Laser therapy
Intra-articular laser therapy Lugano
Direct irradiation of joint tissue with a catheter: red lasers in chronic pain and cartilage regeneration, blue light in acute inflammation. Indication after a specialist visit.
- A catheter in the joint, light on the tissue
- Red for chronic pain and cartilage, blue for acute inflammation
- Can sit alongside injectable therapies such as PRP when there is an indication
How it is applied
The catheter
A catheter takes laser light into dysfunctional joint tissue: nerves, cartilage, bone.
Two colours
Red lasers are used mainly in chronic joint pain and on cartilage. Blue light is indicated in acute inflammation.
Combination with PRP
To support the effect it can sit alongside injectable therapies, including platelet-rich plasma. It is not a superiority comparison: the choice is made at the visit.
Intravenous laser
Light in the blood is a different route from the catheter in a joint. That technique is on the intravenous page.
Joints we assess
Knee
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint, when there is an indication for laser in the joint tissue.
Hip
Hip osteoarthritis, in the same frame of direct tissue irradiation.
Shoulder
Chronic shoulder syndrome, after a specialist assessment.
Ankle
Ankle osteoarthritis, when the intra-articular catheter is the mode chosen at the visit.
Note
In invasive applications local anaesthetic is used at the entry point. The contraindications, listed on the Laser therapy page, are checked at the visit.
Frequently asked questions
Is it painful?
Local anaesthetic is used at the catheter entry point.
Is it combined with PRP?
Yes, when there is an indication. Drawing and injecting plasma are described on the PRP and laser page.
How many sessions are needed?
The number of sessions is decided with you at the visit, according to the complaint and how you respond to treatment.
Is it covered by insurance?
The practice is RME certified and, in Ticino, bills complementary insurers: with complementary insurance, under certain conditions, the treatment can be reimbursed. Patients with basic insurance only receive a clear cost estimate at the visit and pay directly.
Scientific sources
- Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017;4:337–361. doi:10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337
- Navratil L, Kymplova J. Contraindications in noninvasive laser therapy: truth and fiction. J Clin Laser Med Surg. 2002;20:341–343. doi:10.1089/104454702320901134
More sources on the page Laser therapy.
Related treatments
This therapy is part of Laser therapy.
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
For musculoskeletal pain the practice follows several routes, often combined. The specialist visit, with ultrasound when needed, clarifies which one is indicated in your case.
Rheumatology
Diagnosis and treatment plan: the first visit when the pain is in the joints, back or tendons.
Acupuncture
Needles, needle-free laser or ear acupuncture, performed by a specialist physician.
Interventional pain therapy
Ultrasound-guided injections of joints and soft tissues, with hyaluronic acid or PRP when indicated.
PRP for joints and tendons
Plasma prepared from the patient's own blood and injected into tendons and joints.
The information on this page is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. The indication, expected benefits and risks of every treatment are assessed individually during the specialist consultation.
Let's assess intra-articular laser together
Indication and mode are defined after the specialist consultation.
We accept referrals and second-opinion requests from your physician, via HIN. dr.djordjevic@hin.ch
How to reach us
In Lugano, a short walk from USI and EOC
The practice is centrally located in Italian-speaking Switzerland, also reachable from Mendrisio, Bellinzona, Locarno and Chiasso, and is easy to reach from Italy, Milan, Como, Varese and Lombardy by car and by train.
By car: the practice's own car park is right in front. By public transport: a short walk from USI.
Address
Via Alessandro Volta 1
6900 Lugano
Opening hours
Monday and Wednesday 08:00–16:30
Friday 08:00–13:30