Cold Laser Therapy in San Francisco
Low-level laser for tendons, joints and slow-healing soft tissue, used by licensed sports acupuncturists as one part of a treatment plan built around your injury.
Rated 5.0 on GoogleLicensed acupuncturists
- Also called
- Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation
- Used for
- Tendons, joints and slow-healing soft tissue
- How it feels
- Usually nothing at all, or mild warmth
- Afterwards
- No downtime; most people can train the same day
What our patients say
5.0 on Google from 92 reviews
I had a golfers elbow and my coach referred me to Andrew. He has been an amazing acupuncturist and worked on my right elbow, shoulder and arm for a couple of weeks. I have felt so much better just after the first session and going back really helps the blood flow so much better and my right arm, elbow and shoulder feels less tense and more relaxed. Definitely recommend this place, especially for athletes!
I came to Andrew after nearly six excruciating months of not being able to run. I had a seemingly minor Achilles tendon injury that simply refused to heal, defying every modality I tried. I hoped Andrew, a specialist in sports injuries, could break the deadlock. The simple answer is that in three visits, I was running again, hardly able to believe my good fortune. The more complicated answer runs deeper. Andrew’s work doesn’t just address physical injury; he works on spiritual and emotional injury and stress too. I didn’t realize that my physical injury was bound up with emotional trauma, but he did, and he figured out how to disentangle them so the healing process could start. The process can be painful; emotional injuries that have lodged in your body have to work their way out through muscle and bone, like a physical illness. But it’s also both profound and unexpected. As another of Andrew’s clients said, he is a true healer.
Andrew Castellanos has helped my Achilles tendinosis and tendinitis with acupuncture, not only getting the swelling down, but also massaging the area after. His therapeutic work has enabled me to continue dancing at a high level without having to take a break, so I’m able to dance with injury due to the therapeutic work that Andrew does.
Gosh, I'm so happy I found Andrew! Thanks to him, I avoided going down a surgery route for my injury! In June 2022, my left knee started acting up (my best guess is overcompensation for gluteal tendonitis I was treating) but I pushed through to backpack 264 miles on the John Muir Trail. When I finished my trek, my left knee was pretty unhappy and I couldn't even get in and out of my car without feeling like a jigsaw puzzle. I tirelessly saw dozens of providers over the next year - chiropractors, physical therapists, orthopedists, massage therapists, etc. All had their own theories - soleus muscle, calf strain, chronic exertional compartment syndrome, etc. The complexity in my case was that my pain was not in my knee itself - it was on the left side in between my knee cap and calf. Despite my knee MRI showing meniscus tears, inflammation, tendonosis, etc. the doctors insisted we treat the symptoms, not the MRIs. So, I got a calf MRI, hip MRI, and an EMG, all of which were negative. Then, one doctor recommended oral Prednisone, and he told me I should see results better than Advil for pain management. It did nothing. It wasn't until I was finally referred to one doctor who noticed something in my knee MRI and caught that there is excess fluid in my proximal tibiofibular joint (PBTJ), and that area tracks with where I feel my pain. To test his suspicion diagnostically, he recommended an ultrasound-guided cortisone injection in my PBTJ to see if that reduced my pain. The pain did decrease (which was good), but it wasn't gone. The doctors informed me issues concerning the PBTJ are rare, and that they needed to refer me to one of the only specialists in the country for this. That specialist happened to be in Minnesota, and when I checked his website, he was only seeing patients for surgery. I did not want surgery. I felt completely defeated, unsure where to go next. In May, I was recommended by someone who also had a challenging journey with injuries (and was able to return to running and hiking) to try acupuncture. I was surprised, since I had not considered Eastern Medicine before for a sports injury. The person specifically recommended I search for an acupuncturist who specializes in athletes, and that led me to find "Acupuncture for Athletics." :) My first appointment with Andrew was May 30, and he patiently listened to my whole ordeal and reviewed all of the documentation I brought (MRIs, doctor's notes, etc). He assured me he treats the root cause, which I appreciated because I did not want to do a band-aid fix only for this to return again, and that he has hope I can feel better. We started off with cupping along my left leg to encourage the inflammation to dissipate, and then we did needles in my leg. Oof, I remember one session when Andrew placed a needle near my PBTJ - I screamed SO loudly lol. But once all of the needles were in, it slowly felt like a meditative experience, and I was able to relax into it. Over my 7 sessions with Andrew, I began to notice the needles felt less painful. In the beginning, I remember feeling the pain just in walking over to Andrew's office. By the 6th session, I realized I wasn't thinking about my pain anymore. I did one more session to be sure, and I was in disbelief that I actually felt pain-free! We decided to go a month testing how the pain fared without regular sessions, and so far so good! The pain flares here and there, but in a MUCH less capacity than before. Throughout this whole process, Andrew was kind, patient, and determined. He was committed to solving the underlying issue, and he was flexible and accommodating to me - whether I wanted to address my left knee or start tackling similar pain that was creeping up on my right knee. Had it not been for Andrew, I would have likely chased surgery because I was running out of ideas. I appreciate you, Andrew! If you're nearing your wits' end with a chronic injury, please go see Andrew and give it a good ~5 sessions if you can. Wishing everyone out there good luck on their chronic pain journeys! You got this!
