An introduction to LightForce® Therapy Lasers

Posted on | by Matthew Blackwell

Laser therapy is a clinically proven effective adjacent treatment modality in the physical therapy practice intended for the relief of painful muscles and joints associated with acute and chronic tissue injuries1. It is also indicated for helping relieve pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis through its ability to increase localized blood flow.2

Although Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) devices have been used in physical therapy treatments for decades3, their relative low power means treatment times are excessive and impractical when treating larger areas and/or deeper tissues.

However, High Power Laser (HPL) therapy devices are capable of delivering sufficient power (at a level of Watts compared to the mW output of LLLT devices) to achieve therapeutic dosage without prolonging the application time. This allows treatment of a wider range of indications including deep and large structures within reasonable times, making HPL both an effective and practical physical therapy modality.

LightForce Deep Tissue Therapy Lasers

In the field of therapeutic laser technology, LiteCure® has long been one of the market’s leading manufacturers, with its LightForce® range of products used to deliver an estimated 1.2 million treatments per month in 29 countries around the world. Founded in 2006, the company has recently been acquired by DJO®, a leading global provider of medical technologies. By adding LiteCure to its portfolio, DJO plans to further increase the global presence of LightForce products and make their therapeutic value available to even more clinicians and patients.

All three devices share a set of core features which work together to provide users with safe, user-friendly, and controllable functionality, so that no matter which model they choose they can be assured of a positive and effective user experience.

LightForce Therapy Lasers – three different devices to meet your needs

Customers looking to introduce high power laser therapy into their practice have three different LightForce devices to choose from, each with its own maximum level of power, ranging from 15W to 40W.

All three devices share a set of core features which work together to provide users with safe, user-friendly, and controllable functionality, so that no matter which model they choose they can be assured of a positive and effective user experience.

LightForce® XLi Therapy Laser – 40W

Increased power, for the busiest practices treating the most challenging cases.

Capable of delivering up to 40W of power, the LightForce® XLi is the most powerful device in the range. Its increased power reduces the time needed to apply a therapeutic dose of light energy, and with real-time dosing feedback and the XL Treatment Cone, deeper structures can be treated faster over larger areas, all of which helps clinicians to increase the efficiency of their practice.

LightForce® XPi Therapy Laser – 25W

As above, but with a maximum of 25W of power.

LightForce® FXi Therapy Laser – 15W

A portable unit for practices treating in multiple locations in or out of the office.

At 3.2 kg, the LightForce® FXi is easy to transport, with a rechargeable battery that lasts for up to half a day on a single charge, making it the ideal choice when you need to bring the treatment to the patient. And despite its more compact size and lighter weight, with up to 15W of power it still has the energy to deliver effective laser treatments in short amounts of time.

LightForce devices benefit from the following features:

Empower IQ

LightForce’s Empower IQ delivery system gives the user real-time feedback on treatment speed to help them treat effectively. Each device’s hand-held laser applicator comes equipped with a sensor that tracks its speed during treatment and feeds back to the user via a colour-coded light. As soon as they begin treating too slowly the light changes from green to red to indicate they need to speed up; go too fast and it will turn yellow to tell them to slow down.

*Not included with LightForce FXi

Built-in protocols

LightForce products feature in-depth protocol settings that detect which head is in use and recommend the appropriate power level. This helps guide the user in matching applicator heads to power output levels, giving them extra confidence during treatments and reducing learning time.

influence® technology

influence® technology helps guide LightForce users in using the appropriate treatment settings for their patients. Simply enter the patient’s parameters based on condition, skin type, body type, and acuity, and the device will select the correct dose to be administered. These settings can then be saved in preparation for future sessions and adjusted as necessary.

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References

  1. Simunovic Z. (1996). Low level laser therapy with trigger points technique: a clinical study on 243 patients. Journal of clinical laser medicine & surgery, 14(4): 163–167.
  2. Kheshie, A. R., Alayat, M. S., & Ali, M. M. (2014). High-intensity versus low-level laser therapy in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Lasers in medical science, 29(4): 1371–1376.
  3. Kitchen, S. S. & Partridge, C. J. (1991). A Review of Low Level Laser Therapy: Part I: Background, Physiological Effects and Hazards. Physiotherapy 77(3): 161-168.