Every Chiropractor Should be Utilizing Laser Therapy

Every Chiropractor Should be Utilizing Laser Therapy for Healing Sports Injuries and Optimizing Athletic Performance

Chiropractors and professional sports teams know chiropractic care can optimize an athlete’s potential, performance, competitiveness, and overall health by correcting biomechanical imbalances and neuromuscular dysfunction. According to the Professional Football Chiropractic Society, all 32 NFL teams have chiropractors on staff, along with most other USA professional sports teams and USA Olympic teams. Most, if not all, of these professional sports teams utilize laser therapy.

A tendon injury is one of the most common sports injuries. Correctly implemented and modulated laser therapy is a highly effective, non-invasive, stand-alone treatment for tendon injuries.

In an article published in 2013 in the Journal for Laser Surgery, Phototherapy, and Photobioactivation entitled “Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for Sports Injuries,” there was a 100% effectiveness rate for the treatment of jumper’s knee, lateral and medial epicondylitis of the humerus, Achilles tendinitis, adductor muscle injuries, and rotator cuff injuries in cases where a physician administered the laser treatment. Only two to a maximum of ten treatments were administered. 

In a recent review article published in 2022 in Frontiers in Physiology entitled, “The Functions and Mechanisms of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in Tendon Repair,” the authors concluded that many studies have not only shown the significant effect LLLT has on the reduction of pain in a tendon injury, but also, the significant effect on tendon repair.

In another recent article published in 2020 in the Journal of Advanced Pharmacy Education & Research entitled, “905nm Laser Diode and Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of the Second-degree Hamstring Tear,” the authors concluded that the 30 participants that were enrolled in the two study groups both recovered equally. Participants in the laser group received laser treatments three times a week for two weeks with a dosage of only one Joule/cm2 per treatment point.

High-level athletes train hard all year. Muscle strength and recovery are critical factors for increasing and maintaining peak performance. Correctly implemented and modulated laser therapy is highly effective for pre-activity conditioning and post-activity recovery.

In a recent article published in 2021 in Sports Health entitled, “Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on Muscular Performance and Soreness Recovery in Athletes: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials,” the authors’ findings indicate that LLLT improves muscular performance and accelerates soreness recovery in athletes. They recommend LLLT use before and after competition to allow the athletes to regain their capacity faster without side effects.

If you are a chiropractor treating athletes or athletic injuries, there is overwhelming evidence to implement laser therapy into your in-office and at-home treatment plans. With laser therapy, you can optimize your patients’ athletic performance, accelerate their healing from common sports injuries, and possibly prevent some surgical interventions. 

Dr. Ryan Novak is the chief scientific officer (CSO) for a photobiomodulation therapy device manufacturing firm that has developed FDA-compliant devices, such as the PainBuster® Super Pulsed Laser.

Phone: 877.799.7477  Website: PainBusterPro.com