Andrew introduced me to a form of healing which, after years of competitive long distance running and many injuries, I am more than thankful to have discovered! My latest injury, a small tear in my left hamstring, sidelined me for a number of months. After trying rest, physical therapy and anti-inflammatories with little results, I finally met Andrew. His approach from the very beginning was completely methodical, precise and extremely professional. Right away the pain eased, and I felt my body finally respond to treatment. Andrew was instrumental in healing my hamstring, and I trust that his acupuncture/massage techniques will keep me healthy and, importantly, keep me running for many decades and miles.
Andrew is fantastic! He is knowledgeable and provides specialized treatment for my chronic nerve pain. I highly recommend him.
Andrew is amazing! Very caring and concerned about your health and well being. He genuinely is a very kind person.
Andrew is terrific. I saw him post shoulder surgery and it was very beneficial in getting pain free and full range of motion.
Andrew treated me over a period of about two years for hip and shoulder problems, and he was tremendously helpful. I was impressed with his knowledge and skill, not to mention wonderful “bedside manner” and especially his enthusiasm for staying current in his field.
I loved coming to Andrew. He was a lifesaver in helping me through some back issues when I was pregnant with my first child. A lovely, warm place and Andrew is amazing!!!!
Andrew is a fantastic alternative and addition to physical therapy. He quickly understands your condition and treats it effectively.
I’ve always wanted to be able to demonstrate clearly to professional dancers when giving them corrections or setting ballets. However, without the level of daily physical preparation that my body was used to when I danced, my body now has moments of rebellion that, however careful I am, need the assistance of experts to ensure I can do my job fully. Andrew’s combination of acupuncture and soft tissue work always made a significant difference to my mobility, helping me undertake my role in the studio at a level of physicality such that I’m not confined to the minimum level of demonstration. With his level of experience with dancers it was always easy to discuss problematic muscles and joints, and reassuring that he ‘got’ what was going on and what was required to improve the situation efficiently and effectively.
Light for the tissue, needles and hands for the pattern behind it.
We use cold laser therapy for lingering tendon and joint problems, including Achilles pain, tennis or golfer’s elbow, and ankle sprains. It’s one option we may include in your treatment when an injury is taking longer than expected to settle.
At Acupuncture for Athletics it isn't a stand-alone gadget. We use it alongside sports acupuncture, dry needling, cupping and massage in the same visit, because one treatment rarely fixes a training injury on its own.
Why Work with Us
We're not just for athletes, but for everyone wanting more movement and less pain in their life.
Built around your life
We start with how you move, then treat the injury with a plan to get you back to training, work and everyday life.
Excellence in one visit
Acupuncture, dry needling, cupping, cold laser and sports massage from the same licensed team, so you're not bouncing between clinics.
Trusted by professionals
Andrew and team have treated athletes for USF, the San Francisco Ballet, LINES Ballet and MLB spring training. Our patients rate us 5.0 on Google.
What is cold laser therapy?
Cold laser therapy uses low-intensity red and near-infrared light, held on or just above the skin over the injured area. It's called "cold" because, unlike surgical lasers, it isn't meant to heat or cut tissue. You feel little more than the tip of the wand resting on your skin.
The light is thought to act on the mitochondria, the energy-producing parts of your cells. Cleveland Clinic describes this as the likely way low-level light therapy works. The aim is better local circulation, less inflammation and swelling, and support for tissue repair.
We explain it the same way to patients: cold laser may help, and it works best as part of a plan.
Not a dental laser, and not a high-power heating laser
If you searched "cold laser" in San Francisco, you probably saw dental offices offering laser treatment for cold sores and gums, plus skin and hair-removal clinics. Those are different treatments for different problems. We use low-level laser for muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints.
