LiteCure Medical » Featured News https://www.litecure.com/medical Mon, 09 Nov 2020 18:01:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 LightForce Therapy Lasers Hosts Fall Symposium for Delaware Chiropractic Society https://www.litecure.com/medical/2019/09/lightforce-therapy-lasers-hosts-fall-symposium-for-delaware-chiropractic-society/ https://www.litecure.com/medical/2019/09/lightforce-therapy-lasers-hosts-fall-symposium-for-delaware-chiropractic-society/#comments Mon, 23 Sep 2019 16:20:23 +0000 admin https://www.litecure.com/medical/?p=8451 New Castle, DE – September 23 2019 – LightForce Therapy Lasers was proud to welcome the attendees of the 2019 Delaware Chiropractic Society Fall Symposium into their home office this past Thursday.

The 8-CE hour course featured lecture and training on deep tissue laser therapy, as well as clinical training by cutting-edge neurologists on evaluating concussion patients. “We had some great interactions with an engaged group and are excited to grow our relationship with the Society,” observed presenter Adam Marmon, PhD.

Within the new training facility, attendees enjoyed hands-on learning of practical techniques for improving patient outcomes. Jesse Riggin, DC, Delaware Chiropractic Society President said, “The Light Force facility was perfect for our event, and it was good to see their operations up close. Dr. Marmon’s presentation was very helpful in getting a better understanding of how and when to apply laser therapy. I hope they will invite us back again soon.”

Delaware Chiropractic Society Fall 2019 Symposium 1

LightForce looks forward to hosting more educational events and continuing to work with the Delaware Chiropractic Society to further industry knowledge.

For inquires on partnering with LightForce on upcoming events, reach out to info@lightforcelasers.com.

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5 Step Guide to Improving the Patient Experience – Step 4: Communication https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/10/5-step-guide-to-improving-the-patient-experience-step-4-communication/ https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/10/5-step-guide-to-improving-the-patient-experience-step-4-communication/#comments Thu, 18 Oct 2018 18:00:06 +0000 admin https://www.litecure.com/medical/?p=8133 Contributed by Mark Callanen, PT, DPT, OCS

How important is the communication between staff and patients in a facility? A recent patient satisfaction poll taken by Medicare.gov stated that all of the top 4 factors, and 5 of the top 8 factors dealt with communication1! These included communication: with nurses, doctors, learning about their medications, responsiveness of staff, and discharge instructions, in that order. How patient interaction is managed can make or break a clinic.

5 Step Guide to Improving the Patient Experience_Communication

Setting expectations for the patient visit from the first contact with your office has been shown to help decrease patient anxiety and improve patient satisfaction1. This should be followed through during the evaluation. The clinician should explain to the patient what the evaluation entails and how the first visit will be conducted. This step is outlined in the Calgary Cambridge Guide to the Medical Interview2, but is a common factor overlooked by busy practitioners. Taking time to do this will help ensure the patient and clinician are on the same page out of the gate, which is a key to building a strong patient-clinician relationship.

A second key factor to be cognizant of during the evaluation is to get frequent feedback from the patient and make frequent clarifying statements about the information that has been relayed. This ensures that the patient knows they are an active participant in the evaluative process and they are being heard.

At the end of the evaluation it is imperative to provide a detailed summary of your findings in common terms. This will help establish credibility as well as reduce fear related issues that may hamper the patient’s overall mindset regarding their diagnosis. After the problem list has been provided, the clinician should provide a clear prognosis with a detailed plan of care, including the number of visits per week and total number of weeks their treatment is expected to continue. This will help the patient understand their roadmap to overcoming their condition.

Avoid asking the patient “how often they can come in?” or “what would they prefer as a plan of care?” This might seem like a polite route to take at the end of an evaluation, but this tactic will ultimately undermine the authority and credibility of the clinician as the expert of the patient’s condition. Remember, patients are paying the clinician to tell THEM what they need, not vice versa. Avoiding this trap will improve the relationship between the clinician and the patient in almost all cases.

Finally, have a formal system of obtaining patient feedback. A survey conducted by Trident University looking at keys to patient satisfaction found that 50% of patients are not asked if they have any questions or concerns during an office visit1. This can be a huge miss to a practice. Just because a manager doesn’t hear about something, doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem present. A formalized process to gain feedback should be in place.

