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FDA-cleared cold laser therapy in Franklin, TN — a painless, non-invasive treatment that accelerates tissue healing, reduces inflammation, and relieves chronic pain at the cellular level.
Cold laser therapy — also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation — is an FDA-cleared treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to penetrate deep into injured tissues, stimulate cellular repair, reduce inflammation, and accelerate healing. Unlike surgical lasers, cold laser therapy produces no heat and causes no tissue damage — it works by triggering a photochemical response at the cellular level that enhances the body's natural healing processes. At our Franklin, TN clinic, cold laser therapy is used as a powerful adjunct to chiropractic care for patients with chronic pain, soft tissue injuries, and conditions that have been slow to respond to other treatments.
Cold laser therapy is one of the most scientifically validated physical therapy modalities available today, with over 4,000 peer-reviewed studies demonstrating its effectiveness for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. At our Franklin, TN clinic, we use medical-grade cold laser equipment calibrated to the specific wavelengths and dosages shown to be most effective in clinical research. Combined with chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue therapy, cold laser therapy significantly accelerates recovery times and improves outcomes for our most challenging cases.
Cold laser therapy sessions are brief — typically 5 to 15 minutes per treatment area — and completely painless. Most patients feel nothing during treatment, though some report a mild warming sensation.
The cold laser handpiece is held directly over the treatment area. The laser light penetrates through the skin and into the underlying tissues without causing any heat or tissue damage.
Most patients require a series of 6 to 12 treatments for optimal results, typically performed 2 to 3 times per week. Acute conditions often respond faster; chronic conditions may require more sessions.
Cold laser therapy is typically combined with chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue therapy for maximum effectiveness. The laser reduces inflammation and accelerates healing, while adjustments restore proper joint mechanics.
Many patients notice improvement after the first 2 to 3 sessions. Chronic conditions typically show progressive improvement over the course of a full treatment series.
There is no downtime after cold laser therapy — you can return to normal activities immediately after each session.
Cold laser therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), is a non-invasive medical treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light — typically in the red (630–700 nm) and near-infrared (780–1100 nm) spectrum — to stimulate healing at the cellular level. The term "cold" refers to the fact that the laser operates at a low power level that does not generate significant heat or cause tissue damage, distinguishing it from the high-power surgical lasers used in procedures like LASIK eye surgery.
The mechanism of action of cold laser therapy is photobiomodulation — the use of light to trigger beneficial biological changes in cells and tissues. When laser light is absorbed by cells, it stimulates the mitochondria (the energy-producing organelles within cells) to increase production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the primary energy currency of the cell. This surge in cellular energy accelerates all of the cell's normal repair and regeneration processes — including protein synthesis, collagen production, and the clearance of inflammatory byproducts.
At the tissue level, cold laser therapy reduces inflammation by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, stimulates the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) to improve circulation to injured areas, promotes the production of collagen and other structural proteins needed for tissue repair, and activates the lymphatic system to clear inflammatory debris. The result is faster healing, reduced pain, and improved tissue quality compared to healing without laser therapy.
Chronic pain is one of the most challenging conditions to treat in modern medicine. By definition, chronic pain has persisted beyond the normal healing time for the original injury — meaning the underlying tissue damage has largely resolved, but the nervous system has become sensitized and continues to generate pain signals. This central sensitization makes chronic pain resistant to many conventional treatments, including anti-inflammatory medications that work well for acute pain.
Cold laser therapy addresses chronic pain through multiple mechanisms. At the peripheral level, it reduces ongoing inflammation in chronically irritated tissues, promotes the repair of damaged nerve fibers, and decreases the sensitivity of pain receptors (nociceptors) in the treated area. At the central level, research suggests that photobiomodulation may modulate the activity of pain-processing pathways in the spinal cord and brain, helping to "reset" the sensitized nervous system that drives chronic pain.
For Franklin, TN patients with chronic neck pain, low back pain, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, or other persistent pain conditions that have not responded adequately to other treatments, cold laser therapy offers a safe, drug-free option with a strong evidence base. Our clinic uses medical-grade cold laser equipment calibrated to the specific wavelengths and dosages shown to be most effective in clinical research — not the low-powered consumer devices that give inconsistent results.
Cold laser therapy has been studied extensively for a wide range of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. The strongest evidence base exists for musculoskeletal pain conditions including neck pain, low back pain, shoulder pain, knee osteoarthritis, and tendinopathies such as Achilles tendinitis, patellar tendinitis, and lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow).
For soft tissue injuries — including muscle strains, ligament sprains, and tendon injuries — cold laser therapy accelerates the healing process by stimulating collagen synthesis, reducing inflammation, and improving circulation to the injured area. Athletes and active patients in Franklin, TN often use cold laser therapy to speed recovery from sports injuries and return to activity faster.
Neuropathy is another condition where cold laser therapy shows significant promise. Research has demonstrated that photobiomodulation can stimulate nerve regeneration, improve nerve conduction velocity, and reduce the burning, tingling, and numbness associated with peripheral neuropathy — whether caused by diabetes, chemotherapy, or other factors. Given Dr. Mannie's background in functional medicine and his experience treating neuropathy, cold laser therapy is a natural complement to our comprehensive neuropathy treatment program.
Comprehensive assessment to determine if cold laser therapy is appropriate for your condition and identify the optimal treatment protocol.
You relax comfortably while the laser handpiece is positioned over the treatment area. Safety eyewear is provided.
The cold laser is applied directly to the skin over the treatment area for 5–15 minutes. The treatment is painless and relaxing.
Laser therapy is combined with chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue work for maximum therapeutic effect.
We track your response to treatment and adjust the protocol as needed to optimize your outcomes.
Your $67 new patient special includes everything we need to find the root cause of your pain and build a plan to fix it — permanently.