Laser therapy machines include Class HI (1 mW-500 mW) machines and Class IV (> 500 mW) machines. Common terminology includes low-level laser therapy (LLLT), photobiomodulation, laser biostimulation, and, for higher-powered lasers (i.e., Class IV), laser therapy (LT). It has been defined as "the application of light to a pathology to promote tissue regeneration, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain" (Huang et al. 2009). Unlike surgical laser treatments, LLLT does not ablate tissue, nor is it intendedto work through a thermal mechanism. LT, however, from Class IV units, can raise the temperature of the tissue; as the power of the laser increases, one needs to remain ever more vigilant to not burn the patient or induce pain or mobility problems.
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