Lesson 5: Treatment Techniques Matter

A Simple Explanation

Imagine you're painting a room - you have two different approaches. You could either hold the paint brush in one spot until it's completely saturated, or you could paint in a grid pattern, moving back and forth to cover the whole wall evenly. This is exactly what happens with laser therapy delivery methods.

Static (Point) Delivery - The "Spot Treatment" Method

What it is: The laser handpiece is held in one specific spot for the entire treatment time.

How it works:

• The therapist places the laser probe on your skin and keeps it there without moving

• All the laser energy gets delivered to that exact same small area

• It's like focusing all your attention on painting one tiny square of wall really thoroughly

When it's used:

• For treating very specific trigger points or small injuries

• When using pulsed (blinking) laser modes

• For pinpoint accuracy on a particular problem area

Grid Pattern (Scanning) Delivery - The "Painting" Method

What it is: The laser handpiece moves continuously in a back-and-forth, up-and-down pattern like painting a grid on your skin.

How it works:

• The therapist moves the laser probe steadily across the treatment area

• The laser "paints" energy across a much larger surface area

• It's like painting an entire wall section with smooth, even strokes

The movement pattern:

• Back and forth motions (horizontal sweeps)

• Up and down motions (vertical sweeps)

• Covers the entire treatment area evenly

Using Higher Power with Grid Patterns - The Key Advantage

Here's where it gets interesting. When doctors use higher power lasers (called Class IV or high-intensity lasers), they almost always use the grid/scanning method instead of holding it still. Here's why:

Safety Benefits

Higher power + movement = safer treatment:

• Moving the laser prevents any one spot from getting too hot

• Reduces risk of burning or thermal damage

• Distributes the intense energy safely across a larger area

Think of it like this: If you hold a magnifying glass in one spot in the sun, it can start a fire. But if you keep moving it around, it just warms the area gently.

Faster Treatment Times

Higher power means shorter sessions:

• More energy delivered per second means less time needed overall

• A treatment that might take 20 minutes with low power can be done in 2-5 minutes with high power

• Patients spend less time in the clinic

Better Penetration to Deep Tissues

Higher power reaches deeper:

• More photons can penetrate through skin, fat, and muscle to reach deeper problem areas

• Surface tissues absorb some energy, but enough power remains to treat deep injuries

• Like using a brighter flashlight to see through fog

Enhanced Pain Relief Effects

Higher intensity creates special nerve effects:

• Powers above 270 mW/cm² can actually change how pain nerves work

• Creates immediate pain relief by temporarily slowing down pain signals

• This "neural blockade" effect happens within 10-20 minutes and can last for hours