How to handle the various aspects of customer relations within a healthcare setting goes well beyond the scope of this article. However, by helping point out:

  • The importance of setting patient expectations
  • Techniques to improve active listening skills when engaging patients and
  • Why it is essential to be prescriptive regarding a patient plan of care

Most facilities will improve the patient experience. Being mindful of these factors has been shown to improve patient compliance via improved patient satisfaction. If you don’t believe it, give it a try, and ask the patients for their feedback after you make the appropriate adjustments. They will likely appreciate it and probably return for their next appointment.

 

References
1. Howard. Patient Satisfaction – Why It Matters and How To Improve It. Practice Builders, Jul 2017. https://www.practicebuilders.com/blog/patient-satisfaction-why-it-matters-and-how-to-improve-it/
2. Kurtz SM, Silverman JD, Draper J (1998) Teaching and Learning Communication Skills in Medicine. Radcliffe Medical Press (Oxford)

 

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5 Step Guide to Improving the Patient Experience – Step 3: Wait Time https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/08/5-step-guide-to-improving-the-patient-experience-step-3-wait-time/ https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/08/5-step-guide-to-improving-the-patient-experience-step-3-wait-time/#comments Tue, 21 Aug 2018 19:29:25 +0000 admin https://www.litecure.com/medical/?p=8100 Contributed by Mark Callanen, PT, DPT, OCS

Does patient waiting time impact their experience at the doctor? Yes! Not only is it an annoyance for most people to have to wait for an appointment, it has been shown to impact their perception of the ensuing treatment and the provider. How wait times are handled is equally as important. Gallup poll data shows that Keeping patients informed regarding their wait time is the #1 differentiator between patient satisfaction that differentiated “average practices (50th percentile)” from “best practices (80th percentile)”1. “Waiting time” was the third highest reason listed.

5 Step Guide to Improving the Patient Experience_Wait Time

Other factors associated with longer wait times include:

  • Longer wait times negatively impacts the patient perception of kindness and compassion of the staff2.
  • Patients’ perception of doctor capability and confidence in the health services provided were both diminished with longer wait times3.
  • Patient wait times also effected patient perceptions of the care givers ability to perform health services reliably and accurately4.
  • When patients have longer wait times, it impacts their perception of the quality of interaction they are having with the doctor, even when similar or longer amounts of treatment time is spent with them compared to individuals that did not wait as long for treatment. Focusing on patient centered strategies like being highly empathetic, polite to family members, and keeping the patient informed as to why there is a delay can help mitigate the negative aspects associated with longer wait times5.

Patient Satisfaction Chart

While not avoidable in all cases, keeping wait times in check is a healthy thing to do for any practice. In those instances when a delay is eminent, keeping patients informed and being patient centered is critical to managing those instances effectively.

References
1. Blizzard,R. Patient Satisfaction Starts in the Waiting Room. Feb,2005. http://news.gallup.com/poll/14935/patient-satisfaction-starts-waiting-room.aspx.
2. Spaite DW, Bartholomeaux F, Guisto J, et al. Rapid process redesign in a university-based emergency department: decreasing waiting time intervals and improving patient satisfaction. Ann Emerg Med. 2002;39(2):168-177.
3. Bleustein C, Rothschild DB, Valen A, Valatis E, Schweitzer L, Jones R. Wait times, patient satisfaction scores, and the perception of care. Am J Manag Care. 2014;20(5):393-400.
4. De Man S, Vlerick P, Gemmel P, De Bondt P, Matthys D, Dierckx RA. Impact of waiting on the perception of service quality in nuclear medicine. Nucl Med Commun. 2005;26(6):541-547.
5. Zhenzhen X et al. Associations Between Waiting Times, Service Times, and Patient Satisfaction in an Endocrinology Outpatient Department: A Time Study and Questionnaire Survey. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing. 2017; 54: 1–10.

