Can Laser Therapy Replace Your Soft Tissue Techniques?
IN BRIEF
PHOTO THERAPY
Dr. Ryan Novak
The average life expectancy of a chiropractor in the United States is approximately 74 years old, which is below the national average. The average career length of a massage therapist is only five to eight years. Even though intensive manual therapy techniques significantly benefit our patients, practitioners clearly suffer from constantly applying them. Maybe we should investigate new ways to solve soft tissue issues.
An article was published in 2022 in ACTA Scientific Orthopaedics titled, “Which is a More Efficacy Method between Manual Therapy, Traction, or Laser in Low Back Pain without Neurological Deficiency? — A Randomized Controlled Trial.” The results concluded that all methods were comparable in terms of their efficacy in the treatment of low back pain. The laser application in this research study was implemented in a very precise manner, so keep in mind that laser therapy is also very technique driven.1
Another comparison study was reported in 2021 in Biomedical Journal titled, “Comparison of the Effects Between Lasers Applied to Myofascial Trigger Points and to Classical Acupoints for Patients with Cervical Myofascial Pain Syndrome.” The results concluded that the laser-treated group not only showed immediate pain relief but also improved cervical range of motion.2
“...only about 25% of the chiropractic profession utilizes laser therapy.”
With a simple search, you can find numerous articles on the efficacy of laser therapy, but can it fully replace our manual soft tissue techniques and manual adjusting? From my clinical experience of using laser therapy for over a decade, correctly implemented laser therapy using correctly modulated lasers will extremely limit time spent on manual soft tissue techniques and adjusting. Once you get past the initial learning curve and begin to fully utilize laser therapy in your practice, you will find that most of your patients will get better much faster, and they will hold their adjustments and alignment much longer.
In a previous article this year, I mentioned that only about 25% of the chiropractic profession utilizes laser therapy. I challenge you again to become the laser expert in your community and take your practice to a new level. You could also possibly extend the longevity of your life and career.
Dr. Ryan Novak is the chief scientific officer (CSO) for a photobiomodulation therapy device manufacturing firm, which has developed FDA compliant devices, such as the PainBuster® Super Pulsed Laser. Call 877-7997477, orvisitPainBusterPro.com
References
1. Godek P, Rucinski W. Which is a more efficacy method between manual therapy, traction, or laser in low back pain without neurological deficiency? A randomized controlled trial. ACTA Scientific Orthopaedics. 2022 5(6): 66-74. doi: 10.31080/ asor.2022.05.0487
2. Chang WH, Tu LW, Pei YC, Chen CK, Wang SH, Wong AM. Comparison of the effects between lasers applied to myofascial trigger points and to classical acupoints for patients with cervical myofascial pain syndrome. BiomedJ. 2021 Dec;44(6):739747. doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2020.05.020. Epub 2020 Jun 13. PMID: 35166212; PMCID: PMC8847842.
