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Laser therapy and red light therapy are two of the most effective tools we have for supporting tissue healing, reducing inflammation, and speeding up recovery – and at Leading Edge Chiropractic in Holmen, we offer both. Depending on what you’re dealing with, we’ll use the Aspen Laser Apex for targeted treatment, the THERALight 360 full-body red light bed for whole-body recovery, or both together as part of a broader care plan.
Two Different Systems, Two Different Jobs
A lot of offices use the terms “laser therapy” and “light therapy” interchangeably. We don’t, because our two systems actually do different things and work best for different situations. Understanding the difference helps you know what to expect – and what to ask for.
The Aspen Laser Apex is a Class IV handheld laser. Our laser technicians move it directly over the affected area, delivering concentrated light energy deep into the tissue. When you’re dealing with an acute injury, a painful tendon, or a specific spot that isn’t healing the way it should, the Apex is the tool for that conversation. It’s precise, it’s targeted, and it gets to the tissue layers that need it most.
The THERALight 360 is a full-body red light therapy bed. You lie under it – fully clothed, no contact required – and the panels deliver red and near-infrared wavelengths across your entire body at once. This is less about pinpointing one painful spot and more about giving your body a systemic environment that supports healing, recovery, and overall function. Athletes use it between sessions. Patients managing chronic inflammation use it regularly. People who just want to feel better and recover faster use it because it works.
What the Aspen Laser Actually Does
The science behind Class IV laser therapy is fairly straightforward. Light photons from the laser penetrate into damaged or inflamed tissue and stimulate the mitochondria – the part of the cell responsible for producing energy. When cellular energy production increases, the cells repair faster, inflammation reduces, and circulation to the area improves.
What that means in practical terms: tissue that has been stuck in a slow healing cycle starts moving again. Tendons that have been chronically irritated begin to respond. Inflammation that has been sitting around a joint or nerve starts to clear. Patients often describe a warmth in the area during treatment and noticeable improvement in comfort over a series of sessions.
At Leading Edge, our laser technicians lead every Aspen Laser session. You’ll sit or lie comfortably depending on the area being treated, and honestly – most patients end up just chatting through the whole thing. It’s that comfortable. Sessions typically run 10 to 20 minutes depending on what’s being treated.
Common conditions we use the Aspen Laser for include sprains and strains, shoulder pain, back pain, neck pain, and soft tissue inflammation that isn’t responding to adjustments alone.
What the THERALight 360 Does
Red light therapy works on a similar cellular principle – specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light stimulate mitochondrial activity, reduce oxidative stress, and lower inflammatory markers throughout the body. The difference with a full-body bed is coverage. Instead of treating one area at a time, the THERALight 360 delivers consistent therapeutic dosing across every tissue it reaches in a single session.
The benefits people notice most from regular red light therapy use include faster muscle recovery between training sessions, reduced general inflammation, improved sleep quality, better energy, and skin health improvements. It’s also one of the more relaxing things we offer – sessions involve lying comfortably under the panels for a set time period, and most people walk out feeling genuinely good.
For athletes in the Holmen area, the THERALight 360 is particularly valuable during heavy training blocks or competitive seasons when the body is absorbing a lot of stress and doesn’t have as much time to recover between efforts. For patients managing chronic pain or systemic inflammation, it gives the body a regular environment that supports healing beyond what any single adjustment or treatment session can do on its own.
How Laser Therapy Works Alongside Chiropractic
This is the part that matters most for understanding why we offer these services alongside Gonstead chiropractic care. Chiropractic adjustments address the structural and neurological side of the equation – restoring proper joint motion, reducing nerve irritation, correcting the mechanical problem driving the pain. Laser therapy addresses the tissue environment around that problem.
When inflammation is sitting around a joint or nerve, adjustments are harder to deliver comfortably and the correction is slower to hold. When we reduce that inflammation first – or alongside the adjustment – the body responds better, the relief lasts longer, and the overall recovery timeline shortens. It’s not that one is better than the other. They’re working on different things at the same time, and the combination produces better outcomes than either alone.
We see this most clearly with soft tissue injuries, chronic tendon problems, and patients who have been dealing with pain for a long time and haven’t been able to turn the corner with adjustments alone. Adding laser therapy to the plan often changes the trajectory.
