Chattanooga Vectra Neo, User Manual

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Vectra® Neo Clinical Therapy System
APPENDIX 1
OVERVIEW OF LASER THERAPY
Laser therapy results in energy absorbed into the patient’s
tissue from light, triggering biological changes at a
cellular level, resulting in the following:
• Topical heating for the temporary increase in local
blood circulation
• Temporary relief of minor muscle and joint aches,
pains, and stiffness
• Relaxation of muscles and relief of muscle spasm
• Temporary relief of minor pain and stiffness associated
with arthritis. The dose and frequency of treatment
can be adjusted to produce the desired effect.
There is no exact limit with respect to the penetration
of the light. The light gets weaker the further from the
surface it penetrates. There is, however, a limit at which
the light intensity is so low that no biological eff ect of
the light can be registered. This limit, where the eff ect
ceases, is called “the greatest active depth.” This depth is
also contingent on tissue type, pigmentation, and dirt
on the skin. For example, fat tissue is more transparent
than muscle tissue and more easily penetrable by Laser
than muscle tissue as blood hemoglobin is an important
absorber of light, and highly vascularized muscle tissue
makes Laser penetration more diffi
cult.
NOTE: Some laser applicators may cause a noticeable
heat sensation, particularly in hairy areas and on sensitive
tissues such as lips.
TREATMENT TIPS
Contact
To obtain the most eff ective results, the applicator should
be in contact with the patient’s skin.
Applicator Position
Due to the characteristics of Laser, the angle at which the
light enters the patient’s skin is very important. Therefore,
the applicator lens should always be parallel to the
treatment area.
Treating Joints
If you are applying Laser therapy to a patient’s joint, it is
more eff ective to apply the Laser energy into the joint
by positioning the joint in an open position (e.g., knee
in fl exion). However, do not attempt this method if it is
uncomfortable to the patient.
Applicator Selection
If the injury you intend to treat is very small (pinpoint),
you should only need to treat the area with a single diode
applicator. If the area surrounding the treatment area
is sensitive, it is recommended that you apply therapy
with a single diode applicator fi rst, then use the cluster
applicator for the surrounding area.
Cold and Heat
If you intend to apply cold or heat as an adjunct to Laser
therapy, use the following guidelines:
• Use cold before Laser therapy. This slows the flow of
red blood cells and reduces the amount of energy
removed from the area.
• Use heat after the treatment. This speeds the flow of
red blood cells so that more energy can be removed
from the area.