Some clinics also advertise high-power "deep tissue" lasers that warm the tissue. The FDA groups lasers into hazard classes from I to IV: the higher the class, the more powerful the laser and the greater the risk of injury if it's misused. A laser's class is a safety rating, not a measure of how well it treats an injury.
What it's commonly used for
Low-level laser has been studied most for tendon problems and neck pain. We use it for the injuries active people actually get, and we'll tell you honestly if another approach fits your injury better.
Injuries and conditions
- Tendinopathy: Achilles, patellar, rotator cuff and biceps
- Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
- Ankle sprains and muscle strains
- Runner's knee and IT band irritation
- Stiff, achy joints, including arthritis
- Neck and low back pain
- Scar tissue and post-surgical recovery, once your surgeon clears soft-tissue work
Athletes we treat
Building mileage for a race? Our page on acupuncture for runners covers the tendon and knee problems we see most in training blocks.
What the research says
The most research is for tendons, especially when laser is combined with exercise. A 2021 review of 17 trials with 835 people found that laser plus exercise reduced tendon pain and improved function more than sham laser plus exercise.
An earlier review of 25 tendon trials found that laser may be effective for tendinopathy when recommended doses are used. Dose matters, which is why we treat to a plan rather than waving a wand around.
For neck pain, a 2009 review of 16 trials in The Lancet found low-level laser reduced pain in both recent and chronic cases, with side effects no different from placebo. And the American College of Physicians lists low-level laser therapy among its non-drug options for chronic low back pain.
Is cold laser FDA approved?
"Cleared" is the accurate word. Low-level laser devices for pain reach the market through the FDA's 510(k) process, in a category for non-heating laser instruments "for adjunctive use in pain therapy".
Adjunctive means alongside other care. Clearance doesn't mean a laser is approved to cure a specific injury, and we won't tell you otherwise.
Why we combine laser with acupuncture
Tendons rarely get overloaded by accident. A stiff hip loads the Achilles, and a lazy shoulder blade overloads the rotator cuff. So we treat the sore spot and the reason it got sore, in one appointment with one licensed acupuncturist.
- Laser for the tissueApplied exactly where the tendon, ligament or joint is irritated, to calm it and support repair.
- Dry needling and acupunctureTo release the tight, overworked muscles that keep loading the injured tissue, and to settle pain.
- CuppingTo free up tight fascia and restore glide between muscle layers.
- Sports massageHands-on work to get back the range of motion you need to train with good mechanics.
- Training adviceAn honest read on how much you can run, swing or climb while it heals.
- Pain managementCold laser is a regular part of our wider approach to pain management acupuncture for back, knee and tendon pain.
Your first cold laser session
Cold laser happens inside your acupuncture appointment, so your first visit starts with a full assessment.
Assessment
We ask how the injury started, what you've tried and what you're training for, then test how you move. Bring shorts or a tank top, plus any imaging or surgeon's notes.
The laser
You'll wear protective glasses. The wand rests on or just above the skin for a short time over each area. It's painless: most people feel nothing, and some notice mild warmth.
The rest of the plan
Acupuncture, dry needling, cupping or massage happen in the same visit, depending on what's driving the problem.
Afterwards
There's no downtime, and most people can train the same day. How many sessions you need varies, and we'll estimate it after your assessment.
Eye safety and who should check first
Laser light should never be looked at directly, and even low-power lasers can harm the eyes. You'll wear protective eyewear during treatment, and we never point the beam toward your face.
Cold laser is generally well tolerated, but it isn't for every situation. Tell us if you're pregnant, have cancer or an undiagnosed lump near the area, take medication that makes your skin sensitive to light, or have recently had surgery. We'll adjust the plan or choose a different treatment.
Who'll treat you
Three California-licensed acupuncturists with a sports medicine focus and training in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Clinic owner Andrew Castellanos lists laser among the techniques he uses for sports injuries, post-surgical recovery and swelling, and combines it with acupuncture.
Andrew Castellanos
L.Ac, CST · Clinic owner
Laser alongside acupuncture for tendons, swelling and slow-healing tissue.
- Laser is part of his own skill set
- Known for treating swelling, spasm and pain
- Post-surgical recovery for professional athletes
Ali Hakimi
L.Ac
Acupuncture and moxibustion for injury recovery and lingering pain.
- Local acupuncture for injury recovery and pain
- Moxibustion, a warming traditional technique
- Classical herbal medicine and diet guidance
Suzanne Lange
DACM, L.Ac, CMT
Orthopedic and sports medicine acupuncture with hands-on bodywork.
