MLS & MiS Laser Therapy in Radlett

MLS stands for Multiwave Locked System. It uses 808nm and 905nm energised light in both pulsed and continuous emission, which produces an efficient and synergistic effect on the deep tissues. The type of laser and the dose depend on the structures being treated, and this is all pre-programmed in the machines according to the site and type of problem.

Light energy helps heal injuries and decrease pain by:

• Stimulating cells to remove toxins (pro-inflammatory molecules)
• Allowing oxygen and food loads into the cell (vasodilation), which also helps relax muscle contractions
• Blocking and slowing pain signals in the brain and releasing endorphins and encephalin (natural painkillers)
• Increasing the production and growth of cells, bringing blood flow into the area and accelerating the healing process
• Jumpstarting the body’s own healing process by stimulating the mitochondria in the cells

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common conditions we treat with MLS laser, and the research is encouraging, with some caveats.

• A 2023 review of 9 randomised trials found that high-intensity laser reduced first-step morning pain and improved foot function, with benefits lasting at least 3 months. de la Barra Ortiz et al., Advances in Rehabilitation, 2023.
• When laser has been compared directly with shockwave, results were broadly similar. A 2026 review of 5 trials found no significant difference in pain, with a small advantage for shockwave in foot function. Wu et al., Bioengineering, 2026. A trial of 66 people found laser reduced pain more than shockwave in the short term, and both beat standard care alone at 3 months. Cinar et al., Foot and Ankle International, 2018.
• A 2026 meta-analysis of 13 randomised trials found that laser reduced heel tenderness, although pain and function overall did not improve significantly across all the trials. The authors concluded that laser is best used alongside established treatments such as exercise and orthoses, rather than on its own. Ortiz-Romero et al., Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2026.

That matches how we use it. At A&A Podiatrists we typically combine MLS laser with a tailored programme that may include orthotic support, stretching advice and activity modification.

Achilles tendinopathy (persistent pain and stiffness in the Achilles tendon) can respond well to MLS laser, particularly when it has become chronic and the tendon’s natural healing has stalled.

• A 2022 meta-analysis of 18 randomised trials (Achilles, plantar fascia and patellar tendon) found that laser reduced pain by about 13 mm on a 100 mm scale compared with control treatment, with a similar benefit at 4 to 12 weeks. Results depended on dose: trials using the recommended doses did better, and trials using other doses showed no significant benefit. No adverse events were reported, but long-term data were not available. Naterstad et al., BMJ Open, 2022.
• An earlier review found laser can be effective for tendinopathy when recommended doses are used. In the higher-quality Achilles trials, pain fell by about 13.6 mm on a 100 mm scale. Tumilty et al., Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, 2010.

What this means for you: tendons heal slowly, so improvement is usually gradual rather than immediate. Some people notice a short-lived increase in soreness after the first one or two sessions as the repair process is activated. This is a recognised response and usually settles within a few days.

MLS laser may help with nerve pain, numbness or altered sensation in the feet, particularly diabetes-related neuropathy.

• In a randomised trial of 60 people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, laser treatment of the feet improved both symptoms and measured sensation, with no side effects reported. Ebadi et al., Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences, 2023.

This was a single, small trial, so the evidence is promising rather than conclusive. Laser is a gentle, non-invasive option that is thought to act on nerve tissue and local circulation. We always carry out a thorough assessment before recommending it for neuropathy, to make sure it is appropriate for you.

Knee osteoarthritis is a common source of chronic joint pain, and laser therapy has one of the stronger evidence bases of the conditions we treat.

• A review and meta-analysis of 22 randomised trials (1,063 people) found that laser reduced pain and disability in knee osteoarthritis. Pain fell by about 14 mm on a 100 mm scale by the end of treatment. With the recommended doses, the reduction was about 19 mm at the end of treatment and about 23 mm at follow-up 2 to 12 weeks later, so the benefit kept building after the course finished. No adverse events were reported. Stausholm et al., BMJ Open, 2019.

