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VALERIE KROSSIN
The Laser Lady
EVIDENCE BASED PHOTOMEDICINE
Practice Guidelines recommending PBM Therapy
A number of nonsurgical treatments appeared to be more beneficial than usual care, sham, or alternative interventions but none of the active treatments were clearly superior to any other in the short or long term. Educational videos, mobilization, manual therapy, exercises, low-level laser therapy, and perhaps acupuncture appeared to have some benefit.
The Bone and Joint Decade Task Force
For patients with chronic low back pain, ACP recommends that physicians and patients initially select non-drug therapy with exercise, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction, tai chi, yoga, motor control exercise (MCE), progressive relaxation, electromyography biofeedback, low level laser therapy, operant therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or spinal manipulation. (Grade: strong recommendation)
The American College of Physicians
In August 2021, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has included laser therapy in its latest recommendations for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint. These AAOS recommendations have not been updated since 2013.
The direct wording of the AAOS guidelines regarding laser therapy reads: “Patients should expect to experience improvements in pain and function with the treatment. There have been no reports of serious side effects from laser treatment for pain control.”
This is a significant recognition for laser therapy that will get the attention of a number of M/DO, especially when combined with the growing need recommendations for alternatives to combat the opioid crisis.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
The Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has an ongoing effort to create evidence-based practice guidelines for orthopaedic physical therapy management of patients with musculoskeletal impairments described in the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). The purpose of these revised clinical practice guidelines is to review recent peer-reviewed literature and make recommendations related to nonarthritic heel pain.
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Orthopaedic Section Recommendation for Laser Therapy
The Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has an ongoing effort to create evidence-based practice guidelines for orthopedic physical therapy management of patients with musculoskeletal impairments described in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). The purpose of these revised clinical practice guidelines is to review recent peer-reviewed literature and make recommendations related to neck pain.
INTERVENTIONS: NECK PAIN WITH RADIATING PAIN - Acute: For patients with acute neck pain with radiating pain: Clinicians may provide mobilizing and stabilizing exercises, laser, and short-term use of a cervical collar.
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Orthopaedic Section Recommendation for Laser Therapy
Clinicians should consider the use of low-level laser therapy to decrease pain and stiffness in patients with Achilles tendinopathy.