Cold Laser Blog

What is Class 4 Laser Therapy and How Does it Compare with Cold Laser Therapy (CLT) and Photobiomodulation (PBM)?

Class 4 laser therapy is a highly effective and efficient form of non-invasive, natural medicine. It has established success in a wide range of rapidly growing health care, pain management, rehabilitation, esthetics, dentistry and veterinary medicine trends. Class IV laser therapy is setting the practitioner standard of care for many of the above mentioned applications including accelerated use for rapid natural pain relief, Arthritis relief, musculoskeletal injuries, post op care and rehabilitation among Chiropractors, Physical Therapists, Athletic Trainers, Podiatrists, DO’s, Surgeons, Equine care facilities, Veterinary clinics and Rehab Hospitals. 

Class 4 Laser therapy works significantly faster than cold lasers with substantially more powerful diodes. Both CLT and Class 4 laser therapy can activate PhotoBioModulation (PBM) when they utilize the highly touted 810nm wavelength. Over 95% of Class IV Lasers use specific wavelengths of high power laser light through fiber optic cables, to create therapeutic effects such as 635nm, 810nm, 905nm, 915nm, 980nm and 1064nm. The red and or infrared laser light that is transmitted from the laser in 1, 2, 3 or 4 wavelengths within a single laser, helps stimulate significant intracellular processes inside the body that help provide relief from numerous symptoms including acute and chronic pain, swelling, inflammation, poor cellular communication and reduced range of motion. 

The FDA categories different classes of lasers from Class 1 to Class 4. Class 3b lasers through class 1 are considered cold laser therapy devices, which typically have power of 500mW down to 5mW, with some unique exceptions such as Optical LED’s and Super Pulsed lasers with high peak power but significantly low average power. Whereas the Class 4 laser therapy typically produces heat, which is experienced as a warm soothing sensation. 

For the past couple of decades low power cold lasers became popular due to being readily available for a reasonable price and producing results that left both patients and practitioners cheering for the benefits of laser light therapy. Class IV lasers have previously been priced out of the range of the average practitioners budget, and there was some fear about the fact that they produce heat and could injure the eyes if improperly used. 

As it turned out, the fear was replaced with awe, respect and appreciation, as both patients and practitioners noticed that significant benefits could be successfully and consistently delivered to patients in a faster and more efficient manner than with cold lasers. The success of Class IV Laser Therapy inspired more practitioners to invest in Class IV therapy lasers. As demand increased, the prices  of certain high quality Class 4 lasers such as REMY Class IV Lasers and MEDRAY Class 4 lasers have come down significantly, making it 30-50% more affordable for the average practitioner to offer class 4 laser therapy and realize a reasonable ROI. REMY and MEDRAY Class 4 lasers deliver increased quality, power, wavelength options, built-in protocol options for humans and animals, free training programs with certification, free customized marketing materials and high quality support for all manner of practitioners. 

How does Class 4 Laser Therapy Work?

Due to significantly higher power measured in Watts, rather than milliWatts (for cold lasers), the wavelength of the laser used in Class 4 laser therapy penetrates deeper and more efficiently than the Class 3 laser. This allows it to pass more energy to the target tissues such as nerves, muscles, ligaments, and tendon tissues in a short amount of time. In fact, most sessions range from 2-6 minutes per contained treatment area, which means you can treat injured tissue in multiple areas in a single session, thus improving results and patient satisfaction. 

Class 4 laser therapy promotes high levels of photons, which are energy packets that stimulate the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) within all compromised or injured cells. The Mitochondria within the cells converts photonic energy into ATP, which is readily available to support healing, pain relief and regeneration. It also activates feel good endorphins, reduces inflammation and allows patients to enjoy a higher quality of life, naturally. As a result of increased ATP production the patient experiences an improvement of symptoms such as pain reduction, relief from swelling, and increased range of motion. Additionally, the heat from the laser is comforting and signals to the patient that something important is taking place internally.

Class 4 Laser Therapy Benefits

The benefits of class 4 laser therapy include reduced pain and swelling as well as improved range of motion. Class 4 laser therapy has some very interesting additional effects that we don’t notice as obviously. It increases tissue regeneration, which is why you heal faster, but it also accelerates soft tissue and bone repair. This kind of laser therapy can also improve nerve regeneration & function as well as impact your cells to increase cell metabolism, enzymatic responses, collagen production, and promote angiogenesis (the creation of new blood vessels). So yes, your patients will walk away from class 4 laser therapy feeling better, with dramatically reduced pain, and you can assure them that the therapy continues to work on the cellular level for about 24 hours, to improve overall body and musculoskeletal health after they leave the office.

Class 4 laser therapy is commonly applied to a range of issues including neuropathy, chronic pain of all kinds including knee, shoulder, neck and back pain, all types of arthritis, chronic Achilles tendonitis, elbow pain or tendonitis in the elbow, chronic wrist pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), Plantar Fasciitis, neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, leg pain, jaw pain, rotator cuff injury, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, hip pain and more. You can also use the class 4 laser therapy on a wide range of injury sites and extremities to provide relief to your patients.

Now you might be wondering what it feels like to get class 4 laser therapy? It’s possible that some patients might think that laser therapy will hurt, and they’re pleasantly surprised to learn that they will feel some soothing warmth in the treatment area and absolutely no pain. Class 4 lasers provide pain-free relief for your patients and can also be used in conjunction with other treatment modalities such as Chiropractic adjustments, dry needling, acupuncture, massage or in conjunction with physical therapy exercises.

How Much Does Class 4 Laser Therapy Cost?

Most insurance companies consider class 4 laser therapy as “experimental” even though it’s widely used and accepted among medical doctors, chiropractors, and veterinarians. Unfortunately, that “experimental” classification means most insurance companies will refuse to pay for it. While this is unfortunate, most practitioners who add class 4 laser therapy to their practice find that they are quickly able to develop a new cash based income stream, and that the benefits far outweigh the cons.

In many clinics and offices a single class 4 laser therapy treatment is $40-$60 and most patients with book a package of 10-12 treatments in order to ensure the healing and rehabilitation process is complete. The price goes down with cumulative treatments. For example, if a patient only needs 4 visits they can be priced at $40-$50 each and 10 visits could be just $30-$40 each or whatever the market can bear in your area. Prices can increase significantly in more affluent, hight population areas. 

Are You Interested in Adding a Class 4 Therapy Laser to Your Practice?

REMY Class IV Lasers and MEDRAY Class 4 lasers have come down significantly in price, making it 30-50% more affordable for the average practitioner to offer class 4 laser therapy and realize a reasonable ROI. 

For Complimentary Concierge Service Call 808-870-0348 or 800-575-7963