Low-Intensity Laser Therapy in Clinical Practice (Part 1)

Abstract

Low-intensity laser radiation is widely used in experimental and clinical medicine. The effectiveness of laser therapy is determined by the level of professionalism of specialists. That is why knowledge of the theoretical foundations of laser therapy is mandatory for practicing physiotherapists. The distinctive features of laser radiation (monochromaticity, coherence, polarization, etc.) justify the need for strict compliance with the rules and safety regulations during laser therapy procedures. It is important to study the main physical parameters of low-intensity laser radiation, such as: wavelength, output power of devices, generation mode, as well as parameters of laser therapy dosing in the form of power flux density, energy density, radiation frequency, pulse power and duration of exposure. In addition, an important point is such a feature of laser radiation as the presence of optical effects (reflection, refraction, scattering and absorption), ignoring which can increase energy losses, which, in turn, reduces the therapeutic effect the effect of laser therapy. Toreduce energy losses, it is recommended to use special methodological approaches that are selected depending on the irradiation method. The characteristics of the therapeutic effect of laser therapy depend on the indicators of all these parameters. Therefore, onlywith the correct dosage, you can count on good tolerability of procedures and getting the necessary effect. All of the above allows specialists to use this knowledge in clinical practice, which provides a high therapeutic effect.