Michigan State University course 2020

Photobiomodulation (Laser Therapy) So Much to Tell

With the start of the academic year, we all get back to the work at hand and say goodbye to the carefree days of summer. Although we all enjoy the laid back time of July and August, it is always nice to get back to the work at hand. At the Brockton Animal Hospital this means full engagement in taking care of our patients and promoting pet care. In addition, the pace of our Photobiomodulation work accelerates greatly. So far this year we have four veterinary colleges that have invited us to teach a short course on Light Therapy and several others looking at future dates. We are collaborating on several research projects in veterinary and human medicine alike such as Photobiomodulation and Chronic Renal (kidney) disease in humans and animals, treating chronic tail injuries with Light Therapy in military working dogs, and using light to treat neuropathy as a side effect of chemotherapy in Multiple Myeloma (human) patients. There are also several other projects in the planning stages.

Light Therapy has recently been widely accepted in the treatment of Oral Mucositis in humans, a common, severe, and painful side effect in bone marrow transplant patients. Likewise, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and PTSD veteran patients are being treated at some veteran’s facilities with light. In a recent report, a group study of Alzheimer patients suggests that Photobiomodulation improves cognitive function. Additionally, Macular Degeneration in humans, a common cause of visual impairment in older people, is now being treated with Light Therapy. Clearly the future holds much promise for the science of Photobiomodulation.

At the Brockton Animal Hospital, we use Light Therapy several times daily. While the most common applications are for medical conditions such as arthritis and disc disease, Chronic Kidney Disease is a condition that has shown to respond very favorably to Photobiomodulation. It seems as if daily we find additional applications for this remarkable and non-invasive therapy. As in the past, we will keep you updated on new developments in the field of Photobiomodulation. In the meantime, if you or any one in your sphere have questions regarding this treatment, feel free to contact us. In the meantime, here is a recent photo of a few of the Michigan State Veterinary School students who attended the course.