Laser Therapy: Thermal Imaging Guided Laser Therapy - Part 2
by William J. Kneebone, RN, DC
 In part one of this two part series, I reviewed some of the basic
principles of infrared thermography. I previously discussed the physiological effects of
laser therapy in the November/December 2006 issue of Practical Pain Management.1
In this second part of the series, I will briefly review some of the literature related to
thermographic monitoring of the effects of laser therapy as well as describe the Thermal
Imaging Guided Laser Therapy procedure and provide examples of pre and post thermograms.
I have been utilizing thermography to obtain real time scans of the area of pain in
patients with various kinds of back pain. This allows me to observe their thermal pattern
before, during and immediately after laser therapy application. Leonard Saputo, MD, the
former medical director at the Health Medicine Institute, first exposed me to this
approach during my time on staff there from 2000 through 2007. It is a simple procedure to
perform and can serve as a guide to laser application.
Thermography Research
Some researchers have used thermography (thermal imaging) to observe skin temperature
changes in response to laser therapy. Kamikawa used thermography to monitor changes in the
area of complaint from direct stimulation, as well as acupoint stimulation by three
different kinds of laser. He found that the treated areas heated up quickly and cooled
down again immediately after treatment.2
Please refer to the September 2009 issue for the complete text. In the event you need to order a back issue, please click here.
— September 2009
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