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“I look forward to attending the training day, because I always find the day inspirational. James Carroll gives an excellent presentation in understanding the importance of dose and why THOR are leaders in the field of PBM. Also, I enjoy meeting the other delegates who are usually new to photobiomodulation.”
Rupert Molloy
The Photobiomodulation Studio
Oxfordshire, UK
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“I’ve been treating a 23 yo man who has had recurrent spontaneous episodes of ‘compartment syndrome’ (with confirmed high level pressure tests) since the age of 12. He had had 2x release surgeries in the past, but due to long term nerve damage, his surgeon was unwilling to do further surgery when his bilat calf pain recurred in the past year. The surgeon recommended trying THOR Treatment. I didn’t have a protocol as such, but used the one for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome of the Lower legs.
I’m delighted to say that he has made a huge improvement in symptoms and is able to continue with work and recreational activities with only low grade pain intermittently.”
Dr Michele Browne
North Nowra Medical Practice
23 McMahons Rd
North Nowra NSW 2541
nnm.net.au
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27 Photobiomodulation therapy papers published in January 2018. Highlights include:
The LIGHTSITE I data was presented at the 2018 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual conference by Marion Munk, MD, PhD, Department of Ophthalmology/Bern Photographic Reading Center and Managing Director, Bern Photographic Reading Center, University Hospital Bern. Dr. Munk was part of the investigator team.
“LumiThera PBM treatment demonstrated reductions in central drusen volume over the course of the one-year study versus the sham treatment with statistical significance at one year, (p = 0.05). Drusen is the hallmark pathology of dry AMD and is an important proinflammatory mediator and marker for disease progression,” says Dr. Munk.
“Results from the LIGHTSITE I study following treatment with a multi-wavelength PBM treatment demonstrated clinical improvements in vision outcome measures providing a strong foundation for initial therapy as well as the need for follow-up maintenance therapy,” stated Samuel Markowitz, M.D., Co-Principal Investigator, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto. “The PBM therapy was most beneficial in dry AMD patients immediately following the completion of the treatment sessions. Contrast sensitivity or detailed vision was significantly improved throughout the year. Retreatments at a 6 month interval were performed to maintain clinical benefits.”
Read the full press release:
LumiThera Presents LIGHTSITE I Dry AMD Top Line Final Data
Disclosure: I am an investor in Lumithera a) because it successfully treats an unmet medical need, (dry AMD) b) I think it will be the first billion dollar photobiomodulation company.
Meagan is a National Level Weightlifter who competes frequently. See her story and experience below after sessions on the NovoTHOR whole-body light pod. PR stands for Personal Record.
Wednesday 3/16:
Muscle Snatch Triple off a riser: PR working weight at 42 kg… Up 5 kilos from last week where I could only hit 37kg for working weight.
Thursday 3/17:
My 3/6 front squat/back squat combo I added 3 kilos from the previous Thursday- which is the most working I’ve ever done for this exercise at 91kg.
THEN I went on to do several reps of cleans and hit a 95kg Clean PR (9 kilos more than I did last week- heaviest clean I hit last week was 86kg.) This was halfway through my workout after doing a total of 117 reps. In Weightlifting a lot of volume can make your body feel tired & wrecked, so there was no explanation for why I was able to hit a PR on this exercise when my legs were fried.
Saturday 3/19: I hit a 3 kilo PR on my Power Clean & Jerk at 83kg
Sunday 3/20:
I added 2 kilos to my snatch triples from the blocks (59kg) from last week where I could only do 57kg.
I also did the most working weight I’ve ever done for Clean & Jerk Doubles at 83kg.
Monday 3/21:
Sumo Deadlift triple: 127kg PR (up 5 kilos from last Monday 3/14 I only could hit 122kg for 3)
Snatch Deadlift 5 rep: PR working weight for 5 at 91kg (2 kilos more than last Monday.)
Push Press+Push Jerk + Split Jerk Complex: 75kg (up 2kg from last Monday’s workout)
This part of my training cycle has been very strength intensive, so for me to even be coming close to hitting PRs is a huge deal. My body should be more fatigued and worn down from the strength work, but I actually feel recovered and fresh.
This is all thanks to the NovoTHOR light pod.
The US National Library of Medicine (NLM) plans to adopt “Photobiomodulation Therapy” (PBMT) as an official MeSH term in November 2015.
Why this is important?
