Acute Musculoskeletal Conditions

LightForce® Lasers are indicated to provide topical heating to elevate tissue temperature for the temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain and stiffness, minor arthritis pain, or muscle spasm; to temporarily increase local blood circulation; and to temporarily relax muscle.

In the management of acute musculoskeletal conditions, laser therapy may be used as an adjunct when pain, muscle guarding, or localized spasms limit tolerance to movement, manual therapy, or early therapeutic exercise. Laser therapy may be incorporated early in a treatment session to help relax muscles and provide pain relief, allowing patients to more comfortably participate in active rehabilitation. Selection of the application area, dosing parameters, and timing within a treatment session or plan of care should be determined by the supervising clinician and based upon patient presentation.

Electrotherapy may be integrated as an adjunct within conservative rehabilitation for acute musculoskeletal conditions, based on treatment goals, patient presentation, and the specific indications cleared for each waveform and configuration.

Depending on the waveform selected, indications may include relaxation of muscle spasms; prevention or retardation of disuse atrophy; increased local blood circulation; muscle re-education; maintenance or increased range of motion; and symptomatic relief and management of post-traumatic acute pain or post-surgical acute pain. In acute care settings, electrotherapy may be used to address pain-related muscle inhibition, early activation challenges, or movement avoidance that interferes with functional retraining.

Therapeutic ultrasound is indicated for the application of therapeutic deep heat for the treatment of selected medical conditions, including relief of pain, muscle spasms, and joint contractures.

In acute or early sub-acute musculoskeletal conditions, ultrasound may be incorporated as an adjunct when deep heat is selected to support treatment objectives such as reducing muscle spasm or improving tissue extensibility prior to manual therapy or exercise. Use remains dependent on stage of healing, tissue tolerance, and approved indications.

Hot and cold therapy products may be used to support care for acute musculoskeletal conditions by providing localized cold or heat therapy to body surfaces. Cold therapy is commonly selected in acute presentations to provide pain relief and reduce swelling, while heat may be applied after the initial acute phase, when appropriate, based on patient symptoms and treatment goals to help with pain and stiffness.