As with tendon problems, dose matters. We will always assess your knee and your overall foot and lower limb mechanics before recommending a course of treatment.

Hallux limitus (reduced movement of the big toe joint) and hallux rigidus (severely restricted movement) are degenerative joint conditions that cause pain, particularly when pushing off. MLS laser can help manage the pain and inflammation, particularly in the earlier stages.

• Good trials of laser for these two conditions specifically are limited. A small study of 17 people with chronic foot and ankle joint pain found significant pain reduction, with 15 of the 17 rated as good or excellent, and best results when laser was combined with postural education. Ankle movement did not change. Izukura et al., Laser Therapy, 2017.
• A review of conservative treatment for hallux rigidus identified footwear modification, insoles and hyaluronic acid injections as the best-supported options. Herrera-Perez et al., Journal of the Foot and Ankle, 2021.

That is why we use laser for pain and inflammation alongside footwear advice and orthotic support, which offload the joint and help slow the progression. We will assess the stage of your condition and advise whether laser, orthotics or a combination suits you best.

Your first appointment is usually a 45-minute musculoskeletal (MSK) appointment with the podiatrist (£120). The podiatrist will assess and diagnose your problem, and provide a treatment plan of which the laser is part. If MLS laser is suitable and there is time, your first laser session is included in the £120. If the wait is too long, you can check the shorter 30-minute appointment for sooner availability (also £120). Book an MSK appointment ↓.

Most foot problems take around 20 minutes to treat. A knee might take around half an hour.

Many patients report reduced pain and increased mobility within three treatments, and six sessions are advised. We usually see you twice a week, and sometimes use a tapering plan of three sessions in the first week, two in the second and one in the third. Chronic conditions may take longer, and acute or more recent conditions tend to respond faster. It is important to complete the course of treatment.

Many people notice an improvement in pain and comfort within two to four sessions. For tendon conditions, the biggest improvements are often felt from about four to eight weeks into the course, and sometimes after it has finished, because the body needs time to complete its natural repair process. Sessions are usually about a week apart.

No. There is no pain or sensation during treatment. Sometimes there is an after-effect called rebound, or a healing response, which can cause some discomfort. In most cases it disappears within a couple of days, and the area begins to feel much better.

The MLS laser sends infrared light energy through the skin into the tissue underneath. You do not feel heat or pain while it is on. Your cells absorb the light, and their mitochondria (the structures that produce energy inside each cell) respond. Blood flow increases, growth and repair factors are released, and the body starts to lay down new collagen in the damaged tissue.

It has three effects at once: it relieves pain (an analgesic effect), it calms inflammation, and it stimulates repair. So it is not just a pain-relieving treatment. It prompts your body’s own healing process, which is why it can help problems that have stopped repairing by themselves.

Side effects are uncommon and usually mild. The most common is a short-lived treatment flare: the area feels sore or achy for a day or two after a session, most often after the first one. Darker skin absorbs light faster, so we use a lower intensity for longer. See Are there any side effects? for what to do.

This is called a treatment flare, and it is a recognised, expected response. With a long-standing (chronic) tendon problem, the tissue has often become “stuck” and needs a real dose of energy to restart repair. When it responds, there is a temporary rise in activity and sensitivity in the area. Sometimes a tendon reacts more strongly than we expected, even when we have started cautiously.

If the soreness then eases over a few days, that is a good sign that the healing process has begun.

Try not to worry. Feeling more sore for a day or two is the commonest reaction, and it usually settles by itself. Painkillers (if suitable for you) or an ice pack can help.

Please call us on 01923 856 235 if it is not easing after a few days, if it is getting worse, or if you are concerned for any reason. We will talk it through and, if needed, hold off the next session until things have settled. Treating a tendon that is still very irritated would not be right, and a short delay will not spoil the overall programme.

