Treatment Planning & Protocols Flashcards

A patient's treatment response plateau is observed after 6 laser sessions for plantar fasciitis. According to best practice, what is the most appropriate next step?

Answer: Reassess treatment parameters, adjust dose or wavelength, and evaluate for contributing factors

A clinical plateau signals the need to reassess and modify treatment variables — dose, wavelength, frequency, or addressing underlying biomechanical causes.

For post-surgical rehabilitation, current LLLT protocols recommend initiating laser therapy:

Answer: During the immediate post-operative inflammatory phase to modulate healing, with precautions over open incisions

LLLT can be applied during early post-surgical recovery to reduce inflammation and promote healing, avoiding direct application over open or draining wounds.

When treating trigger points with laser therapy, the most clinically supported application technique is:

Answer: Direct contact application at the trigger point for a concentrated dose, followed by treatment of referred pain zone

Trigger point laser protocols focus the dose directly on the hyperirritable nodule and may extend treatment to the referred pain zone for comprehensive relief.

A protocol for diabetic peripheral neuropathy would most appropriately combine laser application with which complementary assessment tool to track outcomes?

Answer: Monofilament sensory testing and pain visual analog scale (VAS)

Monofilament testing quantifies sensory nerve function and the VAS tracks pain levels, both directly relevant to peripheral neuropathy outcomes.

In pediatric patients requiring laser therapy, the treatment protocol should be modified primarily by:

Answer: Reducing dose (J/cm²) relative to adult protocols due to thinner skin and higher tissue sensitivity

Pediatric tissue is thinner and more metabolically active, requiring reduced doses compared to adult protocols to prevent over-stimulation.

According to the photobiomodulation dose-response biphasic model, applying an excessively high dose during a treatment session will most likely result in:

Answer: Inhibition of cellular activity rather than stimulation

The biphasic dose-response curve shows that beyond an optimal dose, biological stimulation declines and can switch to inhibition.

When creating a laser treatment protocol for a patient with active herpes zoster (shingles), the therapist should:

Answer: Avoid direct laser application over the active vesicular rash to prevent viral spread; treat adjacent areas only

Active herpes zoster vesicles are a local contraindication; laser application over the rash risks stimulating viral replication, though adjacent unaffected tissue and nerve pathways may be treated.