• Hero Banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Buying or Selling a Practice
Hospital Design
Leadership & Personal Growth
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Technology
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Live Conferences
Conference News
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Making the case for laser therapy in veterinary rehabilitation

June 24, 2022
Bob Alaburda, Director of Special Projects

Conference News | <b>Directions in Veterinary Medicine/Indianapolis</b>

DIVM keynote speaker brings emerging modality into focus

The inaugural Directions in Veterinary Medicine conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, launched today with an insightful keynote session by Matthew Brunke, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRP, CVPP, CVA, medical director for rehabilitation and sports medicine at Veterinary Surgical Centers in Virginia. His lecture “Laser therapy in veterinary rehabilitation” examined the role lasers can play as a fast, efficient treatment option for an emerging practice that is rapidly becoming the standard of care, according to Brunke.1

At the heart of laser therapy is the concept of photobiomodulation (PBM), which Brunke said is how lasers can be used to increase the speed, quality, and tensile strength of tissue repair; resolve inflammation; and relieve pain.1 PBM is the process by which photons penetrate tissue, increasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in cells and stimulating wound healing while reducing pain and inflammation.2

“Photobiomodulation is basically the mechanism of action of therapeutic lasers in our field,” said Brunke. “It’s that nonthermal interaction with a monochromatic light with a target site.”

Rehabilitation at lightspeed

Rehabilitative treatment is aimed at restoring quality of life to patients suffering from painful and/or functionally limiting musculoskeletal and neurologic conditions. It is already a multimodal discipline, with a diverse array of treatment options such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy, shock wave therapy, massage, and therapeutic exercise. Through advances in technology and research in recent years, said Brunke, veterinary professionals can now comfortably add lasers to their rehabilitation toolbox. In making the case for the use of lasers in veterinary practice, Brunke shared published research and case studies that emphasized their versatility and ease of use in treating inflammation and pain, allowing many types of patients to recover faster and more effectively.1

The right tool for the right job

Advertisement

Not all lasers are created equal. Brunke explained that different classes of therapeutic lasers produce different wavelengths of light, and different wavelength ranges have varying effects on tissue. He used the term “photoceutical” to describe laser therapy throughout the presentation to drive home the concept that clinicians are essentially prescribing a particular laser treatment for a particular condition.

“If we want antibacterial effects, we want wavelengths of 460 nm,” Brunke explained. “As far as wound healing, we need something in the 600 to 800 range. We can also use a 980 nm wavelength for analgesic effects, with some anti-inflammatory [effects].”

He cautioned that it is important to use the appropriate laser and wavelength for a particular condition. Because each wavelength differs in its effects, using the incorrect laser is not only ineffective, but can potentially hurt the patient as well. “That's nothing any of us want to do in our careers,” Brunke remarked.

Indications for laser therapy

Brunke discussed the diagnoses that lasers can be used to treat. These include neurological diagnoses, such as intervertebral disc disease, degenerative myelopathy, and peripheral nerve disease. It also includes tissue healing and orthopedic diagnoses, such as osteoarthritis and tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries.1

He also gave examples and case studies of conditions that could benefit from the pain reduction and anti-inflammatory benefits of laser therapy as a sole treatment modality, which included surgical incisions, wounds, lick granulomas, otitis externa, osteoarthritis, and tail pull injuries.1 However, Brunke emphasized the value of laser therapy as part of a multimodal approach:

“We may use a little bit of surgery in our [practice]… We need some pharmaceutical assistance, too… We all have the same receptors, but our bodies may use them differently. So, we have to use a multimodal approach,” he said.

“What it boils down to is we treat inflammation, and we treat pain… Because if we don't get those going, we can't move that patient forward,” Brunke added.

References

  1. Brunke M. Laser therapy in veterinary rehabilitation. Presented at: Directions in Veterinary Medicine; June 24-25, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana.
  2. Glass GE. Photobiomodulation: The Clinical Applications of Low-Level Light Therapy [published correction appears in Aesthet Surg J. 2022 Apr 12;42(5):566]. Aesthet Surg J. 2021;41(6):723-738. doi:10.1093/asj/sjab025

Related Content:

Directions in Veterinary Medicine/IndianapolisRehabilitationTechnologyConferenceConference 360
PetHub launches AI tools for pet owners
PetHub launches AI tools for pet owners
Diagnostics for a thoracic trauma patient
Diagnostics for a thoracic trauma patient
Managing pain in the postoperative patient
Managing pain in the postoperative patient

Advertisement

Latest News

Drug for acute onset of canine pancreatitis is launched on the US market

New Automatic 2-in-1 Pet Feeder and Water Dispenser launched

PetHub launches AI tools for pet owners

Prairie dog pups emerge from underground at Maryland Zoo

View More Latest News
Advertisement