Dear Doctor, BEWARE of more power is better!
It seems that a
couple of manufacturers producing these devices that are touting
their benefits and the fact {which is obviously just a marketing
spin designed to sell their products} that their products will
make all Class II and III laser devices obsolete.
I have been
getting a lot of questions lately about these “High powered
Lasers” and why More power is better. Here is a response to
“Low Level Laser or Cold Laser controversy. Laser Physicists and
the FDA consider low level lasers as devices that put out less
than One watt of energy. For safety reasons, most low level
lasers operate at 500mW {1/2 a watt} or less. Two of the new
Class IV laser devices operates at 7.5 watts {7500 mW} and
another at 40,000 mW {40 watts}.
Are these
devices Low Level Lasers, Soft Lasers or Cold Lasers? I
would classify them As “Hot Lasers” and something that can
potentially be dangerous to your cliental. Two of these
companies warn you not to treat with clothing on because it can
burn you!
The definition
of a Low Level or Cold Laser and the actual energy output and
received
is extremely important due to the Arndt-Schultz Law of Biology
{also according to Boyd’s book Of Pathology, pg 97}
Bio-stimulatory effects of laser are governed by the
Arndt-Schultz Law of Biology which states that weak {laser}
stimuli excite physiological activity; strong {laser} stimuli
retard it.
The implication
of this for wound healing is that, as treatment of a wound is
continuing and there appears to be a slowing down of healing, a
reduction of the laser dosage may be needed. The optimal energy
density for biostimulation, based on current clinical
experience, is 4J/cm2.
By virtue of the
Arndt-Schultz Law using to much laser energy may actually result
in lessening or reducing the results you desire. More Power
is Not Better! The mentality of laser researchers,
manufacturers and salespeople is; if laser energy won’t go where
it is needed, Increase the power. This does not work because
the body sets up impedance and polarizes against Increased
energy, which prevents it from entering the body and absorbing
the energy from the laser.
