Sponsored by Body Balance System.
For many chiropractic professionals, spinal manipulation isn’t the only modality provided. Chiropractic Economics’ 2021 survey found that more than half also offer electrotherapy, exercise programs, nutrition and rehab to patients. Approximately 27.4% of DCs further stated that laser therapy was on their list of services.
Low-level laser therapy, also known as red light therapy, is a non-invasive treatment modality that involves using lower-level wavelengths to better reach and heal damaged tissue. If this modality isn’t currently one of your service offerings, here are five common health conditions that science has found that it can help treat.
Back pain
One of the top reasons people seek chiropractic care is back pain. Depending on its severity, patients can experience effects ranging from mild discomfort to complete debilitation. While spinal manipulation helps correct musculoskeletal issues contributing to back pain, low-level laser therapy can also provide relief.
Evidence of this was provided in a study involving 60 individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Low-level laser therapy was found to be effective at improving pain, range of motion, and patient quality of life. Results were published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine in October 2020.
Chronic joint disorders
Almost one in four adult Americans have some type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form and causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints—particularly the joints in the knees, hips, feet, hands, neck, and lower back.
A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 trials indicates that, when compared to a placebo, low-level laser therapy was more effective at reducing pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Additionally, this reduction in pain existed not only at the end of therapy but also up to 12 weeks post-treatment. Patients’ disability was improved after low-level laser therapy as well.
Plantar fasciitis
When the fascia that connects the heel to the toe becomes inflamed, plantar fasciitis is often the result. This condition is rather common, affecting roughly one in 10 people. Foot orthotics, ice, massage, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs are the typical protocol. Yet, research suggests that low-level laser therapy may also help.
A 2019 review published in the journal Medicine analyzed six randomized controlled trials involving low-level laser therapy for plantar fasciitis. It found that this modality improved pain scores more than what was experienced by the control, and these lower scores remained for up to three months after treatment ended.
Rotator cuff issues
Over two million people in the U.S. will have rotator cuff problems each year. This can make it both difficult and painful to engage in everyday activities such as lifting their arms to wash or pulling an item off the top shelf of the pantry. This is in addition to the pain and discomfort felt when performing hobbies they might enjoy, whether playing golf or taking part in a company softball game.
A 2021 randomized controlled trial involving 120 patients with subacromial impingement syndrome noted that when exercise was combined with low-level laser therapy, patients experienced a greater reduction in pain and improved shoulder function. Their medication intake was also reduced not just during the treatment protocol but also for one month post-treatment.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia affects around four million adult Americans and creates musculoskeletal pain body-wide. People with this condition often report difficulty sleeping, high levels of fatigue, and mood issues. Medications such as pain relievers and antidepressants can be prescribed to offer some relief. For patients wanting to avoid or limit the use of medicines, low-level laser therapy is another option.
A 2019 meta-analysis published in Pain Physician looked at nine trials involving a total of 325 fibromyalgia patients. Patients receiving low-level laser therapy had more significant improvements in pain severity, the number of tender points, fatigue, and stiffness than subjects receiving sham laser treatments. They also reported greater improvements in their feelings of depression and anxiety.
Benefits of implementing red light therapy into your chiropractic practice
Offering low-level or red light laser therapy enables practitioners to better help patients with these five common health conditions. But there are other benefits as well.
- More patient referrals. The more tools you have at your disposal, the greater your ability to provide positive patient outcomes. This establishes you as a healthcare provider who gets results, drawing more patients into your practice through referrals and recommendations coming from your current patient base.
- Generate “hands-off” revenue. Spinal manipulation is obviously a hands-on technique. By offering red light laser therapy, practitioners can provide care using a hands-off approach. This adds another revenue stream that doesn’t increase the wear and tear on your body but still allows for effective patient treatment.
- Minimal office space required. If you have minimal space available in your practice, you can still incorporate red light therapy devices. For instance, Body Balance Systems offers the OvationEXPRESS, which takes up about the same amount of space as a human body.
Body Balance Systems provides practitioners with a variety of red light therapy devices, enabling you to select the one most suitable for your office and offering another treatment modality for patients with these all-too-common health conditions.
About Body Balance System
Body Balance System designs, engineers and manufactures red-light therapy devices for professional and home use. We have been awarded and recognized as a leader in red-light therapy innovation. The OvationULT Red Light Therapy Bed includes vibrational massage, eliminating the need for post-vibration, and the new OvationBooth serves as a space-saving solution for patient treatment. Learn more at Bodybalancesystem.com or call (877) 296-2228.