Short answer: Yes, for many people. A 2024 research review of 20 randomized trials found that high-intensity laser therapy for neck pain lowered pain and disability and improved how far people could tilt their heads back, especially when it was added to exercise. At Adisi Health Center in Hinsdale, Dr. Steve Petzel uses the LightForce XLi 40-watt Class IV laser, and sessions take just 10 to 15 minutes with no downtime. You can start with our $249 New Patient Special, which includes your exam and first treatment. Call (630) 887-1900.

Why won’t my neck pain go away?

Most neck pain isn’t from one big injury. It builds up slowly from hours at a laptop, looking down at a phone, driving, sleeping in an awkward position, or carrying stress in your shoulders. Over time the muscles at the base of the skull and across the tops of the shoulders stay tight, small joints in the neck get irritated, and tight spots (often called knots or trigger points) start sending pain up into the head or down toward the shoulder blade.

We hear it every week from people in Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Burr Ridge, and Downers Grove: stretching helps for an hour, a massage helps for a day, and then the stiffness is back. Pain that keeps coming back usually means the tissue needs help to actually heal, not just to loosen up for a while.

What does Class IV laser therapy do for neck pain?

Class IV laser therapy, also called photobiomodulation, uses strong infrared light to reach deep into sore muscles, tendons, and joints. Inside the cells, that light helps produce more energy, which supports repair. On our laser page we explain how it calms inflammation, improves blood flow to the area, and turns down pain signals from irritated nerves.

The power matters. Our LightForce XLi delivers up to 40 watts using two wavelengths (810 nm and 980 nm), compared with less than half a watt for a typical “cold laser.” That’s what lets it reach the deeper muscles and joints of the neck in a short session.

The LightForce Class IV laser in the treatment room at Adisi Health Center in Hinsdale, IL, used for neck pain and stiffness

Does laser therapy for neck pain really work? What the research says

Here’s what well-designed studies have found:

  • High-intensity laser and neck pain (20 trials): A 2024 review in Lasers in Medical Science found that high-intensity laser therapy, the high-power type of laser we use, reduced neck pain by about 14 points on a 100-point scale across 17 trials, and also reduced disability and improved backward neck motion. The best results were in people with muscle-knot (myofascial) neck pain, pinched nerves in the neck, and chronic neck pain, especially when laser was added to exercise (de la Barra Ortiz et al., 2024; PubMed 38709332).
  • Laser ranked first among six treatments: A 2025 analysis in the European Spine Journal compared six common in-office therapies across 34 trials and 2,141 people with neck pain. It ranked high-intensity laser first for lowering neck pain, followed by shockwave therapy, then electrical stimulation and ultrasound-type treatments (Hao et al., 2025; PubMed 40244434).
  • Pinched nerve with arm pain: In a trial of 90 people with cervical radiculopathy (a pinched nerve in the neck causing arm pain), high-intensity laser plus exercise improved arm and neck pain, nerve pain, disability, and quality of life more than exercise with a fake laser or exercise alone, with benefits still there at 12 weeks (Ince et al., 2024; PubMed 37204965).
  • Neck and upper-back knots: In a trial of 108 people with myofascial neck and upper-back pain, adding high-intensity laser to exercise gave significantly better pain, disability, and range-of-motion results than exercise alone (Ahi and Sirzai, 2023; PubMed 36538189).
  • Longer-lasting relief: An earlier review of 16 trials and 820 patients in The Lancet found that lower-powered laser reduced pain right after treatment in acute neck pain and for up to 22 weeks after treatment in chronic neck pain, with side effects no different from placebo (Chow et al., 2009; PubMed 19913903).

The pattern is consistent: laser works best as part of a plan that also gets your neck moving and strong again.

What does a laser session feel like?

Most people find it relaxing. You’ll feel a gentle, spreading warmth over the sore area while Dr. Petzel moves the handpiece over your neck and upper shoulders. There are no needles, no vibration, and no noise. Each session takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and you can go right back to work or driving afterward.

Man holding the back of his stiff, sore neck, a common problem that may respond to Class IV laser therapy in Hinsdale, IL

How many laser sessions does neck pain take?

It depends on how long you’ve had the pain and what’s causing it. At Adisi Health Center:

  • Many patients notice less pain and easier movement within the first few sessions.
  • A standard laser plan is about 10 sessions, 2 to 3 times a week.
  • Long-standing or degenerative problems often do best with 15 to 20 sessions.

Dr. Petzel builds your plan at your first visit and adjusts it based on how your neck responds.

Can laser help a pinched nerve, headaches, or a stiff neck from desk work?

These are three of the most common reasons people come in:

  • Pinched nerve (pain, tingling, or numbness down the arm): This is one of the groups that did best in the research above. Our laser page also notes that laser helps calm irritated nerves and supports nerve healing.
  • Tension-type headaches from a tight neck: Easing the tight muscles at the base of the skull often helps. See our post on headaches and chiropractic care.
  • Desk and phone neck: Laser calms the sore tissue, and Dr. Petzel can pair it with chiropractic adjustments and simple posture and strengthening tips so the pain doesn’t keep coming back.

