FAQ

How long do the treatments last?

A treatment lasts about 10/15 minutes.

How long does it take to heal?

It depends on the pathology and the symptoms. Generally, from the first applications the symptoms already begin to decrease, to then disappear or reduce considerably in most cases in 8-10 sessions. Some osteoarticular pathologies may require additional therapy sessions.

Does the healing effect last or is it temporary?

The goal of Hilterapia® is to solve the problem by acting on the causes and not only on the painful symptoms. This means that, while the first improvements on pain are quick but temporary, at the end of the entire therapeutic cycle the result tends to be lasting.

Is it a painful therapy?

No, it is not painful at all. The patient might only feel a slight sensation of heat.

Does it have contraindications?

The ocular and periocular area is the only absolute contraindication because laser light can cause serious lesions to the internal structures of these organs. For this reason, during the treatment phase, operators, patients, and anyone passing through the therapy application area must always wear the laser protective goggles supplied with the device.
The application is also contraindicated in some particular conditions: during pregnancy, in the presence of active bleeding, in patients who have taken photosensitizing drugs, and in the presence of neoplasms.
There are also special precautions for use in the treatment of areas near endocrine glands, of the ear to avoid damage to the vestibular system where the balance centres are placed, superficial vessels and pigmented skin areas, internal lesions or very inflamed areas, patients with dark skin and in the areas above growth plates.
The complete list of contraindications is always present in the device manual. In any case, the application of laser therapy must always be evaluated by the specialist who follows the patient and who knows in detail the clinical conditions.

Can diabetic patients be treated?

Yes, provided you test the patients’ reaction to the various energy levels, as diabetic patients have less sensitivity to heat.

Is it a safe therapy?

The impulse that makes up Hilterapia® is intrinsically safe, because it respects the thermal relaxation time of the tissues.

What is the difference between Hilterapia®, Nd:YAG laser, and 1064nm diode laser?

The difference between Hilterapia® devices and any other Nd:YAG therapeutic laser currently on the market lies in the fact that although they both use an Nd:YAG source, Hilterapia® takes advantage of a particular pulsed emission, with unique and patented characteristics, capable of conveying high energy amounts in depth and in total safety. These characteristics of emission and therapeutic efficacy cannot be obtained with other Nd:YAG therapeutic lasers nor with 1064nm diode lasers; the latter are often mistakenly confused with Nd:YAG laser only because the emission wavelength is similar. These lasers can in fact emit laser radiation only in continuous mode or at best continuous-interrupted mode, therefore they have a less deep action and easily induce skin thermal increases beyond the damage threshold with the risk of causing irritation and burns.

Can it be used on acupuncture points?

Yes, as it produces an effect comparable to the stimulus caused by the needle. The treatment will be performed on the acupuncture point with circular or rotary movement, the handpiece should not be held still on the point.

Can patients with piercings and/or tattoos undergo Hilterapia®?

Yes, of course, but the affected areas should never be treated directly, as the piercing reflects the Laser radiation with the possible danger of undesired exposure; while the black or coloured pigments of tattoos absorb energy strongly with the consequent risk of inducing thermal damage or inflammatory effects on the skin. Maximum attention must be paid even in the case of removed tattoos, as a certain amount of ink remains in the subcutaneous layers and can still cause undesirable effects.

Is it possible to apply Hilterapia® even in the presence of mechanical grafts/prostheses?

In the presence of metal or plastic prostheses of low or medium depth it is advisable not to linger directly on it but treat mostly the neighbouring areas.

Can Hilterapia® be used together with other physical and/or pharmacological therapies?

Hilterapia® can be combined with other treatments, in particular it is recommended to couple it with a manual therapy. Other physical therapies can take advantage of the combination with Hilterapia®, but if these therapies have a hyperthermal effect it is preferable to alternate the application of the two therapies, one per day. Combination with NSAIDs is possible and has no contraindications unless the drug causes photosensitization in the patient.