 

 

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5 Step Guide to Improving the Patient Experience – Step 2: Facility https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/07/5-step-guide-to-improving-the-patient-experience-step-2-facility/ https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/07/5-step-guide-to-improving-the-patient-experience-step-2-facility/#comments Mon, 16 Jul 2018 14:39:33 +0000 admin https://www.litecure.com/medical/?p=8020 Contributed by Mark Callanen, PT, DPT, OCS

5 Step Guide to Improving the Patient Experience_Facility

 

Make sure your clinic is a happy place, both physically and culturally. This includes everything from the parking lot to the staff on your team. Many owners and managers walk through the same door five days a week and over time become less aware of the actual status of their office. For some it may be for financial reasons; they don’t want to address esthetic issues in the office due to the price tag that is attached to the fix. For others, it is due to not being high on their priority list.

Managers and owners need to realize that by not addressing it, you may be costing your practice much more! A Gallup Poll in 2005 identified seven factors that are key determinants of physician office patient satisfaction that differentiated “average practices (50th percentile)” from “best practices (80th percentile)”1. “Atmosphere and attractiveness of the office” was included as the 4th most important differentiating factor. Since patient satisfaction has been directly linked to patient retention, this is a significant issue. So rather than focusing on the cost of the updates, clinics should think about the potential cost to their bottom line when patients opt to go somewhere with a more attractive office.

Consider this, if a manager were to walk into their clinic tomorrow as a new patient, what would they see? What would the following areas look like:

  • Storefront/ parking lot:  if the outside of your clinic is lacking, work with your management company or landlord to correct paint, cracks, water damage, landscaping, etc. to make sure the person walking by your clinic isn’t turned off.  They might just keep walking!  You are already paying for these services in most cases, make sure your building management team is working as hard as you are.
  • Inside the clinic: is it clean, up to date, well lit, quiet?  The first impression patients get after they come in from the parking lot, is the general appearance of your waiting room and the clinic.  You should be aware of details such as:
  • What is the condition of the furniture?   If it looks old or worn, think about having it reupholstered or replacing it.
  • Are ceiling tiles stained or mis-fitting?
  • Color pallet of the office, is it outdated?
  • How are the carpets?  Do they need cleaning or replacing?
  • Treatment tables ripped, have tape holding it together?  Not only is it unsightly, it can be an infection hazard and something you could get dinged on by an inspection from an accreditation agency.  Make sure tables are working well and not damaged.
  • Is your equipment dated?  Does your clinic possess modern technology?
  • How loud is your facility?   The sixth essential element to patient satisfaction regarding hospital visits, was the cleanliness and quietness of the setting according to Medicare.gov2.  If your clinic has the look and feel of a gymnasium, that might not be ideal.
  • How does the front desk look?  If it is cluttered or has multiple pieces of paper taped to the wall; is that the look a manager would want patients seeing as their first and last impression of the clinic?

All of these factors will play a part in the patient’s perception of an office.  Miss on several of these areas, and staff may be fighting an up-hill battle regarding patient satisfaction before they even introduce themselves.

 
References:
1. Blizzard, R. Patient Satisfaction Starts in the Waiting Room. FEB, 2005. http://news.gallup.com/poll/14935/patient-satisfaction-starts-waiting-room.aspx.
2. Survey of patients’ experiences (HCAHPS). https://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/Data/Overview.html
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5 Step Guide to Improving the Patient Experience – Step 1: Staff https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/06/5-step-guide-to-improving-the-patient-experience-step-1-staff/ https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/06/5-step-guide-to-improving-the-patient-experience-step-1-staff/#comments Mon, 25 Jun 2018 14:08:14 +0000 admin https://www.litecure.com/medical/?p=7991 Contributed by Mark Callanen, PT, DPT, OCS

Do you have a staff member that does not “get along well with others?” This might cause more headaches for a practice than you think. A strong association has been linked between staff satisfaction and patient perception of quality of their care. Gallup data has shown that “atmosphere and attractiveness of office” is a top 4 differentiator between best practices and average practices1. Having tension amongst the ranks is something that is felt by everyone in the office, patients included.

Ask yourself, would I want to go get treated at an office that has negative energy? If you have ever had this experience, it is not enjoyable. And unless patients have a very significant need to, they will probably choose not to return if there are other alternatives.

As difficult as it may be for managers to address a disgruntled employee’s behavior, it may be one of the keys that helps unlock a more successful practice. It is hard to quantify the negative impact of a bad employee, but the effects are usually realized the first week they are no longer in the clinic by the improved interaction of existing staff and possibly comments you will receive from existing patients. Most managers that have dealt with one of these cases generally share the same feeling after the fact, realizing they should have corrected the problem sooner once they see the impact of restoring harmony in the workplace. Maybe you will too.

