Cold Laser Therapy in Wesley Chapel, FL

Cold laser therapy at Augustine Chiropractic in Wesley Chapel, FL uses Erchonia handheld lasers as a drug-free, non-invasive part of your chiropractic care. We use it for pain that will not go away: a neck you cannot turn, a shoulder you cannot lift, swollen knees, a back or heel that hurts every morning. Your exam comes first, and laser goes into your plan only when it fits.

UNDERSTANDING THE TREATMENT

What Is Cold Laser Therapy?

Cold laser therapy is the everyday name for low-level laser therapy (LLLT), also called photobiomodulation. A handheld laser shines specific colors of light (wavelengths) onto the area that hurts. It is “cold” because it does not heat, cut or burn the skin, and there are no drugs, needles or downtime.

How the Light Works Inside Your Cells

Your cells make their energy in the mitochondria, which have receptors that absorb specific colors of light. “These receptors are like any drug receptor,” Dr. Augustine says: the right color sets off a reaction in the cell, without the drug. A review of low-level light therapy in the journal Dose-Response describes the pathway: light absorbed in the mitochondria (by cytochrome c oxidase) helps cells make more ATP, their energy currency. That is one way it is thought to ease pain and inflammation.

Why "Low-Level" Matters: The Sweet Spot

Stronger is not always better. Dr. Augustine draws the dose as an upside-down U: too little light does little, too much works poorly, and the best response sits in the middle. “It’s not the strongest laser, but it’s not the weakest one,” he says of Erchonia. “It has a sweet spot.”

What a Session Feels Like

You sit or lie comfortably while the laser is held over the area. Most people feel nothing, and some notice a light tingle. Sessions are short, and you go straight back to your day.

OUR TECHNOLOGY

Our Erchonia Lasers and What They're FDA-Cleared For

At our Wesley Chapel office, we use three handheld Erchonia lasers. Dr. Augustine chose the brand because “it’s well built” and “it’s been around for a while.” All three are FDA-cleared for the same use: as an adjunct (alongside other care) for temporary relief of minor chronic neck and shoulder pain of musculoskeletal origin.

Erchonia XLR8 (Red Laser)

Red light, 640 nm

Best for: chronic neck and shoulder pain, pain after surgery

The XLR8 is also FDA-cleared as an adjunctive treatment of postoperative pain.

Erchonia EVRL (Red and Violet Laser)

Red light, 640 nm, and violet light, 405 nm

Best for: chronic neck and shoulder pain

The EVRL runs red and violet light together.

Erchonia GVL (Green and Violet Laser)

Green light, 520 nm, and violet light, 405 nm

Best for: chronic neck and shoulder pain

The GVL pairs green and violet light for the same use.

FDA clearance covers a specific use; it is not a promise that laser will work for everyone.

PERSONALIZED PAIN CARE

Conditions We Use Laser Therapy For

Patients rarely call asking for a specific laser. They call because they want out of pain: “I can’t move my shoulder,” “my knees keep swelling,” “the pain travels down my leg.” Only the neck and shoulder use is FDA-cleared; our chiropractic physicians may recommend the others based on your exam.

Chronic Neck and Shoulder Pain

Neck, upper back, shoulder blades and shoulders

Think of a neck that will not turn when you back out of the driveway, or a shoulder you cannot lift to a high shelf. This is one of the best-studied uses of low-level laser, and it is often paired with chiropractic adjustments.

Knee Pain, Swelling and Arthritis

Knees, including arthritic knees

Swollen and arthritic knees are one of the most common reasons patients ask about laser. “Arthritis just means joint pain and inflammation,” Dr. Augustine says, and an old sports injury or accident can lead to it at any age.

Low Back Pain, Sprains and Pain Down the Leg

Low back, sacroiliac (SI) joint, hips, and pain that travels into the legs

Whether your back pain is new or months old, laser can be part of a plan for low back pain, sprains and stiff hips, often with spinal decompression. When pain travels down the leg, our sciatica page explains how we find the cause. Fresh sprains may also get ice, support and sports injury rehab.

