If you have chronic pain, you may want to consider laser therapy — a new treatment technique that uses a Class IV laser to target sore areas and reduce pain and inflammation.

According to a National Center for Health Statistics 2006 report, approximately 76.2 million Americans have suffered from pain that lasts longer than 24 hours. One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain, with approximately 31 million people experiencing lower-back pain at any given time. Class IV laser therapy can help reduce pain without the need for addicting narcotics or surgery, and can be especially beneficial for sports injuries such as sprains or strains, and hand and wrist pain from arthritis or carpal-tunnel syndrome.

How does it work? Photons from a 60 watt laser accelerate cell production, boost oxygen levels and blood circulation in the affected area, which creates pain releif. It can take between eight and 30 treatments to reduce the pain completely, depending on the severity of the condition. Typical treatments take around 10 minutes. There’s no pain involved. In fact, people have reported feeling a warm sensation and falling asleep during the procedure. On average, treatments range between $45-$75 per visit.

Humans aren’t the only ones who can benefit from laser therapy. It’s also used on dogs and horses who experience chronic pain from injuries or genetic health issues. Although it may vary, a typical veterinary laser therapy treatment lasts between 10 and 20 minutes and a majority of pets show increased comfort and mobility within 24 hours of their first treatment. For the best results, most pets require three to 10 treatments.

To determine if you or your pet could benefit from laser therapy, contact your doctor or veterinary care specialist.