SoLá Therapy is the first infrared therapy to be used for pelvic pain and pelvic floor dysfunction. Since 2019, approximately 2,000 patients have received the treatment and 80% reported pain relief within an average of four sessions or two weeks.  SoLá Therapy uses a class IV near-infrared laser administered directly to the pelvic floor muscles via the vagina. Also known as Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), Red Light Therapy (RLT) and Photobiomodulation (PBM), it has been used to treat a variety of conditions including dementia, dental pain, hair loss, osteoarthritis, tendonitis and wrinkles. This type of laser therapy uses very low levels of heat that doesn’t burn the skin; it also doesn’t include damaging UV rays. Instead, it reproduces the “good” energy or light from the sun that causes the cells to emit extra energy, triggering a healing response.

How SoLá Therapy works

Because SoLá Therapy was designed with treating PFD in mind, it uses a proprietary wand that is only 2 cm in order to be as comfortable as possible. The wand emits energy from 360-degrees, so the medical professional doesn’t have to aim it at a specific area. And that makes it more effective as well as easier to use.

During a 2 to 4 minute long treatment twice a week for two or three weeks, a medical provider gently moves the wand in and out of the vagina to help relax the muscles Patients might feel warmth from the laser, but otherwise the therapy shouldn’t be very painful.

SoLá Therapy works in three different ways to help with pelvic pain.

  1. PBM occurs on a cellular level and decreases inflammation. It soothes overly sensitive nerve impulses and facilitates healing.
  2. The gentle massage motion of the wand causes a release of nitric oxide and helps soothe the tense muscles.
  3. The therapy also stimulates oxygen delivery to the tissue by increasing blood flow to the pelvis and encouraging the drainage of harmful lymphatic toxins.

SoLá reports that maximum pain reduction is reached within two to three weeks of twice weekly treatments. While undergoing SoLá Therapy treatment, patients should not do physical therapy because it can counteract the treatment. Instead, pelvic floor physical therapy can be done beforehand or after the therapy is complete. The effect of SoLá Therapy lasts for a few months.

What this means for patients

At present, the only data on the effectiveness of SoLá Therapy comes from the company directly. Three related papers are awaiting publication, and abstracts will be presented at the 2021 Society of Urodynamics winter meeting in September. What we know so far, however, seems promising for IC patients who have struggled with PFD without relief from other treatment options such as pelvic floor physical therapy. As an emerging therapy, however, it may not be covered by medical insurance and it is only available in some clinics throughout the United States. It’s definitely a therapy option to keep an eye on as more research becomes available.

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