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Ineffective Laser Therapy?
 We are now seeing only the very beginning of Laser Therapy as medical technology. It was just few years ago when first lasers came to the US market. There is still very little understanding of Laser Therapy in medical community and there are no established guidelines or protocols. Most health care professionals who are interested in using lasers or even the ones who already use them face difficult dilemma regarding what laser to buy and how to use it.
Unfortunately, laser manufacturers are not very helpful in solving the problem. Many of them don’t even make reliable lasers and they make claims that have no scientific grounds. The result of it is confusion about the technology and bad name for Laser Therapy in general.
The most known for such an outrageous behavior is Erchonia Medical, Inc. Erchonia makes lasers of 5 and 7.5 mW with wavelength of 635 nm. This is exactly the laser used in laser pointers which can be purchased for $30 in many department stores. Erchonia is selling its lasers to poorly informed practitioners - mostly chiropractors for thousands of dollars, leaving their patients unsatisfied. Please refer to discussion forum at: http://chirotalk.proboards3.com/index.cgi?board=evidence&action=display&thread=2086&page=1
Quantum IV laser is another very low power laser of 4.8 mW - also completely useless.
Microlitght 830 - really is a micro laser - it has 3 diodes of 30 mW of power each, set in a cluster. The company claims it has total 90 mW (still low). Truth is that the diodes are not integrated in one beam, so it is still 30 mW 3 diodes laser. This laser is not powerful enough, even to treat carpal tunnel syndrome and is completely ineffective for musculo-skeletal pain. It can be used for treatment of peripheral neuropathy and some skin disorders.
Chattanooga laser makes 100 mW diode which is better the 30 mW, still to low to have any significant therapeutic effects on deeper musculoskeletal tissues. Chattanooga also make laser composed of a cluster of 33 diodes of 1440 mW total power - still not enough, because the diodes light is not integrated in one beam.
In general, the more powerful is the laser, the better is the therapeutic effect and more indications for treatment. Once the average output power approaches 1000 mW, the laser should be pulsed to avoid tissue heating. Ideal lasers are high power super pulse lasers with a peak output power of more than 40 W (40,000 mW). They deliver very brief (100 - 200 ns) powerful burst of laser light followed by a pause. This assures superb tissue penetration and low average power (less than 1000 mW) assuring no thermal effect.
Currently the best and the most powerful super pulse lasers on the market have output peak power of 250 W with gentle average power below 1000 mw.
First super pulse lasers won FDA approval 4 years ago. When used properly they are by far more effective than regular continues wave lasers in treatment of many chronic and acute pain conditions such as:
- back and neck pain
- fibromyalgia
- arthritis
- headaches
- nueropathies and nerve injuries
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- plantar fasciitis
- post-operative recovery
Also "super pulse" Laser Therapy research is very promising in treatment of degenerative diseases of central nervous system, heart disease, organ transplants, and many other conditions including regenerative and anti-aging medicine. (please refer to "Scientific Work" section in "Professional Corner").
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