I am adding this as a standalone post since so many people have asked what is being done in Robert’s therapy post on facebook. There will be another post on Functional Neurology following.
Laser Light Therapy is only a small part of what is being done for Robert in these videos. The laser introduces energy that leads to better blood flow, the creation of new blood vessels and increased chemical activity. The laser and HBOT provide many of the same healing reactions but the laser can be used in a localized/targeted manner and can be carried in a pocket.
The pencil stimulator in the ear is targeting the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve (also known as the 10th cranial nerve or CN X) is the longest nerve of the autonomic nervous system and is one of the most important nerves in the body. The vagus nerve helps to regulate many critical aspects of human physiology, including the heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, digestion, and even speaking. It carries both motor and sensory information, and it supplies innervation to the heart, major blood vessels, airways, lungs, esophagus, stomach, and intestines. As the nerve is stimulated, new connections (synapses) are created.
The Fischer Wallace unit (the white pads in the head band) was originally FDA approved for fighting depression. However, it was noted that brain injury patients that used the FW saw more rapid healing of white matter damage than patients that did not use an electro-stimulation device.
In addition to electrical stimulation, Robert is usually simultaneously engaged in purposeful movement and exposed to visual stimulation and sound stimulation to fire additional nerves. In this video movement has been overtaken by snack time ; ). Though, even eating is a purposeful movement that fires critical nerves and creates new connections.
Understanding what nerves are being fired and where these nerves enter and affect the brain, the laser light is then focused on key areas of the brain to ‘cement’ the new synapses being formed.
Use of the laser can be as complicated as shown in the videos; where a therapy session can include 2-3 therapists and a pile of machines that go bing. Or, as simple as shining the laser on the Cerebellum while Robert was pushing his walker around the living room re-learning how to walk.
To be clear, none of these tools cause pain, as evidenced by Robert’s demeanor during therapy. All of these tools are used by the involved therapists on themselves and their own children.