Heel Pain and Plantar Fasciitis

Heel and arch of the foot

Sharp heel pain with your first steps out of bed is a classic sign of plantar fasciitis. Laser may be part of your plan for the heel and arch.

Pain After Surgery

The area around a healed operation

The XLR8 is also FDA-cleared for this, as an adjunct to other care. Tell us about any surgery at your first visit.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND LASER THERAPY

Does Cold Laser Therapy Actually Work?

It is a fair question, and cold laser has its skeptics. The honest answer: it depends on the problem and the dose. A review of 16 randomized trials published in The Lancet found that low-level laser reduced pain right after treatment in acute neck pain, and for up to 22 weeks after treatment in chronic neck pain.

The reviewers urged caution, because the trials were small and laser settings varied. That is the sweet spot problem again: the wrong dose can make a laser look like it does nothing.

In our office, laser is one tool inside a plan, not a stand-alone cure, and results vary. As Dr. Augustine puts it, “it works fast, but it takes time to accumulate into the cells.”

KNOW YOUR OPTIONS

Erchonia Cold Laser, Class IV Laser or a Home Device?

You will see three kinds of “laser therapy” around Wesley Chapel and online. Here is how they compare.

Option

What it is

What you feel

Worth knowing

Best for

Erchonia low-level (cold) laser, what we use

A low-power handheld laser that does not heat the skin.

Usually nothing, sometimes a light tingle.

FDA clearance: all three of ours, as an adjunct for chronic neck and shoulder pain.

Chronic aches and fresh injuries, within a chiropractic plan.

Class IV (high-power) laser

A high-power laser that delivers more energy, faster.

Warmth on the skin

More power is not automatically better (the sweet spot).

Patients who prefer it, at an office that offers it.

Home red-light pads and gadgets

Consumer LED pads or small lasers sold online for roughly $40 to $400.

Warmth or nothing.

Power, color and dose vary widely, and no one examines you first.More power is not automatically better (the sweet spot).

People who want to try something at home first.

Dr. Augustine is blunt about home gadgets: “This is the real deal. It’s not a cheap laser.” If pain has lasted weeks or limits how you move, start with an exam. If laser does not fit, we will say so.

INTEGRATED CHIROPRACTIC CARE

How Laser Fits Your Treatment Plan

Laser works alongside the other care in our office, often on the same visit. “It works with every single treatment we have in our office,” Dr. Augustine says. A plan may pair laser with:

How Many Visits It Takes

“It usually takes anywhere from 10 to 20 visits, but sometimes less,” Dr. Augustine says, over at least four weeks of care. We review your progress as you go and adjust the plan.

TRANSPARENT PRICING

Cost and Payment Options

We do not post laser prices online, because your cost depends on your plan; we go over it in person before you start. What changes the cost:

Ways to pay: affordable cash plans and treatment plans, HSA and FSA cards, and CareCredit financing.

REAL PATIENT EXPERIENCES

Laser Therapy Patient Stories From Our Wesley Chapel Office

Every case is different, and results vary.

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS

Related Services

Spinal Decompression

For disc-related back and neck pain, including pain that travels into an arm or leg, often on the same visit as laser.

Chiropractic Care for Back, Neck and Joint Pain

Adjustments are the base of most laser plans in our office

Acupuncture and Dry Needling

In Dr. Augustine's words, "laser and acupuncture work well together."

Sciatica

When pain travels down the leg, start here to understand the cause.

Sports Injury Rehab

For sprains, strains and getting back to your game, with laser in the plan when it fits.

Faq

Frequently Asked Questions

Who applies the laser, the doctor or an assistant?

Our chiropractic physicians and trained staff. Staff apply the laser under a chiropractic physician’s direct supervision, and your plan is always set by the chiropractic physician who examined you.

Am I too old for laser therapy?

There is no age cutoff. We have used laser with patients from their early 20s into their 80s, and your exam, not your age, decides whether it fits.

Can laser therapy make my pain worse?

Most people feel nothing during a session. Every body responds differently, though, so if you ever feel worse after a session, tell us at your next visit and we will adjust your plan.

