How Chiropractors Use Red Light Therapy

Mar 18, 2020 | Laurie Velger

Medically reviewed by Karen Wolters, RN and Joanna Fearnley, LPN

Chiropractor Red Light Therapy

Chiropractor Red Light TherapyAdding an additional treatment of red light therapy may be just what you need to enhance your chiropractor clinic.  Chiropractor red light therapy can be added to your treatment menu to make pain relief faster and more effective, make adjustments easier, and give additional support to the body’s natural healing processes — increasing patient satisfaction.

 

Like chiropractic, NIR Therapy, also known as low-level light therapy (“LLLT”) – both laser and LED (light emitting diode) “… is beneficial for pain relief and can accelerate the body’s ability to heal itself.  LLLT has a long history and strong basic science evidence, which supports its use in pain management.”[4]  Also like chiropractic, LED Light Therapy is a non-invasive and effective alternative to the high cost and numerous side effects of pharmaceutical drugs and the pain of surgery.

 

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The Benefits of Red Light Therapy For Chiropractors

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of chiropractors in the US is growing: “Employment of chiropractors is projected to grow 7 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations.”[1]  “In 2018, there were 50,300 chiropractors in the United States,[2] with “2,500 chiropractors entering the workforce each year.”[3]  In light of these statistics, how does a chiropractor stand out above the ever-increasing competition? The answer is chiropractor red light therapy.

How Chiropractors Use Light Therapy
264 Pad Wrapped Around Knee

Chiropractor Red Light Therapy is Safe

Red light therapy can be administered without concern about negative effects.  “The almost complete lack of reports of side effects or adverse events associated with LLLT gives security for issues of safety…”[5]  NIR Therapy can be administered on almost every external part of the body, except for the eyes.  HealthLight offers a wide selection of flexible and sturdy red light therapy pads in a variety of shapes and sizes that makes it easy to choose the right pad for any area of the body.

 

LED Light Therapy on the Back & Foot

Administering LED Light Therapy as a Chiropractor

Administering LED Light Therapy is easy: pads are placed on the body, the system is turned on, and the pads proceed to do the work.

  • Sessions are 20 minutes, during which patients can be left unattended.
  • Chiropractor red light therapy pads can be offered as an add-on pre- or post-adjustment for an additional fee, or as a stand-alone treatment.
  • Most chiropractors administer LED Light Therapy prior to the adjustment, as infrared light penetration will increase circulation, reduce pain and stiffness, and help ease adjustments.
  • If administered after the adjustment, the increased circulation induced may help the adjustment to hold.  And any pain, stiffness, or soreness still present after the adjustment may be relieved.
  • Patients with acute pain or chronic conditions may desire stand-alone treatment with red light therapy.

 

No matter when LED Light Therapy is administered, using a controller that can operate from three to six NIR Therapy pads simultaneously will provide an extensive therapy session that can address multiple problem areas at once.  HealthLight’s Clinical Line offers 3-port and 6-port controllers that pair with their NIR Therapy pads via easy to insert and remove USB-style connectors.  But single and dual pad devices, such as HealthLight’s Express At-Home systems with built-in controllers, are also quite effective.

 

In addition to expanding benefits for your patients, combining Red Light Therapy with chiropractic should also expand your revenue.

Growing a Chiropractor Practice with LED Light Therapy

Adding LED Light Therapy can grow your chiropractic practice by helping you stand out from your competition. You can begin, as Dr. Collins did, with a small number of therapy pads. Demands on you, your staff, and your office space can be kept minimal.

LED Light Therapy is extremely easy to administer. Pads are placed on the body by you or your assistant where needed, the system is turned on, a setting may be selected, and the pads proceed to do their work. The patient may be left unattended once the pads are in place and the controller is operating.  NIR Therapy sessions often last twenty minutes. Most controllers stop automatically and signal the end of the therapy session.

Space requirements are minimal. LED Light Therapy can be administered on the adjustment table, or the patient can sit in a chair. Pads and controllers can be kept on a small multi-shelf rolling cart or in a basket, which allows them to be easily moved from patient to patient. Maintenance of the pads is also minimal. Pads are placed in new disposable plastic bags at the start of each treatment session, keeping them sanitary for each patient.

 

Expand Treatment Categories

General categories of musculoskeletal conditions for chiropractic treatment with LED Light Therapy include joint pain; peripheral neuropathy; arthritis pain; and overall pain management. LED Light Therapy has been proven to initiate a cascade of cellular enhancements that could potentially amplify the benefits of chiropractic adjustments. Medical-grade LED Light Therapy systems have received FDA-clearance for pain relief and increased circulation. So combining LED Light Therapy and chiropractic care may bring greater benefits to your patients.

As Dr. Volstad confirms,  “Improvement is faster. That’s the big thing. Patients want to be out of pain as quickly as possible. And we have seen that LED Light Therapy facilitates that.”

 

Enter Niche Markets

Integrating LED Light Therapy into your practice may allow your clinic to enter niche markets, developing programs to attract new patients who are looking for help with specific problems, such as peripheral neuropathy, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, or sports injuries. Dr. Volstad states, “Especially in the athletic field, LED Light Therapy is very utilized. Almost all major sports teams use LED Light Therapy. That speaks volumes to me.” Dr. Volstad also reports that his clinic regularly treats peripheral neuropathy patients with LED Light Therapy, and that it has proven to be “very effective.”

