A method of diagnosing, and determining the position of, a microscopic or a macroscopic soft tissue injury or soft tissue stress fracture in a patient. The method includes the steps of determining a pain area on the skin of the patient, applying electromagnetic energy or radiation in a selected portion or range of the visible or infrared spectrums, to parts of the bodys surface that correspond with the pain area, obtaining feedback from the patient to determine the sensations that the patient experiences as a result of visible or infrared energy being applied to the tissue at a specific region of pain area, and establishing the site of the microscopic or macroscopic soft tissue injury at the specific region where the sensations are greatest. The visible or infrared energy can be applied using a laser probe. The probe can operated at a selected wavelength or a set of wavelengths in the range of 400 nm to 10,000 ran. The soft tissue injuries to which the present invention may be applicable include injuries that result in symptoms including lower back pain, neck pain, migraines, Type 2 diabetes, sciatica, tinnitus, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic pain syndrome and fibromyalgia.
