Clinical Applications & Treatment Protocols Flashcards
7 cards from real CLT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Clinical Applications & Treatment Protocols flashcards as text
When treating a patient with chronic low back pain using low-level laser therapy (LLLT), which parameter is MOST critical to adjust based on tissue depth?
Answer: Wavelength
Wavelength determines tissue penetration depth; near-infrared wavelengths (800–1064 nm) penetrate deeper than visible red wavelengths for reaching deeper structures.
A patient presents with acute lateral epicondylitis. According to standard laser therapy protocols, the BEST approach is to:
Answer: Begin with lower doses and increase gradually as acute inflammation subsides
In acute conditions, starting with conservative lower doses reduces risk of exacerbating inflammation and allows tissue response to guide dose escalation.
Which of the following conditions is considered a CONTRAINDICATION for laser therapy over the treatment area?
Answer: Active malignancy at the treatment site
Active malignancy at or near the treatment site is a contraindication because laser energy may stimulate cellular proliferation and tumor growth.
During a laser therapy session for wound healing, the Arndt-Schulz Law suggests that:
Answer: Optimal doses stimulate; excessive doses inhibit biological processes
The Arndt-Schulz Law states that weak stimuli excite physiological activity, strong stimuli inhibit it — meaning optimal dosing is essential for therapeutic benefit.
A laser therapist is treating trigger points in the upper trapezius. The MOST appropriate technique involves:
Answer: Stationary application directly over each trigger point for calculated time
Trigger point protocols require stationary application over each discrete point for a calculated time to deliver the target dose to that specific location.
Which photobiomodulation effect is PRIMARILY responsible for accelerated wound healing in laser therapy?
Answer: Increased mitochondrial ATP production via cytochrome c oxidase
Laser light is absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondria, upregulating ATP production and accelerating cellular repair and proliferation in wounds.
When treating a diabetic foot ulcer with laser therapy, the clinician should:
Answer: Apply laser to perilesional tissue in addition to the wound bed
Treating perilesional tissue in addition to the wound bed stimulates migration of healthy cells into the wound and enhances growth factor expression at the wound margins.