If your neck pain started with a car accident, read how long whiplash lasts. We also handle personal injury cases.

Laser, shockwave, chiropractic, or all three?

Often the best results come from combining treatments. At Adisi Health Center, Dr. Petzel combines laser with chiropractic care, EMTT, or Winback TECAR when it fits your condition. For stubborn knots in the neck and upper shoulders, shockwave therapy is another strong option, and it ranked second only to high-intensity laser in the 2025 analysis above. Learn more in shockwave for neck and shoulder trigger points and on our shockwave therapy page.

For severe neck pain or pain in more than one area (say, your neck plus your low back or a shoulder), our memberships are a serious accelerated-recovery option. They bundle laser, EMTT, and TECAR sessions at a lower cost per visit so you can get the frequent care that speeds healing. See the Recovery Membership and how memberships speed recovery.

Is laser therapy safe? When should you see a doctor first?

Laser therapy is non-invasive and drug-free, and in the research above side effects were mild and no different from placebo. Laser isn’t right for everyone, though, so tell Dr. Petzel if you’re pregnant, have a history of cancer, or take medications that make you sensitive to light. The laser should never be aimed at the eyes, which is why protective eyewear is standard with Class IV lasers.

Get medical care right away if your neck pain comes with weakness in an arm or hand, trouble walking or with balance, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever, unexplained weight loss, a sudden severe headache, or pain after a serious fall or accident. These can be signs of a problem that needs a different kind of care first.

How much does laser therapy cost in Hinsdale?

At Adisi Health Center, laser therapy is cash-pay with no hidden fees, and HSA and FSA are accepted:

  • Single session: $115 (10 to 15 minutes, one treatment area)
  • 10-session package: $920 ($92 per session)
  • 20-session package: $1,700 ($85 per session)

Most insurance plans don’t cover Class IV laser therapy. Chiropractic adjustments are in-network with BCBS PPO. New patients can start with the $249 New Patient Special, which includes your exam and first treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Does laser therapy work for neck pain?
For many people, yes. A 2024 review of 20 randomized trials found that high-intensity laser lowered neck pain and disability and improved neck motion, with the best results in muscle-knot neck pain, pinched nerves, and chronic neck pain, especially when combined with exercise.

What is the difference between Class IV laser and cold laser?
Our LightForce XLi Class IV laser delivers up to 40 watts, compared with less than half a watt for a typical cold (Class 3) laser. The extra power reaches deeper muscles and joints in a shorter session.

Does laser therapy hurt?
No. Most people feel a gentle, comfortable warmth. There are no needles and no downtime.

How many laser sessions will I need for neck pain?
Many patients notice improvement within the first few sessions. A standard plan is about 10 sessions, 2 to 3 times a week, and long-standing problems often do best with 15 to 20.

Can laser therapy help a pinched nerve in the neck?
Pinched nerves were one of the groups that did best in the research. In one trial of 90 people with a pinched nerve in the neck, laser plus exercise beat exercise alone for arm and neck pain, disability, and quality of life.

How much does laser therapy cost in Hinsdale?
A single session is $115, a 10-session package is $920, and a 20-session package is $1,700. HSA and FSA are accepted. New patients can start with the $249 New Patient Special, which includes the exam and first treatment.

Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly, and same-week openings are often available.

Do you treat patients from outside Hinsdale?
Yes. Patients come to our office at 534 Chestnut Street, Suite 240 in downtown Hinsdale from Oak Brook, Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Western Springs, Downers Grove, Westmont, La Grange, and nearby towns.

Related reading: Class IV laser therapy in Hinsdale, laser therapy for pain relief, shockwave for neck and shoulder trigger points, muscle knots and TECAR therapy, chiropractic care for headaches, and how long whiplash lasts

Ready to turn your head without wincing?

If your neck has been stiff and sore for weeks or months, Class IV laser may be the help it needs to heal. Book your $249 New Patient Special, which includes your exam and first treatment, at adisihealth.com/schedule-an-appointment, call Adisi Health Center at (630) 887-1900, or email DrPetzel@AdisiHealth.com. Learn more about laser therapy in Hinsdale.

References

  1. de la Barra Ortiz HA, Arias M, Liebano RE. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy in the management of neck pain. Lasers Med Sci. 2024;39(1):124. PubMed 38709332
  2. Hao J, He Z, Huang B, et al. Comparative effectiveness of six biophysical agents on neck pain rehabilitation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Eur Spine J. 2025;34(6):2183-2200. PubMed 40244434
  3. İnce S, Eyvaz N, Dündar Ü, et al. Clinical efficiency of high-intensity laser therapy in patients with cervical radiculopathy: a 12-week follow-up, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2024;103(1):3-12. PubMed 37204965
  4. Ahi ED, Sirzai H. Comparison of the effectiveness of dry needling and high-intensity laser therapy in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome: a randomized single-blind controlled study. Lasers Med Sci. 2023;38(1):3. PubMed 36538189
  5. 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 of randomised placebo or active-treatment controlled trials. Lancet. 2009;374(9705):1897-1908. PubMed 19913903

This article is for education only and is not medical advice. Results vary. Prices are current as of November 2026.

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