Most patients who come to us for laser therapy arrive one of two ways.
The first group found us because nothing else worked. They’ve tried physiotherapy, cortisone injections, prescription anti-inflammatories, rest, heat, ice — and the pain is still there. Some of them have been told surgery is the next step.
The second group heard about a result that seemed almost too good to be true. A neighbour who stopped limping. A coworker whose wound finally healed after months of failed treatment. Someone who avoided a knee replacement.
Both groups have the same first question: how does laser therapy actually work?
It’s a fair question, and it deserves a straight answer.
Light as Medicine — The Science in Plain Language
BioFlex Laser Therapy — the system we use at Active Chiropractic & Wellness Centre — is a form of photobiomodulation. That’s a technical term for something relatively simple: specific wavelengths of light are applied to damaged tissue, and those wavelengths trigger a biological response at the cellular level.
Here’s what that means in practice. When tissue is injured or inflamed, cells in that area are under stress. They’re producing less energy, healing more slowly, and generating the chemical signals that your brain interprets as pain. Laser therapy delivers light energy directly into those cells, stimulating the mitochondria — the part of the cell responsible for energy production — to work more efficiently.
The result is faster tissue repair, reduced inflammation, and a genuine reduction in pain — not because the signal is being blocked or masked, but because the underlying damage is actually healing.
This is the key difference between laser therapy and most pain treatments. Anti-inflammatories and cortisone reduce symptoms without changing what’s causing them. BioFlex addresses the source.
Why We Have Three Systems
At Active Chiropractic & Wellness Centre we operate three BioFlex laser systems — more than any other clinic in the Peterborough region. We made that investment for two practical reasons.
First, it means we can treat multiple patients at the same time without anyone waiting unnecessarily. Second, and more importantly for complex cases, it means we can treat three separate areas of your body in a single visit. For patients dealing with multiple injury sites, or conditions that affect large areas — like spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, or widespread arthritis — this makes a significant difference in both treatment time and outcomes.
What Conditions Respond to BioFlex Laser?
In our clinic we use BioFlex to treat a wide range of conditions, including:
- Back pain and sciatica
- Rotator cuff injuries and shoulder problems
- Knee pain and osteoarthritis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tendonitis and bursitis
- Spinal stenosis
- Sports injuries and muscle tears
- Wound healing — including chronic wounds that have not responded to conventional medical care
- Headaches and concussion recovery
- Shingles and post-herpetic nerve pain
- Pre- and post-surgical recovery
The breadth of that list surprises many patients. BioFlex is not a back pain treatment or a sports injury treatment. It is a cellular healing treatment — and cells are cells, regardless of where in your body they are.
What a Treatment Actually Feels Like
This is often the first question after “does it work?” Laser therapy is completely painless. There is no heat, no cutting, no vibration, and no discomfort. Most patients describe it as simply lying still while a light array is positioned over the treatment area. Some patients feel a mild warmth or a gentle tingling sensation. Many fall asleep.
A session typically runs between 20 minutes and an hour, depending on the condition and the area being treated. We’ll always give you a realistic sense of how long your specific treatment will take before we begin.
How Many Treatments Will You Need?
Every patient and every condition is different, so we are always honest about this: we cannot tell you exactly how many treatments you will need until we have assessed your specific situation. What the clinical data does show is that in a review of over 1,000 patients treated with the BioFlex system, the average was just under 10 treatments to resolve the condition. Some patients see meaningful improvement after 3. More complex or chronic conditions may require 15 to 25. We track your progress objectively and adjust your plan accordingly.
Is It Covered by Insurance?
For most patients with extended health benefits, yes. Because laser therapy at our clinic is provided by Dr. Jeff as part of chiropractic care, it falls under your chiropractic coverage in most plans. We recommend checking your specific plan, and Lesley at our front desk is happy to help you figure that out before your first visit.
Who Uses BioFlex?
You may be surprised to learn that BioFlex laser systems are used by some of the most demanding athletic organizations in North America — including the Toronto Raptors, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Miami Heat, and the Canadian National Ballet Company. These organizations rely on fast, effective recovery for world-class athletes. They use BioFlex because it works.
We’re proud to bring that same standard of care to patients in Peterborough, Lakefield, Kawartha Lakes, and the surrounding communities.
The Right Starting Point
If you have a condition that hasn’t responded to other treatments, or if you’ve been told that surgery is your only remaining option, we’d encourage you to call us before making that decision. We offer a complimentary consultation so that Dr. Jeff can assess your situation honestly and tell you whether laser therapy is likely to help.
We will never recommend treatment we don’t believe is appropriate for you. But in our experience, the patients who benefit most from BioFlex are often the ones who had run out of other options — and found that this was the one that finally worked.
Call us at (705) 743-1661 or book online at activechiroptbo.ca.
Active Chiropractic & Wellness Centre | 401 McDonnel St, Peterborough, ON | Serving Peterborough, Lakefield, Kawartha Lakes, Norwood, and surrounding communities since 1988.