Photobiomodulation (Laser Therapy) for Pain in Shropshire
Published · 7 min read
Local Physiotherapist — Jacob Youngson, Shropshire
Photobiomodulation — also called low-level laser therapy or PBM — uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light applied to the skin. It is used in physiotherapy as an adjunct for pain and tissue healing: something added to a rehabilitation programme rather than a treatment that replaces one.
What it is
The light is delivered at a low enough intensity that it does not heat or damage tissue — this is not the same thing as surgical laser. The proposed mechanism is that light at these wavelengths is absorbed within cells and influences cellular energy production, which is thought to affect inflammation, blood flow and tissue repair.
A session is painless and typically takes several minutes over the area being treated. Most people feel nothing much at all, or a mild warmth.
What it is used for
- Persistent tendon problems, such as tendinopathy that has not settled with loading alone
- Joint pain, including osteoarthritic knees and shoulders
- Soft tissue injuries during the healing phase
- Neck and back pain as part of a broader treatment plan
- Wound and tissue healing in some clinical settings
Being straight about the evidence
It is worth being clear here, because this is an area where claims often run ahead of the research. The evidence for photobiomodulation is genuinely mixed. There are positive trials and supportive reviews for some conditions — particularly certain tendinopathies, neck pain and knee osteoarthritis — but results vary considerably between studies, and outcomes appear to depend heavily on getting the dose, wavelength and technique right.
What that means in practice: photobiomodulation may be a useful addition for some people with some conditions, and it is reasonable to try where it is indicated. It is not a guaranteed fix, it is not a substitute for exercise-based rehabilitation, and anyone presenting it as a cure-all is overselling it. If it does not help within a reasonable trial, the sensible thing is to stop and put the time into what does.
Who it may not suit
Photobiomodulation is generally well tolerated, but it is not applied over active or suspected cancers, over the thyroid, over the abdomen in pregnancy, or directly into the eyes, and caution applies with photosensitising medication. Suitability is checked at assessment.
How it fits into physiotherapy
The useful framing is that photobiomodulation might make it easier to do the rehabilitation that actually drives recovery — by reducing pain enough to load a tendon properly, or to move a stiff joint further. The rehabilitation is still the treatment. Used that way, alongside exercise-based treatment for joint and muscle problems or back and neck programmes, it can earn its place. Used on its own, as passive treatment with no active component, it rarely achieves much.
Photobiomodulation in Shropshire
Jacob Youngson, who leads the team at Healthsec Rehab, is a qualified photobiomodulation practitioner, and PBM is available as one option within rehabilitation programmes alongside conventional physiotherapy, FES and hydrotherapy. Whether it is worth including is a clinical judgement made at assessment, based on your condition and what has already been tried.
Healthsec Rehab covers large parts of Shropshire including Shrewsbury, Telford, Oswestry and Ludlow.
Starting with a phone call
A free 15-minute telephone consultation is a good way to talk through the problem and whether photobiomodulation is worth considering as part of your treatment.
Get in touch: call the clinic on 01743 630 138 or email Jacob. If nobody is free, leaving a voicemail gets a call back within 24 hours.
Please mention Mobile Physiotherapist.co.uk when you call.
About Jacob Youngson
Jacob Youngson is an HCPC registered physiotherapist (PH122755) and Head of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Healthsec Rehab, providing physiotherapy across Shrewsbury, Telford and wider Shropshire. Jacob is a qualified photobiomodulation practitioner and works with evidence-based rehabilitation technology alongside musculoskeletal, orthopaedic and complex rehabilitation caseloads.
Read Jacob's profile or call 01743 630 138.
Please mention Mobile Physiotherapist.co.uk when you call.