The Ten Commandments of Laser Therapy Success
There are do’s and don’ts for success in laser therapy. Satisfy these Ten Commandments and you will find your clinical success rates increase and patient satisfaction will soar to new heights. Now that is a pretty good deal. Here they are. Short, sweet, and to the point. Oh and if you don’t believe they are all important, try doing all ten and then take one away. Watch what happens. I dare you.
1. Proper Dosage- Yoy must get between 4J/cm2 – 10J/cm2 on tissue to have a therapeutic response. For instance 50cm2 deep tissue area will require up to 750J for proper response.
2. Wavelength-Determines penetration. For deep therapy stay in the IR (Invisible Red) range of 790-1000nm. Most common is the 800nm range. Wavelength is measured in nanometers. VR (visible red) in the 600nm range is too superficial for deep penetration. Don’t believe me, read a physics book. Get the right wavelength or results decrease.
3. Skin on skin-Laser must be in contact with the skin or exposed to skin surface. Adequate dosage cannot be obtained through objects like clothes, furniture, etc. Just use common sense. If it seems stupid, it usually is. Or better yet. Try it on skin and then through clothes. See which works.
4. Power-Higher power decreases treatment time and increases laser photon energy deeper into tissue. 500mW compared to 10,000mW is a big difference in dosage and penetration. Low powered lasers do work, but it takes longer for a session and longer to get results. (In my experience)
5. Proper Diagnosis-No laser in the world will help if you aim it at the wrong spot and simply chase pain. You should have an improvement within 3 visits or you are doing something wrong. Usually too low a dose or wrong diagnosis.
6. Nerve Root-Always treat the nerve root associated with any physical condition. For Example. Tendonitis in the elbow can be caused by nerve root adhesions which shorten the muscle and increase length tension relationships at the origin and insertion resulting in inflammation.
7. Treat Proximal to Distal-Always treat the spine first and then the peripheral area. You need to free up the lymphatics and nerves. This makes for a greater feedback mechanism of laser energy.
8. Treat enough times-Most conditions takes 3-6 visits with a high power laser and as much as 10-20 with a lower power laser. Depends on the dosage they get each session and if the diagnosis is correct. Tell the patient up front what the time frame is for healing.
9. Don’t over treat-Too much laser is just as bad as not enough. Just because you have higher power does not mean you kill the area with joules. Too much will inhibit cellular healing. You may get rid of pain, but ultimate healing is the goal. Follow the dosage rule above and you will be fine. Be wary of too much laser in one session and in one area.
10. Pick a Niche-Master a condition and become known as the “Guru’ of that injury and you will become so busy they will be turned away. For example: Be the ‘Shoulder Pain Laser Doctor’. Specialize or perish! Business 101.
Take time to learn the truth about lasers. Don’t even take my word for it. Research and see who is telling you the truth. Fancy brochures, pictures and sales tactics may make you buy a laser, BUT it will come back to haunt you and your patient’s when the results are poor. Reality speaks for itself by results!!
Dr. Perry Nickelston, DC
VP Practice Development, K-LaserUSA
1-866-595-7749 Ext. 102.
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