written by: Judy Duck for Chiroeco.com
Lasers have made a remarkable contribution toward healthcare, allowing practitioners to treat a variety of conditions with the speed of light. As a non-invasive tool in the hands of a chiropractor, the laser is particularly effective for the efficient treatment of soft tissue injuries, sprains and strains, and a variety of other ailments. With a selection of lasers available on the market today, what features should you consider when looking at lasers for your practice?
A Tale of Two Lasers
Medical lasers have been moving through the power ranks over the years, each one offering more power and more treatment depth. The most widely used lasers by DCs today are the low-level laser, also known as a cold laser, and the newer Class IV laser. Both enhance metabolic activity at the cellular level, without generating tissue-damaging heat. Some of the benefits of laser treatment include:
- A soothing analgesic effect that relieves pain
- Improvement of nerve function and vascularity
- Reduction of muscle spasms
- Speeding of tissue repair
- Development of muscle tissue and collagen
- Reduction of inflammation, swelling and scar tissue formation
However, the cold laser and Class IV laser differ in their power and depth. The one that is right for your practice depends on what you need, and what each provides.
The Cold One
The cold laser has been around for years, and used for conditions such as acne and gum disease, and to zap away cold and canker sores. Cold lasers are also used in acupuncture and as a way to stop smoking.
As it enhances metabolic activity at the cellular level, cold laser therapy helps to speed healing without generating any heat. Its limited output, which penetrates roughly 1/5-inch, makes it optimal for wound healing and treatment of chronic or acute pain, soft tissue and repetitive strain injuries, as well as neurological and joint conditions. For you, this includes treating conditions of the skin and just below it, such as the areas around the knees, hands, feet and elbows, where exposed joints are present. It is also good for pain control in the neck and shoulder areas.
Cold laser therapy can significantly reduce healing times, and treatment times vary, taking as little as a few minutes to over an hour, depending on the condition. Multiple low-dose intervals may be necessary to achieve the desired healing. And because the cold laser can only reach shallow depths into the tissue, you may need something more powerful for treating conditions of the bone, discs, muscles and nerves.
In a Class By Itself
The Class IV laser, approved by the FDA in 2006, packs a punch while remaining, like its cold laser cousin, non-invasive. Used to treat the same conditions as the cold laser, the Class IV is capable of reaching depths of 6 to 9 inches, with a treatment beam of up to 3 inches.
Because the Class IV laser reaches deep into the tissues, it is ideal for treating sprains and strains, arthritis, calcified muscles and fibrotic adhesions, as well as intra-articular tissues inside of the joints. Its far-reaching capabilities also allow the Class IV to achieve results in less time than a cold laser. With treatment times of as little as 5 to 15 minutes, the Class IV laser allows many conditions to vastly improve within a few visits. Oftentimes, patients find immediate, soothing relief that improves with each session.
The Importance of Laser Training
Whether you choose to go the cold laser route or take a leap into Class IV, training is the key to ensure the safe use of lasers in your practice. While there are no certification or educational requirements to use a laser, it is recommended that you take the training seminars offered by laser manufacturers that teach you the ins and outs of this burgeoning technology.
Not only does laser training help you prepare to use the laser safely, it teaches you to use it to its best advantage, so that optimal healing is achieved for the patient.
How Does Laser Benefit Your Practice?
Even if you already have patients busting down your doors, it pays to be ahead of the technology game. By offering laser therapy, you put a powerful practice builder in your hands that not only helps patients heal, but builds trust. With trust comes the referral of friends and family in need of relief from painful conditions. And in today’s economic climate, that’s some benefit for any chiropractic practice.
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