5 Step Guide to Improving the Patient Experience_Staff

 

References
1. Blizzard, R. Patient Satisfaction Starts in the Waiting Room. Feb,2005.  http://news.gallup.com/poll/14935/patient-satisfaction-starts-waiting-room.aspx
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Live Webinar: How to Increase Your Patient Flow and Cash Flow https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/05/live-webinar-how-to-double-your-new-patient-volume-in-less-than-12-months/ https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/05/live-webinar-how-to-double-your-new-patient-volume-in-less-than-12-months/#comments Thu, 31 May 2018 13:34:43 +0000 admin https://www.litecure.com/medical/?p=7962 Live Webinar: How to Increase Your Patient Flow and Cash Flow

LightForce Therapy Lasers and Breakthrough Physical Therapy Marketing are joining forces to educate private PT practice owners on how a combination of laser therapy and no-nonsense marketing can increase their patient flow and cash flow.

Here’s What You Will Discover:

- How LightForce Laser Therapy can generate revenue for your practice (Outcomes = Incomes)
- How Breakthrough PT Marketing solutions can quickly generate new patients for your practice
- Chad Madden’s success utilizing both LightForce Therapy Lasers and Breakthrough PT Marketing’s marketing model
- How to avoid the common pitfalls most practice owners make when scaling their practice
- And so much more!

Register Here

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Can Laser Therapy Help the Current Opioid Dilemma? https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/05/can-laser-therapy-help-the-current-opioid-dilemma/ https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/05/can-laser-therapy-help-the-current-opioid-dilemma/#comments Wed, 16 May 2018 15:53:48 +0000 admin https://www.litecure.com/medical/?p=7927 Contributed by Mark Callanen, PT, DPT, OCS

In 2016, 11.5 million Americans misused opioid medications which contributed to the death of 17,087 prescription drug users1. These staggering statistics have heightened the demand in the US healthcare market for therapies that address both acute and chronic pain conditions without the use of pharmaceutical therapies. Therapeutic laser, via the process of photobiomodulation (PBM), is a non-invasive modality that addresses pain in a number of ways.

Clinically effective PBM takes place when a light source provides an adequate dose of photonic energy to injured tissue. Laser and LED devices are the two most common light sources used for this purpose. The general mechanism for PBM involves biochemical stimulation of the electron transport chain in eukaryotic cells, which triggers several positive biochemical changes in injured tissue. These changes to musculoskeletal tissue and nerve tissue can decrease pain2,3,4, reduce inflammation5,6,7, and accelerate tissue healing.8,9,10

Can Laser Therapy Help the Current Opioid Dilemma Blog Post Image

A 2015 study from the Annals of Cardiac Anesthesia demonstrated the effectiveness of laser therapy at reduced post-surgical pain after open-heart surgery. The painful sternal incision associated with this surgery usually requires oral opioids and rescue analgesia (injectable opioids), administered via a patient-operated button to self-control discomfort after surgery.

The study looked at 100 patients that had laser treatment administered 30-minutes after surgery to the sternal area. Statistically significant pain reduction was noted at 1 hour and 24 hours after treatment. Only 40 patients had pain of 5/10 or greater 24 hours after treatment, which necessitated a second laser treatment. Pain was recorded at 0/10 for all patients by the third day (hour 54). No patients required a 3rd dose of laser, and of note, no rescue opioid analgesia was required for the laser therapy group11.

This is significant because it demonstrates laser’s pain-relieving efficacy, and ability to reduce medication usage as part of the patient group’s multimodal (MMA) analgesia protocol. This is extremely important because even a few days of opioid use can lead to chronic dependence.

A 2017 study that analyzed 1.3 million non-cancer patients showed that 6% of patients that used opioids for only 1 day were still taking the medicine one year later! The number doubled to 12% for patients that used opioids for 6 days, and for patients that were on a 12-day supply of opioids, 24% of those patients, almost one in four, were still taking the drugs one-year later12.

