AAOS Now Including Laser Therapy as a Treatment Guideline for Osteoarthritic Knee Pain
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has included laser therapy in its latest recommendations for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, announced Dr. Scott Sigman, founder of OrthoLazer Laser Centers headquartered in Rochester New York.
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sept. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has included laser therapy in its latest recommendations for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, announced Dr. Scott Sigman, founder of OrthoLazer Laser Centers headquartered in Rochester New York.
These AAOS recommendations have not been updated since 2013, and according to Dr. Sigman, during that time laser therapy has proven itself to be effective at treating knee arthritis in clinical practice.
"We're very pleased, of course, that laser therapy is getting the recognition it deserves for relieving pain," Dr. Sigman said. "It's something we and our patients have known for years so it's gratifying that a group like AAOS is acknowledging the clinical data."
The direct wording of the AAOS guidelines regarding laser therapy reads:
"Patients should expect to experience improvements in pain and function with the treatment. There have been no reports of serious side effects from laser treatment for pain control."
The AAOS issues its guidelines as an educational tool to be used in formulating clinical treatment procedures by informing medical personnel about treatment approaches that have proven to be effective in actual practice.
According to Dr. Sigman, laser therapy can be effective for the treatment of knee pain whether it's acute or chronic because it reduces inflammation around the knee and promotes faster healing.
"Laser therapy also promotes the re-growth of tissue and improves blood circulation in the region around the knee," he said. "With better blood flow, more oxygen and healing nutrients can be delivered to the area. With blood vessels less constricted, swelling is reduced, and more connective tissue begins growing."
In addition, Dr. Sigman explained that laser therapy also triggers the release of endorphins, the body's "feel-good" hormones, which reduces the sensation of pain. Finally, the immune system is stimulated into producing more of the chemicals that help heal damaged tissue.
Now that the AAOS has given its nod to laser therapy as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis pain, Dr. Sigman expects even more patients will start benefitting from laser therapy's pain-relieving effects.
"Our company has experienced a tremendous amount of growth in the last year as more orthopedic surgeons and their patients learn more about laser therapy," he said. "With the new AAOS guidelines, we expect this growth to not only continue but accelerate."
In fact, in the last 18 months, the company has grown from one location in Chelmsford, MA to 15 centers operational or currently under construction.
Dr. Sigman attributes the popularity of OrthoLazer Laser Centers to two things: 1) their MLS M8 Robotic Laser Therapy technology available exclusively to OrthoLazer, and 2) their "business-in-a-box" franchise system.
"The MLS M8 Robotic Laser is the most advanced laser therapy available today," said Dr. Sigman. "Not only is it FDA-cleared to treat pain and inflammation but is non-invasive, fully automated, and completely safe."
In addition to the MLS M8 Robotic Laser, OrthoLazer's business-in-a-box system provides franchise partners everything from real estate selection and staff recruiting services to a completely designed and delivered branded OrthoLazer Center. The OrthoLazer Centers' business systems and software streamline operations to maximize efficiencies and minimize staffing requirements.
"Our system eliminates all the guesswork and much of the leg work," Dr. Sigman said. "This means busy orthopedic practices can get their OrthoLazer center up and running quickly with very little work on their part."
To learn more about OrthoLazer, visit their website at OrthoLazer.com or call their office at 888-652-9199.
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Media Contact
Mark Mollenkopf, OrthoLazer Laser Centers, +1 (585) 703-8322, [email protected]
SOURCE OrthoLazer Laser Centers
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