How to overcome laser therapy implementation challenges

By integrating laser therapy into your practice, you can maintain a competitive edge, improve patient outcomes, attract patients who haven’t responded to traditional care and increase practice efficiency and profitability.

Before you consider adding laser therapy to your practice, it is important to consider which conditions respond positively to laser therapy, as these will enhance your practice demographics and bottom line. Neuromuscular conditions, such as joint trauma and degenerative pathologies, respond well to laser stimulation. Pain reduction from inflammation, as well as the stimulation of cartilage and synovial fluid production, are key benefits. In my opinion, laser therapy is the best and safest treatment currently available for nerve pathologies. An added benefit is the ability to manage conditions for which there are limited or no effective traditional medical treatments. These include peripheral neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, atypical facial pain and trigeminal neuralgia.

What makes laser therapy different?

What separates laser therapy from all other forms of treatment is that it is an “actinotherapy,” which means it results in a chemical and metabolic change in living tissue. Simply stated, laser therapy stimulates healing, making it an excellent adjunct to any clinical practice. This process is called “photobiomodulation.” Put simply, monochromatic light can penetrate tissue and directly target the pathological site. Chromophores, located within the mitochondria, are activated; boosting cellular metabolism, increasing protein synthesis and ultimately enhancing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. This leads to pain and inflammation reduction, while simultaneously promoting healing and regeneration.^,

Laser energy is absorbed by water, melanin and hemoglobin. The wavelengths least affected and most capable of deep tissue penetration are 810 nm and 1,064 nm. These are optimal for effective penetration and stimulation of deep-seated pathologies.

Therefore, a hot thermal laser beam is less effective for tissue penetration. This requires further explanation. When a warm or hot beam causes vasodilation, the increased blood flow delivers more water and hemoglobin to the treatment site. These absorb a greater portion of the laser energy, meaning less energy reaches the actual pathology. This is not the case with pulsed laser beams, which deliver high peak power and short, rapid pulse widths.^,

Which laser should you choose?

Here are some recommendations if you are trying to decide between a single diode or multi-diode system of different wavelengths. Multi-wavelength systems usually consist of several smaller diodes of different wavelengths. These do not combine to create a more powerful laser. For example, a triple-wavelength system of different wavelengths with three 20W diodes does not match the power or penetration of a single wavelength 60W diode laser. In fact, you’re essentially purchasing the performance of three separate 20W lasers, not a single wavelength 60W device.^1,,,, To summarize, consider the following features when choosing a laser:

• Optimal wavelength least affected by water and hemoglobin
• Single diode for maximum power and depth
• Competitive pricing
• Long-term manufacturer’s warranty

The impact of artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) can assist you and your chiropractic assistants (CAs) both by recommending an initial dosage and fine-tuning power, pulse width and pulse frequency during each visit, based on the patient’s pain level and response to previous treatments. Clinical efficacy is further enhanced when AI software is used to monitor and adjust treatment, ensuring better outcomes.

Depending on your practice volume and patient flow, your CA, supervised by a licensed healthcare professional, can easily and safely operate the laser. This reduces the time you need to spend on daily treatment decisions. AI technology allows you the freedom to continue with the rigors of your insurance-based practice, while your CAs deliver world-class treatment for patients who have failed to respond to traditional insurance-based care. Conditions that have previously been refractive to traditional insurance-based therapies (drugs, physical therapy, surgery) include spinal stenosis, disc herniations with leg pain, peripheral neuropathy and other nerve pathologies, such as shingles, post-herpetic neuralgia, carpal tunnel syndrome and bone-on-bone arthritis, just to name a few.

Marketing matters

Effective marketing is essential for attracting patients seeking alternatives to conventional medical care. Patients who have failed surgery or pain management are actively seeking long-term treatment options that offer safe and reliable results. These patients are often willing to pay for a treatment that is safe, painless and offers lasting improvement where other therapies have failed.

Final thoughts

If you are considering alternative treatment options to attract patients who have not responded to traditional care, laser therapy offers a powerful, science-backed solution. Its ability to stimulate healing at the cellular level, reduce pain and inflammation and treat complex nerve pathologies makes it a valuable addition to any practice. With the support of AI-driven protocols and effective marketing, laser therapy not only enhances clinical outcomes but also boosts practice efficiency and profitability.

Joseph Costello, DC, DABCO, is a board-certified chiropractic orthopedist and currently serves as the chief medical officer of Diowave Laser Systems. He is the inventor of AI-powered Stealth Micro-Pulsed Laser Therapy. Costello graduated from Pennsylvania College of Chiropractic, Sherman College of Chiropractic and National College of Chiropractic. For more information, visit diowavelaser.com.

References

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