10 Reasons to Add Laser Therapy to Your Practice in 2021

Are you still looking for a reason to add laser therapy to your practice? Here is what you need to know about adding this advanced therapeutic technology to your treatment plans in 2021.

Many patients put off therapy and medical treatments during 2020, and in some cases, the lack of medical care slowed down their recovery from injuries and illnesses. This means practitioners may be treating more advanced, complicated conditions in patients who are in more pain than before. Many healthcare providers are switching to laser therapy to promote healing and reduce pain in their patients.

Once thought of as futuristic, laser therapy is essential for most medical practices in the upcoming year for a variety of reasons. Here are 10 reasons you should add laser therapy in the upcoming year:

1. Laser therapy is a drug-free approach to alleviating pain

Laser therapy is a non-pharmaceutical approach to alleviating pain. Out of concern for the side effects analgesics can cause, many patients prefer to avoid using painkillers whenever possible. This is particularly true for prescription opioid pain relievers, which had often been the first course of treatment for pain until the opioid epidemic swept the nation. Of all patients prescribed opioids, between 8 and 12 percent develop an opioid abuse disorder. Laser therapy helps alleviate acute and chronic pain without the use of dangerous pills.

2. Laser therapy is effective

This innovative treatment uses a high-powered therapeutic laser that delivers red and near-infrared light wavelengths deep into the affected tissue. Energy from these wavelengths stimulates cellular energy production by targeting the mitochondria of the body’s cells. This stimulation promotes circulation and increases the levels of inflammation-resolving mediators in ways that help repair damaged tissue and remove waste from the affected area. Clinicians use laser therapy to provide long-term pain relief for arthritis and tendonitis, promote the healing of wounds, and repair damage from acute muscle injury.

3. Laser therapy is highly customizable

Laser therapy is customizable, so you can treat large, curved areas of injured tissue as easily as you can treat small, flat areas. This allows you to treat a wide variety of conditions, from subacromial impingement syndrome in the shoulder to plantar fasciitis in the feet to arthritis affecting nearly every joint in between. It also treats the underlying cause of those conditions while it promotes healing, thereby helping a greater number of patients feel better faster.

4. Use fewer pieces of equipment

Because laser therapy is customizable to fit almost any patient need, you can treat a wider variety of conditions with fewer pieces of equipment. This helps your practice save money and make better use of space inside your practice.

5. Safer practice

Older equipment is also more prone to malfunctioning, which increases risk to your patients and to your staff. Malfunctioning equipment can overheat, for example. Old equipment can also become difficult to control, which can make treatment less effective. Laser therapy uses new, state-of-the-art equipment that is more reliable, and therefore safer. Because it uses light energy, laser therapy presents fewer side effects than surgery or prescription pain relievers too, so it is safer for your patients.

6. Upgrading saves money

Outdated equipment may not perform as well as state-of-the-art technology. Furthermore, old machinery can break down more frequently, which means your practice ends up losing money in repairs and in lost treatment time. Upgrading the equipment in your practice can improve quality of care, reduce maintenance, and boost efficiency to save you money.

7. Improved aesthetic

Updated equipment also has a sleeker design that will fit in better with the overall aesthetic trends in 2021. Patients are likely to notice your new equipment, and feel more confident that your practice delivers high quality care.

8. Laser therapy is a highly affordable way to generate revenue

With a cash based service, laser therapy devices pay for themselves quickly and generate revenue for your practice. This can also allow you to buy higher-end devices later in the year, as demand for services grows.

9. Quick payments

Charging for laser therapy services is easy too, so you can see a quick return on your investment. Some insurance providers cover the cost of laser therapy, for example, so you can offer to bill the providers. In cases where insurance providers do not provide coverage, you can offer a cash-based program, separate from your other services. This saves your office from the time-consuming tasks of additional billing, and you will also benefit from immediate payment rather than waiting for reimbursement from insurance companies.

10. Improves outcomes of other treatments

You can optimize patient outcomes by combining laser therapy with physical therapy and other treatments to reduce pain and restore range of motion.

More clinicians are integrating laser therapy into their practices as a growing number of patients seek alternatives to traditional treatments for pain and inflammation. Adding a laser therapy system to your practice this year will be a valuable investment in the health of your patients and in your practice’s bottom line.