Light therapy parameters

when would you use light therapy?

Soft tissue or bone healing

Arthritis

Lymphedema

Neurological conditions (neuropathy)

Pain management

contraindication or precaution: Direct irradiation of the eyes

contraindication

contraindication or precaution: Malignancy

contraindication

contraindication or precaution: Within 4 to 6 weeks of radiotherapy

contraindication

contraindication or precaution: Over hemorrhaging regions

contraindication

contraindication or precaution: Over the thyroid or other endocrine glands

contraindication

contraindication or precaution: Epiphyseal plates of children

contraindication

contraindication or precaution: Over pregnant uterus

contraindication

contraindication or precaution: Low back or abdomen during pregnancy

precaution

contraindication or precaution: Impaired sensation or mentation

precaution

contraindication or precaution: Photophobia or photosensitizing medication

precaution

contraindication or precaution: Abnormal sensitivity to light

precaution

what is the treatment dose range for soft tissue healing?

5-16 J/cm²

what is the treatment dose range for arthritis?

2-8 J/cm²

what is the treatment dose range for neuropathy?

10-12 J/cm²

what is the treatment dose range for trigger points?

3-20 J/cm²

what is the treatment dose range for acute soft tissue inflammation?

2-8 J/cm²

what is the treatment dose range for chronic soft tissue inflammation?

10-20 J/cm²

what is the treatment dose range for muscle spasm?

2-6 J/cm²

what is the treatment dose range for general soft tissue inflammation (bursitis, tendonitis, fasciitis, epicondylitis, etc.)?

2-10 J/cm²

what is the treatment dose range for frozen shoulder?

3-6 J/cm²

what is the treatment dose range for sciatica?

4-8 J/cm²

what is the treatment dose range for tendinitis?

2-10 J/cm²

When treating frozen shoulder, point the light to which treatment areas?

insertion sites & trigger points:

• supraspinatus

• infraspinatus

• teres major

• greater tubercle of humerus

When treating sciatica, point the light to which treatment areas?

lumbar spine & tender points in referred pain zone (4 points; 2 on each side of L-spine)

1 on the hamstrings & 3 points on the calf (2 on each gastroc head + 1 where the tendon is)

When treating achilles tendonitis, point the light to which treatment areas?

• insertion at calcaneus

• 1 underneath the gastroc heads

• 1 in between the gastroc heads + achilles tendon insertion