I found you on Erchonia's provider search. Is that the laser you use?

Yes. Augustine Chiropractic in Wesley Chapel, FL is listed in Erchonia’s provider directory, and we use three Erchonia handheld lasers: the XLR8, the EVRL and the GVL.

About Dr. Brian Augustine

Dr. Brian J. Augustine, DC, CCSP, DACNB, DAAPM

Dr. Brian J. Augustine has practiced chiropractic since 1987 and founded Augustine Chiropractic Center, PA in Wesley Chapel, FL in 2004.

He earned his Doctorate of Chiropractic from New York Chiropractic College, began his career in New Jersey, and owned Overlea-Fullerton Chiropractic Center in Baltimore for fourteen years before bringing his practice to Florida.

He is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP), a Diplomate in Chiropractic Neurology (DACNB), and a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management (DAAPM). Licensed in Florida since 1990, he is an active Trauma Team member with the Academy of Chiropractic.

He brought Erchonia low-level lasers into the practice more than 10 years ago and trained in their use through Erchonia. Augustine Chiropractic is listed in Erchonia’s provider directory, which is how some of our laser patients first find us.

OUR team

Meet The Team

20+ years in emergency medicine, trauma, and clinical practice. A nationally recognized expert in peptide therapy, she teaches providers across the country and specializes in weight-loss protocols, injections, IV therapy, and aesthetics.

Autonomous-practice FNP with 8+ years across primary, urgent, and public health care, and a U.S. Army veteran. He focuses on hormone replacement, GLP-1 weight loss, IV and vitamin therapy, PRP, and aesthetics. Fluent in English and Spanish.

Licensed Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in holistic, whole-body care. Certified in acupuncture and dry needling, she takes an integrative approach to addressing pain, dysfunction, and overall wellness.

Areas We Serve

Cold Laser Therapy Near Wesley Chapel and Pasco County

Our office is at 5317 Village Market Dr in Wesley Chapel, in the Village Market center. We serve patients from Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Zephyrhills, Dade City, San Antonio and Brooksville.

Wesley Chapel

New Tampa

Lutz

Land O' Lakes

Zephyrhills

Dade City

San Antonio

Brooksville

Book Your Laser Therapy Exam in Wesley Chapel

Ready to find out whether cold laser therapy fits your pain? Call (813) 994-6008 or book online, and mention laser therapy. Your first visit starts with an exam and a clear plan, with no pressure for long contracts.

Terapia con láser frío en Wesley Chapel (resumen en español)

En Augustine Chiropractic usamos la terapia con láser de baja intensidad, conocida como láser frío, con tres láseres portátiles de Erchonia: XLR8, EVRL y GVL. Es un tratamiento sin medicamentos y no invasivo que forma parte de su plan quiropráctico, y siempre empieza con un examen. Los tres láseres cuentan con autorización de la FDA como complemento para el alivio temporal del dolor crónico leve de cuello y hombro de origen musculoesquelético, y el XLR8 también como tratamiento complementario del dolor después de una cirugía. Nuestros quiroprácticos también pueden usarlo en rodillas, espalda baja, talones y otras zonas, según su examen. La mayoría de las personas no siente nada durante la sesión y no hay tiempo de recuperación. Un plan típico dura de 10 a 20 visitas durante al menos cuatro semanas. Aceptamos planes de pago en efectivo, tarjetas HSA y FSA, y financiamiento con CareCredit. Hablamos español. Llame al (813) 994-6008 o reserve su cita en línea. 5317 Village Market Dr, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544.

RESEARCH & SOURCES

References

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 510(k) clearance documents for the Erchonia EVRL (K191257, 2019), the Erchonia GVL (K221987, 2022) and the Erchonia XLR8 (K211186, 2021).
Chow RT, Johnson MI, Lopes-Martins RAB, Bjordal JM. “Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the management of neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo or active-treatment controlled trials.” The Lancet, 2009.
Huang YY, Chen AC, Carroll JD, Hamblin MR. “Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy.” Dose-Response, 2009.