- Whitfield Reaves Sports Medicine Apprenticeship
- Doctorate in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Pricing and booking
Cold laser is used within your acupuncture appointment when your practitioner thinks it will help. Book online with the practitioner of your choice, or call us if you'd like to ask whether it suits your injury first.
We don't bill insurance, but we'll give you a superbill to submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement. We accept HSA and FSA cards and all credit cards, and gift certificates are available.
You'll find us at 2920 Webster Street, a short walk from Chestnut Street and the Marina District.
Appointments
- 60-min initial acupuncture & assessment
- $225
- 45-min acupuncture follow-up
- $195
- 60-min acupuncture/massage combo
- $225
- 75-min acupuncture/massage combo
- $265
- 90-min acupuncture/massage combo
- $300
Cold laser therapy FAQ
What is cold laser therapy?
Cold laser therapy, also called low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation, uses low-intensity red and near-infrared light to stimulate cells in injured tissue. It's commonly used to help calm inflammation and support healing in tendons, muscles and joints, without heating or cutting the tissue.
Does cold laser therapy hurt?
No. The wand rests on or just above your skin, and most people feel nothing at all or a slight warmth. There's no recovery time afterwards.
What conditions is cold laser used for?
We commonly use it for tendon problems such as Achilles and patellar tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, tennis and golfer's elbow, sprains and strains, stiff joints, neck and back pain, and scar tissue after surgery once your surgeon has cleared soft-tissue work. Tendon problems and neck pain have the most research behind them.
Does cold laser therapy actually work?
Research suggests it may help, particularly for tendon pain when it's combined with exercise and for neck pain. We use it as one part of a plan, alongside acupuncture, manual therapy and changes to your training. Results vary from person to person, and we'll estimate how many sessions you need after your assessment.
Is cold laser FDA approved?
Low-level laser devices for pain are cleared by the FDA through the 510(k) process for adjunctive use in pain therapy, meaning use alongside other care. Cleared is the accurate term. No laser is approved to cure a specific injury.
Is cold laser the same as a Class IV or "deep tissue" laser?
No. Low-level laser uses low power and isn't meant to heat the tissue. High-power lasers sit in a higher FDA hazard class, which describes the risk of eye and skin injury if misused, not how well the laser treats an injury.
Is cold laser safe for my eyes?
Laser light should never be looked at directly. You'll wear protective glasses during treatment, and the beam is never aimed toward your face.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the injury and how long you've had it. Some people notice a change quickly, while long-standing tendon problems take longer. We'll give you an estimate after your assessment and recheck your movement as you go.
Can I train the same day?
Usually, yes. Cold laser has no recovery period. If we've also used dry needling or deep massage in the same visit, we may suggest an easier day.
Is cold laser therapy covered by insurance?
We don't bill insurance directly, but we'll give you a superbill to submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement. We accept HSA and FSA cards and all credit cards.
Where can I get cold laser therapy in San Francisco?
Andrew Castellanos uses low-level laser for tendons, joints and slow-healing soft tissue at our clinic at 2920 Webster Street in Cow Hollow, between Union and Filbert. It's usually one part of a plan that may also include acupuncture and hands-on work, built around your injury.
Where do I park for a cold laser session?
The easiest options are the meters on Union Street, one block from the clinic, or the Union Laguna Garage at 1910 Union Street. If you try the side streets, check the signs, since visitor parking there is time-limited. Then enter the gate code from your booking confirmation email at the street gate on Webster.
References
- Tripodi N, et al. The effect of low-level red and near-infrared photobiomodulation on pain and function in tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2021.
- Tumilty S, et al. Low level laser treatment of tendinopathy: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Photomed Laser Surg. 2010.
- Chow RT, Johnson MI, Lopes-Martins RA, Bjordal JM. Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the management of neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2009.
- Qaseem A, et al. Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2017.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 510(k) Premarket Notification K030226, product code NHN: laser instrument with non-heating effect for adjunctive use in pain therapy.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Laser Products and Instruments.
- Cleveland Clinic. Red Light Therapy: Benefits, Side Effects & Uses.
Stop icing the same tendon and hoping
Book a first visit at our Cow Hollow clinic. We'll assess the injury, treat it and give you a plan.
Visit us in Cow Hollow
2920 Webster Street, between Union and Filbert. A short walk from the Marina, Pacific Heights and the Presidio.
Address
Acupuncture for Athletics2920 Webster Street
San Francisco, CA 94123 Gate code: in your booking confirmation email
Hours
- Every day
- 7:30am – 9:00pm