This 15 minute video starts with an overview of Photobiomodulation and low level light therapy. Later in the presentation James introduces the Lumithera treatment for Dry Age related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
The paper “High-intensity versus low-level laser therapy in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial” Kheshie et al 2014 pitches the 3B BTL laser against the HIRO class IV “High intensity” laser. The results appear to show that the HIRO class IV “High intensity laser” was more effective than the “Low Level Laser”. HOWEVER, the HIRO class IV “High intensity” laser was delivered over a large area (not adequately defined but approx 100cm2 by my estimation) so the intensity was actually very low (about 13mW/cm2 which is less than most LED systems), and the 3B BTL “Low Level Laser” was actually very high (4 x 200mW small, high intensity beams) and were held stationary on the patella for over half an hour, YES, HALF AN HOUR IN ONE SPOT! This is insane.
This paper leads people to think that the class IV Hiro laser was more effective because it was higher intensity when in fact the beam distribution meant the average intensity distribution was low (13mW/cm2). The 3B laser was not so effective because it was held stationary such that it would cause an overdose. If the 3B laser treatment had been delivered in using same scanning technique as the class IV then they would likely have achieved the same result. (I am not a fan of scanning because you can never be sure how much energy you have delivered to an area, better to use a low intensity device and hold it still in my view).
This paper misdirects the reader towards favouring class IV lasers rather than 3b or LED by misinforming the reader.
The title of last months PMLS editorial was Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT) Dosage Recommendations. Written by the Scientific Secretary Prof. Jan Bjordal. He describes how far we have come and the importance of the WALT dosage recommendations. No abstract is available for editorials so I have prepared one for you below. Continue reading
A paper titled ”The Effectiveness of Therapeutic Class IV (10 W) Laser Treatment for Epicondylitis” [ref] showed that 10 Watt Class IV laser (mixed 8W 970nm, 2W 810) was successful in reducing pain and improving function in an RCT with 15 patients, and that there was good statistical significance at 6 months following a course of 6 treatments.
The claim by class IV laser manufacturers is that class IV lasers are better (faster, deeper and more effective) than Class 3b and LED systems. Conversely the 3B laser and LED manufacturers argue that less power density is more effective because delivering energy too quickly can overdose tissues and class IV lasers might burn the skin.
Throughout this paper there are marketing messages claiming the advantages of shorter treatment times than low power LLLT systems and of course the title shouts “10 Watt Class IV laser” just in case the reader is in any doubt that more power is what you need.
Regular readers of this column know my obsession with irradiation parameters, particularly dose rate effects (W/cm2) and will not be surprised to learn that I deconstruced the irradiation parameters used in this trial . Surprise, surprise they were the same low irradiance levels typically used by 3B lasers and LED systems, if not less and the treatment time was longer too.
Yes, it was a 10 Watt laser and yes, 3,000 joules was delivered, however it had a large beam area and treatment was delivered over (45cm2) in a “painting fashion”. The fluence (dose) was 6.6 Joules/cm2 and the power density was a tiny 22mW/cm2, consequently treatment time was a hefty 5 mins.
The average irradiance was not disclosed in the paper and the reader is directed to think that more power is quicker.
P.S. research trials with 3B lasers are typically 30 seconds to 3 mins and our recommended treatment is 1 min with a large LED cluster to the lateral epicondyle and 30 seconds for any related trigger points.
Available only to people who have attended a THOR training course in the last 3 years. All treatments are based on our four step method which includes treatment of the injury, trigger points, lymphatics and nerve roots.
Take a look to see how it works and let us know what you think.
Access Treatment Protocol Library
“My husband has used lasers in his dental office for decades to performs endodontics and surgeries. Our initial unit was the size of a small filing cabinet and sounded like an airplane engine. The benefits we witnessed made all that worthwhile. A year ago he attended a THOR course in Orlando, Florida and came home enthusiastic over the multiple uses beyond dental applications. I then attended a course with him in Phoenix, AZ and caught his enthusiasm.
We are in a rural area where new ideas are usually met with skepticism. THOR has a large and positive internet presence which helps us explain and promote our THOR laser. The support at THOR is exceptional with timely replies and assistance in researching protocols. When a new patient comes and experiences the healing of THOR laser I often hear “will it also treat ‘this’?” so I research it and am pleased when “yes” is the answer. We’re attending another course soon just to keep up with the THOR research.”
Michele Abernathy, RDA
John S Abernathy, DDS
Arkansas, USA
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RESULT: After three presentations and much correspondence over a 5 year period we have a recommendation guideline from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) — LLLT for preventing or treating oral mucositis caused by radiotherapy or chemotherapy. This means the NHS can start using our treatment on cancer patients to reduce some of the painful side effects of cancer treatments.
Read here: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg615
“This is the second time I have attended the PBMT training course as I brought my new Licensed Practical Nurse so she could get the training. I was impressed by all the new and current research material that James Carroll presented. He presented well, with lots of humor and made himself available to answer questions. This time he gave the demonstration on how to use the LX2 unit properly – which was much appreciated.
