If you’ve ever tried to train through an annoying niggle or waited for a stubborn strain to settle, you’ll know how hard it is to stay patient as you work towards recovery. It’s not just the discomfort; it’s the loss of rhythm, the worry that you’ll fall behind, and the sense that your body isn’t quite fitting your training plans or competitive goals.
At times like this, people often start looking for ways to help things along rather than simply waiting it out. That’s usually when laser therapy comes up in conversation.
What is laser therapy?
As we explained in our recent article about laser therapy for chronic pain, at its heart, laser therapy is a way of using specific wavelengths of light to nudge injured tissue into repairing itself more efficiently.
It’s a gentle and non-invasive treatment. You sit comfortably while a small handheld device delivers light to the area that needs help.
Although it feels like a fairly recent development in mainstream physio clinics, laser therapy has been part of elite sports medicine for years. Olympic teams, high performance centres, Premier League clubs, and athletics programmes have used this technology quietly in the background to help their athletes recover quickly and stay available for training and competition.
The Physio Box uses the same class of medical laser that supports these environments (LightForce© Therapy Lasers are recommended by the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society, for example), but without the pressure of a world stage!
How the science works (without getting too technical)
The underlying process harnessed by laser therapy is called photobiomodulation. You don’t need to remember the word, just the effect.
When the light delivered by the laser reaches your cells, it encourages them to produce something called Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), which is essentially the little energy packets that your cells rely on to repair and rebuild. When injured tissue has more of this energy available, everything happens a little more smoothly.
Boosted ATP production improves the circulation in the treated area, which helps clear out inflammation and bring in the nutrients your body needs for healing. Many people notice a gentle easing of pain as a treatment session goes on. Others feel it later that day when the initial stiffness starts to lift.
All these changes create better conditions for recovery. It’s not that the laser heals you on its own. It’s that it gives your body a more supportive environment to do the things it’s already trying to do, only faster.
The improvements are cumulative, so most patients benefit from six to eight sessions over a two- to four-week period.
Where laser therapy makes a real difference for active people
Most sports injuries involve some mix of irritated tissue, inflammation, or a temporary loss of strength. This is where laser therapy can be handy.
Take a hamstring strain. Once the initial soreness settles, the muscle often feels tight and guarded. Laser therapy helps calm the irritated fibres and encourages early repair, which means you can start gentle strengthening sooner.
With tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, the tendon at the outside or inside of the elbow can become irritated from repeated gripping, lifting, or racquet work. Light-based treatment reduces inflammation around the tendon so you can regain comfortable movement and gradually load the area again.
Runners often ask about those familiar niggles around the knee or Achilles. The same principle applies. By improving circulation and supporting tissue repair, you give those overloaded areas a better chance to settle so your rehab exercises can take effect.
And then there are sprains or those days after a match or long run when everything feels heavy and swollen. A short session helps manage inflammation, which can make walking, climbing stairs, or getting back into light activity feel easier.
What a session feels like
Most people are surprised by how gentle laser therapy is. You’ll feel warmth at most, sometimes nothing at all. Sessions don’t take long (typically, they’re under 10 minutes.) and fit easily around work, training, or school. There’s no recovery time needed afterward, so you can get on with your day.
We’ll always talk through the plan with you. If laser therapy feels appropriate for your injury, we’ll explain why and how it fits into your wider rehab. You’re never left guessing.
Part of a bigger picture
Laser therapy works best when paired with the right hands-on treatment and strengthening work. It supports better healing, but it’s the combination of approaches that gets you back to full confidence in your body. We’ll guide you through that process, adjusting things as you improve so everything feels manageable and personal.
Bringing elite-level tech to your local clinic
The Physio Box uses the same therapeutic technology trusted in high performance sport. That means you get access to world class tools in a calm, welcoming space where you can take your time, ask questions, and focus on your recovery at your own pace.
If you’re ready to speed up your healing and get moving again, we’d love to help you get started.
Book a session and get back in the game faster.