The most common laser mistakes – #1
The number one mistake I see most often is…aiming.
It’s not too surprising given that most manufacturers instruct users to place the laser perpendicular to the skin, which is absolutely true if you’re not in contact with tissue. BUT, once you have contact with tissue, aiming makes all the difference.
Did you know if you shine most lasers on a special surface (see below) you can see the beam that comes out of them?
Why aiming matters
Once the laser energy enters the tissue, there is refraction or scatter, meaning that the surface size of the treatment area expands, yet the tissue directly under the laser gets significantly more energy than the tissue around it. If you are treating a specific area, such as an OCD lesion or the cranial cruciate ligament, changing the probe’s position and the aim will significantly change how much energy gets to the target tissue.
Treating the cruciate ligaments
You can target the laser energy to have a direct effect on the cranial cruciate ligament. One way is to treat from the back of the stifle, through the popliteal fossa, aiming your beam and fanning the line of the CCL.
Treating the menisci
Feel the joint line and aim your light energy along this line to treat directly into the menisci on the cranial, caudal, and at least medial surfaces. Most meniscal tears are in the medial meniscus. If there is a lateral tear, or if you are not sure if there is a tear, treat the lateral surface as well. By aiming directly on the joint line, parallel to the meniscus line, significantly more energy will be absorbed by the menisci than if there is an angle to the probe and the energy has to pass through bone.
Are you feeling like there is more to using a laser machine than turning it on and pointing at the tissue you want to treat?
There absolutely is!! We want to help you have optimal outcomes with all of your patients, and that comes with a better understanding of what is going on in the tissue and how the laser can affect it. Improving your outcomes leads to happier clients and believe it or not, improved job satisfaction. We have had hundreds of veterinarians take the Optimum Laser Therapy course and rave about how much it has helped them and their patients.
What Others have Said
“Now our team feels very confident, and they are seeing results from the treatments. Thank you Dr. McCauley for offering this course, it has made a huge difference in our use and success of laser therapy.” — Angel Mitchell, DVM, CVA
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