Given that pain management is a multifaceted process, knowing what approaches are supported by evidence-based practice is key. In 2017 the American College of Physicians released its practice guidelines for Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain13. In it, there was a strong recommendation for patients with chronic low back pain to initially select nonpharmacologic treatment. Several activities were recommended including exercise, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and tai-chi to name a few. The only stand-alone modality that they supported for chronic back pain was low level laser therapy.

The Journal of Sport Physical Therapy (JOSPT) followed suit in 2017 by endorsing laser therapy among other treatments for use in treating both chronic neck pain with mobility deficits as well as acute neck pain with radiating symptoms14.

These evidence-based guidelines for both neck and lower back conditions will hopefully encourage clinicians that are quick to dismiss modalities in their clinical practice to reexamine laser therapy. In doing so, they will find that there is growing support for it as part of a comprehensive plan of care when addressing pain and other musculoskeletal injuries.

While drawing conclusions on the best way to address pain is still open for debate, a few things are starting to become clear. It is evident that the risks involved with opioids are causing them to fall out of favor for short and long-term pain relief. Additionally, the receptiveness by the medical community to prescribe non-pharmacological pain management treatment methods has never been higher.

Knowing what active strategies, as well as how to incorporate modalities like laser therapy into a comprehensive, evidence-based plan of care, will be key factors in promoting change in the US pain market as the evidence on this topic continues to emerge.

 

References

1. Hedegaard H, Warner M, Miniño AM. Drug overdose deaths in the United States, 1999–2016. NCHS Data Brief, no 294. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2017/ CDC. Wide-ranging online data for epidemiologic research (WONDER). Atlanta, GA: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics; 2016. Available at http://wonder.cdc.gov
2. Chow et al. Inhibitory Effects of Laser Irradiation on Peripheral Mammalian Nerves and Relevance to Analgesic Effects: A Systematic Review. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery Volume X, Number X, 2011ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Pp. 1–17.
3. Holanda, V.M. et al. (2017) The Mechanistic Basis for Photobiomodulation Therapy of Neuropathic Pain by Near Infrared Laser Light. Lasers Surg Med. 2017 Jul;49(5):516-524.
4. Jimbo, K. et al. (1998) Suppressive effects of low-power laser irradiation on bradykinin evoked action potentials in cultured murine dorsal root ganglion cells. Neurosci Lett. 240(2):93-96.
5. Mizutani, K. et al. (2004) A clinical study on serum prostaglandin E2 with low-level PBMT. Photomed Laser Surg. 22(6)537-539.
6. Lopes-Martins, R.A. et al. (2005) Spontaneious effects of low-level PBMT (650 nm) in acute inflammatory mouse pleurisy induced by carrageenan. Photomed Laser Surg. 23(4):377-381.
7. Prianti, A.C.G. et al. (2014) Low-level PBMT (LLLT) reduces the COX-2 mRNA expression in both subplantar and total brain tissues in the model of peripheral inflammation induced by administration of carrageenan. Lasers Med Sci. 29(4):1397-1403.
8. Karu, T 1991, ‘Low-Intensity Laser Light Action Upon Fibroblasts and Lymphocytes’, in Calderhead, RG & Ohshiro, T, Progress in Laser Therapy, J. Wiley and Sons, Chichester, New York, Brisbane, Toronto, Singapore, pp.175-180.
9. Benayahu, D, Maltz, L, Oron, U, Stein, A 2005, ‘Low-Level Laser Irradiation Promotes Proliferation and Differentiation of Human Osteoblasts in Vitro’, Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 161-166.
10. Abrahamse, H, Mathope, T, Moore, T, Mvula, B 2008, ‘The effect of low level laser therapy on adult human adipose derived stem cells’, Lasers in Medical Science, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 277–252.
11. Karlekar A, Bharati S, Saxena R, Mehta K. Assessment of feasibility and efficacy of Class IV laser therapy for postoperative pain relief in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery patients: A pilot study. Ann Card Anaesth. 2015; 18: 317-22.
12. Shah A, Hayes CJ, Martin BC. Characteristics of Initial Prescription Episodes and Likelihood of Long-Term Opioid Use — United States, 2006–2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017;66:265–269.
13. American College of Physicians. Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline. Ann Intern Med. 2017 Apr 4;166(7):514-530.
14. JOSPT. Neck Pain: Revision 2017 Clinical Practice Guidelines Linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health From the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017;47(7): A1-A83.

