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
A CLT is planning laser treatment for a patient taking photosensitizing medications. The MOST appropriate action is to:
Answer: Reduce the treatment dose and monitor for adverse skin reactions
Photosensitizing medications increase tissue sensitivity to light, requiring dose reduction and careful monitoring for unexpected reactions during laser therapy.
In laser therapy, the term 'energy density' (fluence) is expressed in:
Answer: Joules per centimeter squared (J/cm²)
Fluence or energy density is measured in joules per centimeter squared (J/cm²), representing the total energy delivered per unit area of tissue.
Which treatment site requires the therapist to apply extra caution due to risk of endocrine disruption during laser therapy?
Answer: Thyroid gland
The thyroid gland is sensitive to laser radiation, and direct application over this gland is contraindicated due to risk of stimulating or suppressing endocrine function.
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis is referred for laser therapy of the wrist. Which treatment consideration is MOST important?
Answer: Account for joint inflammation level when setting dose parameters
The degree of active inflammation affects tissue response, and dose parameters should be adjusted accordingly — typically lower doses during active flares.
The 'scanning technique' in laser therapy is MOST useful when:
Answer: Covering a large treatment area such as a muscle group or scar field
The scanning technique involves moving the probe over a large surface area to distribute energy across broad regions like muscle groups, scars, or lymphedema areas.
When treating acute nerve injury with laser therapy, the PREFERRED wavelength range for nerve tissue regeneration is:
Answer: 630–1000 nm (visible red to near-infrared)
The 630–1000 nm range (red to near-infrared) is most effective for neural tissue due to optimal penetration depth and chromophore absorption characteristics that promote nerve regeneration.
A laser therapist calculates that a 100 mW laser needs to treat a 2 cm² area with a target dose of 4 J/cm². What is the correct treatment time?
Answer: 80 seconds
Total energy needed = 4 J/cm² × 2 cm² = 8 J; time = 8 J ÷ 0.1 W = 80 seconds.