been going on. An evaluation determines whether it belongs in your plan, and which other treatments might be more effective alongside it.
What a Session Looks Like
A laser therapy session at Burghealth is brief and straightforward. Most treatments last between 5 and 15 minutes per area, depending on the size of the region being treated and the nature of the condition.
The device is a handheld unit that the provider moves across the skin over the target area. You may feel mild warmth during treatment. Many people feel nothing at all. There are no needles, no incisions, and no pressure that would cause discomfort. The treatment is non-invasive from start to finish.
There is no recovery time after a session. You can return to your normal activities immediately. Most people receive a series of sessions scheduled over several weeks. Chronic conditions generally require more treatment than acute injuries. The course of care is discussed after your initial evaluation, once the full picture of your history and symptoms is clear.
How Laser Therapy Fits Into a Broader Plan
Laser therapy produces the best results when it is part of a coordinated treatment approach rather than a standalone intervention. At Burghealth Physical Medicine, it is one tool among several, used alongside chiropractic care, physical therapy and rehabilitation, Active Release Technique, spinal decompression, trigger point injections, and regenerative medicine options including Platelet-Rich Plasma and other regenerative procedures.
Dr. Samuel W. Richards, D.C. reviews each patient's history, presenting symptoms, and available imaging before building a treatment plan. Laser therapy may be paired with chiropractic adjustments when spinal joint inflammation is the primary driver. It may accompany physical rehabilitation during recovery from a soft tissue injury. In cases where a patient is receiving a regenerative procedure like PRP, laser therapy can support the cellular environment during the repair process.
The logic is matching tools to what is actually happening in your body. Some patients need one approach. Many benefit from two or three working together. The evaluation is where that determination gets made.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the condition and how long it has been present. An acute soft tissue injury from a recent sports incident may respond in a smaller number of sessions. A chronic condition like long-standing arthritis or persistent tendonitis typically requires a longer course. After your initial evaluation, Dr. Richards will give you a clearer picture of what a realistic treatment timeline looks like for your specific situation. Most treatment plans run across several weeks, with sessions two to three times per week in the beginning.
Does the laser cause any discomfort or excessive heat?
Most patients describe the sensation as mild warmth or no sensation at all. Class IV devices are more powerful than low-level units, and the therapist monitors exposure time and device movement throughout the session to keep treatment comfortable. The light does not cut, burn, or damage tissue. It interacts with the cells at a photochemical level. Patients who do feel warmth typically describe it as pleasant rather than uncomfortable.
Can laser therapy be used at the same time as other treatments?
Yes. Laser therapy at Burghealth is frequently combined with chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, and Active Release Technique in the same visit or on the same day. In some cases it is used alongside regenerative medicine procedures. The combination depends on your diagnosis and the goals of your plan, which are discussed during your evaluation. There is no general restriction on pairing laser therapy with other physical medicine approaches.
Where is Burghealth Physical Medicine, and how do I schedule an evaluation?
Burghealth Physical Medicine is located at 6535 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702. The practice serves patients from St. Petersburg and throughout Pinellas County, including those coming from Clearwater, Largo, Seminole, Gulfport, Kenneth City, and the broader Tampa Bay area. To schedule an evaluation with Dr. Samuel W. Richards, D.C., call (727) 289-9148.