 

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Laser Forum – Part 2: Understanding The Impact of Power on Photobiomodulation (PBM) https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/04/laser-forum-part-2-understanding-the-impact-of-power-on-photobiomodulation-pbm/ https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/04/laser-forum-part-2-understanding-the-impact-of-power-on-photobiomodulation-pbm/#comments Mon, 16 Apr 2018 15:12:30 +0000 admin https://www.litecure.com/medical/?p=7851 Contributed by Mark Callanen, PT, DPT, OCS

In Part 1 of this laser forum, we discussed the basic terms related to the physics of laser therapy. Here we will cover the significant role irradiance (power density) and dosage (energy density) plays in 3 concepts pertinent to photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy.

1. Higher irradiance allows more photons to be applied at depth for a given wavelength. Please refer to the image below for a visual representation of this concept.

PBM Dosing Video_LightForce_Screenshot 8

This is important with regard to PBM as it is a threshold-phenomena. If sufficient light does not reach the injured target tissue, there will be no notable therapeutic change1. Higher powered lasers can help with this problem by providing higher photonic density at the skin which helps transfer proportionate levels of light to deeper tissues. This concept can be referred to as “therapeutic depth”. It is worth noting that this is a complicated topic that goes well beyond the scope of this article and that there are several variables that impact optimal tissue dosing.

2. When treating with a laser, it can be difficult to maintain therapeutic dosing levels when treating over large surface areas. This is because as the treatment area grows, so does the denominator of the energy density equation (J/cm2) which can dilute the dose of energy being applied if higher joule levels are not applied proportionately. Having more laser power to utilize makes this adjustment easier for the clinician. Note: (J = W x s).

The graphic below helps clarify how adding power impacts treatment time for a given energy density  and a given area.

PBM Dosing Video_LightForce_Dosing Comparison

In summary, adding power to the energy equation can significantly reduce the time needed to apply a therapeutic PBM dose of light.

3. The final important clinical factor that higher irradiance impacts is with regard to pain relief. More specifically, analgesia that can be created at peripheral sensory nerves when higher irradiances are applied to C and A-delta sensory nerves. It has been shown that when > 270 mW/cm2 is applied to these nerves, neuroplastic changes take place within 2-3 minutes at the peripheral nerve that slows the conduction rate of the pain signal3. This physical change to the nerve quickly reduces pain4.

Additionally, it has been shown that an inhibition of nociceptive action potentials takes place when higher power densities are applied to nerve tissue. Specifically, a 30% neural blockade has been shown to start 10-20 min after treatment, which further reduces pain perception4.

There are other longer lasting benefits that PBM provides with regard to reducing inflammation around damaged tissue, but this is a mechanism of healing that is not unique to treatment with higher irradiances1,2,4.

One final note with regard to safety, treating with higher power density does increase the risk of thermal effects on surface tissue as more heat is produced. Using ideal wavelengths that minimize photonic absorption at the skin and utilizing appropriate treatment heads that help manage surface heat is an important component to consider when treating with Class 4 lasers.

LightForce Therapy Lasers influence® Technology helps to easily manage these factors through a combination of patented software and hardware features. The patented large massage ball and large cone applicators play an integral role in delivering high powered treatments that are safe and comfortable to the patient.

If after reading this you still have questions about the effectiveness of higher powered lasers, please watch this informative animation, or contact us directly at info@lightforcelasers.com.

References
1. Huang, Y. Biphasic Dose Response in Low Level Light Therapy. Dose Response. 2009; 7(4): 358–383.
2. Bjordal JM, Couppe C, Chow RT, Tuner J, Ljunggren EA. A systematic review of low level laser therapy with location-specific doses for pain from chronic joint disorders. Aust J Physiother. 2003;49:107–16.
3. Holanda, V.M. et al. (2017) The Mechanistic Basis for Photobiomodulation Therapy of Neuropathic Pain by Near Infrared Laser Light. Lasers Surg Med. 2017 Jul;49(5):516-524
4. Cotler, H et al. The Use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) For Musculoskeletal Pain. MOJ Orthop Rheumatol. 2015 ; 2(5).
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Laser Forum – Part 1: Understanding Terms That Describe Photobiomodulation (PBM) https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/03/understanding-terms-that-describe-photobiomodulation-pbm/ https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/03/understanding-terms-that-describe-photobiomodulation-pbm/#comments Tue, 06 Mar 2018 22:09:02 +0000 admin https://www.litecure.com/medical/?p=7726 Contributed by Mark Callanen, PT, DPT, OCS

There is often confusion in the medical field when clinicians research the topic of laser. At the center of the confusion is power and its relationship to lasers’ effect on tissue, which is referred to as photobiomodulation (PBM)1.