 

In-Clinic Usage & Programs

In addition to expanding benefits for your patients, combining LED Light Therapy with chiropractic should also expand your revenue and grow your practice. LED Light Therapy can be offered as an add-on before or after chiropractic for an additional fee, or as a stand-alone treatment modality. LED Light Therapy allows treatment on two or more areas simultaneously, so multiple issues can be treated during a single session.

Pre-adjustment:  Infrared light penetration will increase circulation, reduce pain and stiffness, and potentially help ease adjustments. Dr. Volstad states, “Most commonly, we do our LED Light Therapy prior to the adjustment.”

Post-adjustment:  Infrared light penetration may help the adjustment to hold for a longer period, due to the benefits of increased circulation.  Also, pain, stiffness, or soreness still lingering after the adjustment may be relieved.

Stand-alone Treatment:  Stand alone LED Light Therapy treatments, especially for chronic pain conditions, can be offered in packages of treatments, with the number of pads utilized per treatment varying.

Chronic Pain Programs:  Programs can be developed to treat the pain of specific conditions with both chiropractic and LED Light Therapy, such as upper back, lower back, neck, knee, hip, shoulder, arthritis, or neuropathy pain relief programs. Compared to the skyrocketing costs and myriad side-effects of many pharmaceutical drugs, LED Light Therapy may be a cost effective and natural alternative to both drugs and surgery.

 

Growing your Chiropractic Practice with LED Light Therapy

In-Home Sales & Rentals

Therapy sessions can be done in-home by the patients themselves, or with the assistance of family members.  After experiencing the benefits of LED Light Therapy in-clinic, some patients with acute or chronic conditions may desire to have a system at home for use between office visits.  Or in-home treatments may be deemed to be an integral part of an intensive treatment plan for major issues like peripheral neuropathy.  In Dr.Volstad’s clinic, every peripheral neuropathy patient “buys their own system for their legs and feet.” So, in-home usage can provide a profitable revenue opportunity for your clinic through renting or reselling LED Light Therapy systems to patients.

Most manufacturers allow health practitioners to purchase their systems at wholesale, and then resell them to patients at a profit. Rental fees are up to the practitioner. System sales can be expanded by establishing a “rent to own” program, allowing patients to eventually purchase their rental system.

 

LED Light Therapy Device Sales and Rentals to Patients

HealthLight offers healthcare professionals the option of purchasing systems at wholesale and then reselling them to patients at a profit. Chiropractors can encourage patients to purchase their own systems for in-home use for intensive treatment of conditions such as peripheral neuropathy or chronic back pain.  Also, rental programs and rent-to-own programs can be offered to patients at fees determined by the practitioner, which can bring in additional revenue on a regular basis, as well as fast ROI.

 

180 Pad on the Stomach

Getting Started

When deciding where to purchase your Chiropractor red light therapy equipment for your clinic, be sure to choose a reputable manufacturer with an FDA clearance, so that your system meets all necessary safety standards.  Also make sure there is a warranty, as well as a repair center for your device.  All of HealthLight’s NIR Therapy pads and controllers have received FDA clearance, and every system comes with a warranty.  There is a one-year warranty on HealthLight’s Express At-Home systems, and a two-year warranty on HealthLight’s Clinical line of systems.  Any needed repairs after the warranty period can be made at HealthLight’s manufacturing facility in Illinois for a reasonable flat rate fee per item.

Before you make your purchase:

  1. Determine what size and shape of Chiropractor red light therapy pads would be most beneficial to your patients. To be most effective, the pad(s) in your system should cover the entire area where pain relief and increased circulation are needed. For example, the largest pads would be the most helpful to treat back, hip, or shoulder pain; while small rectangular-sized pads would be helpful to relieve pain in the neck, TMJ area, or wrist. Long pads can be wrapped around joints, while small pads can be used to treat localized areas. To treat neuropathy, HealthLight offers one or two-boot systems that cover the foot and calf areas.
  2. Determine how many pads you want to use simultaneously, and purchase a controller with enough ports. HealthLight’s Clinical Line offers 3 and 6-port controller systems that pair with their Clinical Therapy Pads.

 

Is Chiropractor Red Light Therapy Easy To Administer?

Administering chiropractor red light therapy is easy; it will expand your treatment menu and fees; and it can also boost your revenue through equipment sales and rentals.  And by offering LED Light Therapy, your clinic will stand out from the competition.  But most importantly, Red Light Therapy will bring greater benefits to your patients.  So consider adding NIR Therapy to your clinic’s treatment menu.  HealthLight’s Clinical Line of pads and controllers offer many system options for clinics of all sizes.  And HealthLight’s Express At-Home Line with conveniently attached controllers are perfect for in-home use by your patients.

 

 

[1] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (September 4, 2019) Chiropractors. [Online] Available from http:www.bis.gov/ooh/healthcare/chiropractors.htm [Accessed 27 February 2020].

[2] IBID.

[3] American Chiropractic Association (2016)  Key Facts About the Chiropractic Profession [Online] Available from: http://www.acatoday.org/Patients/Why-Choose-Chiropractic/Key-Facts [Accessed 27 February 2020].

[4] Cotler, Howard B. et al.  The Use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) For Musculoskeletal Pain. MOJ Orthop Rheumatol. 2015 ; 2(5): . doi:10.15406/mojor.2015.02.00068, p. 7.

[5] Chung, Hoon. et al. The Nuts and Bolts of Low-level Laser (Light) Therapy. Ann Biomed Eng. 2012 February ; 40(2): 516–533. doi:10.1007/s10439-011-0454-7; p.11 of NIH Public Access version.

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