OPTIMISING LASER THERAPY DOSING
The key to achieving reproducible outcomes with laser therapy for arthritis patients is dosing. In this section, we’ll review key dosing parameters to treat chronic pain associated with arthritis.
FIRST, HERE ARE A FEW TERMS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN WE DISCUSS DOSING:
Joule (J) A Joule (J) is the international system unit of energy
Therefore: A 10W laser will deliver 10 J/s Over a period of one minute: 10 J/s x 60 s/Minute = 600 J/Minute Irradiance Irradiance = Watts per unit area (W/cm 2 ) This is the brightness or “how much light energy (J) is passing through a given area (cm 2 ) per seconds (s).
Power Power = Energy/ Time
Watt (W) 1 Watt (W) = 1 Joule/ Second
EXPRESSING DOSAGE FOR PHOTOBIOMODULATION Laser therapy dosage is described in the literature in terms of the amount of total energy that is applied to a given area measured in cm 2 .
Dosage Dosage = Energy/ Area Joules (J)/cm 2
For medical records, record total joules administered to a specific anatomical area for example, 600 total J administered to the right ear.
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