Usually a day or two, occasionally a little longer. Most people notice it easing and then feel better than before. We would like to hear how you are before your next session, so please call or message us if you can.

Often, yes. The laser has different treatment protocols. The chronic protocol gives deeper stimulation to long-standing tissue that needs a push to start repairing. The acute protocol is designed for tissue that is reactive or sensitised: it focuses on calming inflammation and easing discomfort, and is much less likely to cause soreness afterwards.

If you have had a flare we may switch to the acute setting, or start at a lower intensity, and leave a little longer before the next session. We also like to check how you are before we go ahead.

Longer than most people expect. Healing happens in three overlapping stages:

• Inflammatory phase (about the first 1 to 2 weeks). The body clears damaged tissue and prepares for repair. Laser supports new blood vessel growth and anti-inflammatory factors, although the first stimulation can briefly increase sensitivity.
• Proliferative phase (up to about 4 weeks). Cells called fibroblasts make new collagen and start rebuilding the tendon. Laser supports this activity.
• Remodelling phase (months, sometimes over a year). The collagen matures and lines up, gradually restoring the strength and elasticity of the tendon.

A flare in the first days belongs to the early inflammatory stage, and is part of the process rather than a setback.

It is a non-invasive treatment, and there are rarely any side effects. We adjust the laser settings according to how you respond. Laser therapy is not suitable for everyone, so please see who it is suitable for.

They are essentially the same, but the MiS is five times more powerful. That means it can penetrate deeper, and treatment times are faster. There is still no pain or sensation. We choose the laser that suits you.

Shockwave uses pulses of sound (acoustic) energy to cause tiny areas of damage (microtrauma) in the tissue, which prompts the body’s healing response. Laser uses infrared light energy, which is absorbed by your cells and energises them into healing, without damaging the tissue.

We offer laser, not shockwave. If we think shockwave would help you, we will refer you on.

Yes. This analgesic effect is one of its main benefits. The laser eases pain by calming irritated nerves and reducing inflammation, while also stimulating the tissue to repair. Many patients notice less pain within the first three treatments.

Both can work, in different ways, and studies comparing them have found broadly similar pain relief. Shockwave is often used for very long-standing heel pain where fibrous, scar-like tissue has built up, because the pulses help break it down, although it can feel uncomfortable. Laser relieves pain and inflammation and promotes repair, whether the problem is recent or long-standing, and it is painless.

We offer laser, not shockwave. If we think shockwave would suit you better, we will say so and refer you on.

Yes, it is an option, particularly in stubborn, long-standing heel pain. Shockwave is used first to break down the fibrous build-up, and the MLS laser then eases pain and promotes repair of the tissue. We do not provide shockwave ourselves, so if this approach would suit you we can refer you for it and continue your laser sessions with us. Evidence for combining the two is still limited, so this rests on clinical experience.

Yes. There are trials and systematic reviews for plantar fasciitis, tendon problems such as Achilles tendinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy. Quality varies and devices differ. We list the studies we have checked under What does the research say?

Yes, we can treat children and people with diabetes.

Yes. Darker skin can absorb the light faster, so in these circumstances we use a lower intensity of energy for a longer amount of time.

It works best as part of a combined approach. Your podiatrist will assess you and provide a treatment plan of which the laser is part, and we also consider exercises (stretching or strengthening), footwear advice, orthotics or insoles, activity modification and strapping. For tendon problems such as Achilles tendinopathy, we often look at foot mechanics and orthotic options alongside the laser.

From £55 for one area, £75 for two areas (for example, both feet) and £100 for three areas. We may adjust the price, up or down, depending on the time, the areas and the problem, and if you need more treatments.

Yes, subject to a referral letter or the result of scans. We also have physiotherapists at our clinic, and we coordinate treatment with them as needed. Your initial consultation is typically with the podiatrist.

Your podiatrist assesses you, diagnoses the problem and creates your treatment plan, including the laser treatment regime. It is usually applied by our practice manager, as prescribed by the podiatrist.