To understand the role of power, there needs to be an understanding of its relationship to laser dosing, penetration, and how higher power lasers impact tissue(s). This two-part blog is intended to clarify some of the key terms related to the physics of laser therapy and expound on the clinical implications of treating with higher power density. But first, let’s look at a few key terms:

Photons: When any form of light is introduced to tissue, small “packets” of light called photons are emitted from the light source. At any specific wavelength of light, every photon contains exactly the same amount of energy. Think of a photon as the building block of light.

Energy: The total energy applied during treatment is the addition of all the individual photons that are emitted over a predefined period. The International System of Radiometric Units uses the joule (J) as the unit of energy to measure this property. Joules are the product of power and time.

Power is measured in watts or milliwatts and plays a key role in the total energy that is applied to tissue. Total energy (joules) by definition is the product of power (watts) and time (seconds). (J = W x s).

Therefore, increasing the power of a light source will deliver more joules of energy per unit time to a target. This plays a significant role in delivering photons to deeper tissues. A simple way to envision its importance is to think about how much light a 10 W bulb produces in a dark room vs a 100 W bulb. The more wattage the bulb emits, the more light will be present in the room. This analogy is similar to the wattage of a laser that is applied to the skin – the higher the wattage, the more “light” that is delivered into the tissue (at a given wavelength).

Understanding Terms That Describe Photobiomodulation Blog Post Image

Now that you have more clarity on power and energy, the last important characteristic to understand is the concept of density with regard to these two terms. Density brings into account the area that is treated, and will be noted in cm2.

Power Density (W/cm2): This term describes the intensity of the light, or its “brilliance” and is referred to as irradiance in the literature. Irradiance impacts the number of photons that will be applied at depth for a given wavelength and is directly related to the heat that will be produced at the surface when a light source is applied.

Energy Density (J/cm2): Commonly referred to as fluence, it is synonymous with dosage when defining PBM treatment parameters. It defines the total amount of energy that is applied per unit area and can be influenced by increasing the time of the treatment and/or the power that is being applied from the light source. (J= W x s).

To summarize, these terms all play a role in understanding the basic physical properties of light and how it impacts PBM. With this knowledge in place, Part 2 will discuss the benefits of higher power laser therapy as it relates to 3 key treatment attributes. Stay tuned!

 

References:
1. Anders JJ, Lanzafame RJ, Arany PR. Low-level light/laser therapy versus photobiomodulation therapy. Photomed Laser Surg 2015;33:183–184
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Live Webinar: Turning Better Outcomes into Greater Incomes https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/01/live-webinar-turning-better-outcomes-into-greater-incomes/ https://www.litecure.com/medical/2018/01/live-webinar-turning-better-outcomes-into-greater-incomes/#comments Fri, 12 Jan 2018 14:04:00 +0000 admin https://www.litecure.com/medical/?p=7690 Turning Better Outcomes into Greater Incomes
Maximizing ROI with a Deep Tissue Therapy Laser

Are you getting the greatest benefit out of your deep tissue therapy laser? You may already be seeing improvements in patient outcomes, but have you been able to successfully translate that into better incomes for your practice?

In this webinar, Mark Callanen, PT, DPT, OCS, will discuss strategies for maximizing the ROI of deep tissue laser therapy and provide actionable steps that can be taken by any type of practice to increase the revenue from this service.

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- Why do cash programs fail?
- The importance of the initial contact with the patient
- The role of practitioner’s personal beliefs
- Keys to developing value propositions with your patients (“Time is Money”)
- How to respond to “does my insurance cover this?”
- A discussion of pricing strategies that can help improve cash transactions

Register Here

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