Who Benefits Most from Laser and Light Therapy
The honest answer is that a pretty wide range of patients benefit from one or both of these systems. That said, a few groups consistently get the most out of them:
Athletes and active patients dealing with overuse injuries, tendon problems, or the accumulated wear of a long season. The Apex targets the specific injury while the THERALight 360 supports full-body recovery between sessions.
Patients with chronic pain who haven’t been able to fully turn the corner. When tissue has been inflamed for a long time, it needs more than structural correction – it needs a cellular environment that supports healing. That’s exactly what laser therapy provides.
Post-injury patients in the early healing phase. The Aspen Laser is particularly effective in the acute phase of an injury when inflammation is high and tissue is actively trying to repair. Getting light energy into that tissue early can meaningfully shorten recovery time.
Wellness-focused patients who aren’t necessarily dealing with a specific injury but want to support their body’s overall function, recovery, and resilience. The THERALight 360 fits naturally into a regular wellness routine alongside chiropractic care.
What to Expect at Your First Session
If you’re coming in for Aspen Laser therapy, you’ll sit or lie comfortably depending on the treatment area. Our laser technician will position the device over the affected area and move it through the treatment protocol – which typically takes 10 to 20 minutes. Most patients feel gentle warmth during the session. There’s no discomfort, no downtime, and nothing to prepare for in advance.
If you’re coming in for the THERALight 360, you’ll lie under the panels fully clothed for a set session length. It’s relaxing – genuinely one of the most low-effort things we offer. No prep, no contact, no recovery time afterward.
In many cases we’ll use laser therapy on the same visit as your chiropractic adjustment – either before to loosen up inflamed tissue or after to support the correction. Our team will walk you through what makes sense for your situation at your first visit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Therapy
Does laser therapy hurt?
No. The Aspen Laser produces gentle warmth over the treatment area – most patients describe it as comfortable. The THERALight 360 produces no sensation beyond mild warmth. Neither involves any discomfort.
How many sessions does it take to notice a difference?
It varies by condition. Some patients notice improvement after a single session, particularly with acute inflammation. Chronic conditions typically require a series of sessions over several weeks to produce lasting change. Our team will give you an honest expectation after your evaluation.
Is laser therapy safe for everyone?
Laser therapy is safe for most patients. There are a few situations where we’d modify or avoid treatment – directly over the eyes, over cancerous tissue, or in certain pregnancy situations. Our team reviews this at your first visit.
Can I do laser therapy without chiropractic?
Yes. Both systems are available as standalone services. That said, for most musculoskeletal conditions the combination of chiropractic and laser therapy produces better results than either alone – so we’ll often recommend both as part of a complete care plan.
If you’re in the Holmen area and want to find out whether laser therapy or red light therapy is a good fit for what you’re dealing with, we’d love to talk through it. Contact Leading Edge Chiropractic or call us at 608-526-2854 to get started.
Leading Edge Chiropractic serves Holmen, WI and the surrounding La Crosse area with precise, results-driven chiropractic care. Dr. Chad Updike and Dr. Katie Canar are both extensively trained in the Gonstead method, bringing a level of specificity and thoroughness to every patient that goes well beyond a standard adjustment. Dr. Chad serves as Team Chiropractor for the Holmen High School football team and has spent a decade on the board of the Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin, including two years as President. Dr. Katie graduated summa cum laude from Palmer College of Chiropractic, holds Webster Certification for prenatal care, and has completed hundreds of hours of advanced Gonstead training. Together they care for patients of all ages, from infants and student-athletes to active adults and seniors. If you’re ready to find out what’s actually driving your symptoms, contact Leading Edge Chiropractic today.
Leading Edge Chiropractic serves Holmen, WI and the surrounding La Crosse area with precise, results-driven chiropractic care. Dr. Chad Updike and Dr. Katie Canar are both extensively trained in the Gonstead method, bringing a level of specificity and thoroughness to every patient that goes well beyond a standard adjustment. Dr. Chad serves as Team Chiropractor for the Holmen High School football team and has spent a decade on the board of the Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin, including two years as President. Dr. Katie graduated summa cum laude from Palmer College of Chiropractic, holds Webster Certification for prenatal care, and has completed hundreds of hours of advanced Gonstead training. Together they care for patients of all ages, from infants and student-athletes to active adults and seniors. If you’re ready to find out what’s actually driving your symptoms, contact Leading Edge Chiropractic today.