It is an excellent, well thought-out course and the lunch provided was great with a number of gluten-free choices. Having lunch on-site allowed for more time in discussion with other attendees and staff. Since the training, we have increasingly used the PBMT in the Integrative/Functional Medicine practice. There is no shortage of suffering people who do benefit greatly from the THOR LX2 PBMT technology.”
John Cline MD
Medical GP
Nanaimo, Canada
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“The unit is absolutely brilliant. Even I cannot believe how fast client recovery rates are and their overall alertness and energy level improvements. Have had success stories including my son-in-law. He is on his feet all day and for 6 years comes home almost in tears each day with swollen feet and nerve end pain. I carried out Dr. Chow’s back pain method and in two treatments he has been pain free for 3 weeks.”
Bernie E Musto
Physiotherapist
Crofton, Canada
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Written by Scot Faulkner
[Scot Faulkner advises global organizations and universities on healthcare reform and innovation. He served as the Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served on the White House Staff, and as an Executive Branch Appointee.]
Imagine being successfully treated, painlessly and safely, for a wide range of diseases and conditions. Imagine having a cure for chronic pain.
This revolution in health and wellness is already available and will be celebrated on May 16 as the United Nations’ Annual International Day of Light.
On May 16, 1960, American physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman, operated the first successful laser, achieving coherent and controllable light waves. This revolutionized manufacturing, communications, and health.
In 1967, Endre Mester in Semmelweis University Budapest, Hungary conducted studies to determine if lasers caused cancer. He shaved the hair from the bodies of mice, divided them into two groups and gave a laser treatment with a low powered ruby laser to one group. They did not get cancer. Instead the hair on the treated group grew back more quickly than the untreated group. The concept of “laser biostimulation” was discovered.
Today, “biostimulation” is known as Photobiomodulation (PBM). It is the process where a specific range of the light spectrum at the right intensity, when directed to the body for the right period of time, can restore the function of stressed cells to normal healthy operation. It is non-invasive, non-toxic, and has no reported side effects.
There are over 32 trillion cells in the human body. Each cell has hundreds of microscopic factories called mitochondria which combine oxygen with nutrients from the blood stream to make the cellular energy called ATP. This energy is used to help the cell live and to conduct its various roles in our body: keeping the heart beating, the brain thinking, the body moving, and the all the other functions that keep us alive and healthy.
Mester’s discovery was an epiphany. If specific light band waves can help cells to regrow hair, can they wake-up cells to do other things? Now over five-hundred human clinical trials and 4,000 laboratory studies have shown the answer to be an overwhelming YES!
PBM is now a common veterinary treatment for improving the lives of animals suffering from hip dysplasia and kidney failure. Throughout the world, forward thinking Doctors and Dentists are using PBM to successfully treat Oral Mucositis (side effect from chemotherapy), Dry Macular Degeneration, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Lyme Disease, and diabetic wounds. It also reduces pain and inflammation in various orthopedic conditions such as tendonitis, neck pain, low back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Chronic pain costs Americans over $635 billion a year in additional healthcare costs and lost productivity. PBM is used for recovery and endurance by champion athletes. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, many Nike sponsored athletes used a whole body PBM product called NovoTHOR to help them train, recover, and win more medals. This led NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA teams to add “light beds” to their training regime.
A growing number of doctors and public health officials are exploring PBM therapy as an alternative pain treatment to Opioids. This may help solve the addiction crisis facing America.
If PBM is so effective, why is not everywhere?
Outside of the U.S. it is. Australia, Canada, England, the European Union, and NATO all recognize PBM, promote its use, and accept insurance coverage. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is slowly moving towards regulatory clearances for PBM light equipment to officially treat diseases and conditions. Currently, the FDA labels PBM devices in the basic category of infrared or heat lamps.
Until the FDA moves forward, U.S. insurance companies, except for a few BCBS affiliates, refuse to reimburse for PBM treatments. They remain a solid wall of resistance.
Medicare and Medicaid refuse to reimburse for PBM treatments. Federal Officials have labeled PBM “mumbo jumbo” and declared its successes “placebo effect”.
The International Day of Light is an opportunity to alert everyone who could benefit from PBM therapy of its existence and promise. It is a time to ask public officials about ways to bring PBM into the mainstream of American healthcare. It is a time to ask your Doctor, Dentist, Veterinarian, and local gym/wellness center if they offer PBM therapy and if not, why not.
May 16 is an annual reminder that bringing light therapy into healthcare is long overdue.
It is up to all of us, for ourselves, our families, and our communities, to make the promise of light a reality.
Source: http://citizenoversight.blogspot.com/2018/05/seeing-light.html
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