The Chiropractor's Complete Guide
to Therapy Lasers
Better patient outcomes. Stronger practice revenue. Drug-free pain relief that actually works. We've helped chiropractors choose the right laser for over 20 years.
Recommended Lasers for Chiropractic
We carry systems from multiple manufacturers so we can match you to the right laser based on your practice, not based on which brand pays us.
Why Smart Chiropractors Are Adding Laser Therapy
Insurance reimbursements are shrinking. Patients want drug-free options. Practices that offer photobiomodulation are winning, both clinically and financially.
The Clinical Case
The 2017 American College of Physicians guidelines specifically recommend laser therapy and spinal manipulation as non-drug, non-surgical options for chronic low back pain. That's mainstream medical consensus.
Laser therapy speeds up what chiropractic adjustments start. It relaxes muscles before an adjustment, reduces inflammation after, and helps damaged tissues heal faster than rest alone. Patients feel the difference.
With the opioid crisis still driving patients toward non-pharmaceutical pain relief, chiropractors who offer something beyond manual adjustments are the ones getting referrals from MDs, orthopedists, and pain management clinics.
The Business Case
Laser therapy works best as a cash-based modality. No insurance pre-auth. No denied claims. No waiting 60 days for reimbursement. The patient pays at time of service, and that revenue hits your account immediately.
Most practices pay off their laser equipment in 2 to 6 months. After that, every session is profit. And because patients who experience fast relief tend to stay longer, refer friends, and leave positive reviews, the indirect benefits can be even bigger than the direct revenue.
Your competitors down the street already have one, or they're about to. Patients notice when a practice offers advanced technology, and they talk about it.
How Laser Therapy Works (Without the PhD)
Photobiomodulation sounds complicated. The mechanism is simple, and understanding it makes you a better clinician and a more confident salesperson for the treatment.
The Short Version
Laser light at specific wavelengths passes through skin and is absorbed by chromophores in the mitochondria, primarily cytochrome c oxidase. This triggers a chain reaction: the cell produces more ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency every cell uses for repair, growth, and function.
More ATP means faster tissue repair, reduced inflammation, better circulation to the treatment area, increased collagen production, and release of endorphins for natural pain relief. Metabolic activity at the treatment site can increase by up to 150%.
Think of it this way: chiropractic adjustments restore proper alignment and nerve flow. Laser therapy gives the cells the extra energy they need to actually complete the healing that the adjustment sets in motion.
Key Biological Effects
Wavelengths: What the Numbers Mean
The "therapeutic window" for photobiomodulation falls between roughly 600nm and 1200nm. Within that range, different wavelengths do different things:
Class 3B (5mW–500mW): Lower power. Longer treatment times. No tissue heating. Best for superficial targets, small joints, acupuncture points. More affordable entry point.
Class 4 (>500mW, typically 10W–60W): Higher power = deeper penetration and faster treatments. Adjustable power lets you dial down for superficial work too. Requires safety eyewear. This is what most high-volume chiropractic offices choose.
Conditions Chiropractors Treat with Laser Therapy
Laser therapy is FDA cleared for pain relief, muscle and joint conditions, stiffness, and inflammation. Here's how it maps to a typical chiropractic caseload.
- Chronic low back pain
- Acute back pain & muscle spasm
- Disc herniation / bulging disc
- Sciatica
- Spinal stenosis
- Failed back surgery syndrome
- Degenerative disc disease
- Chronic neck pain
- Cervical radiculopathy
- TMJ / jaw pain
- Tension headaches
- Migraine headaches
- Whiplash
- Text neck
- Shoulder pain / rotator cuff
- Frozen shoulder
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer's elbow
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- De Quervain's tenosynovitis
- Wrist & hand pain
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Plantar fasciitis / heel spurs
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Hip pain / bursitis
- Ankle sprains
- Shin splints
- IT band syndrome
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Fibromyalgia
- Post-surgical pain
- Wound healing
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- DOMS
- Muscle strains & sprains
- Ligament injuries
- Tendinitis / tendinopathy
- Trigger points / myofascial pain
- Scar tissue & adhesions
- Bursitis
- Lymphedema
Laser Therapy + Chiropractic: Better Together
Laser doesn't replace what you do. It makes what you do work faster and hold longer. Research from Cleveland University-Kansas City found the combination may improve outcomes beyond either treatment alone.
Pre-Adjustment Laser
Apply laser to the target area before you adjust. The photonic energy relaxes muscle tension, reduces local inflammation, and increases blood flow. The adjustment is easier, the patient is more comfortable, and the correction tends to hold better.
Post-Adjustment Laser
After the adjustment, a quick laser session accelerates the healing response. Cells that just got repositioned receive a burst of ATP energy to repair micro-damage. Post-adjustment soreness is reduced and recovery between visits is faster.
Pairs With Your Whole Toolkit
Laser stacks well with spinal decompression, electrical stimulation, shockwave therapy, Graston, massage, and exercise rehab. It's additive, not competitive. You bill it separately. Another line item without replacing existing revenue.
Typical Treatment Plans
What Patients Experience
Sessions last 3–10 minutes per area with a Class 4 laser. Most patients describe a mild, pleasant warmth. Many relax or fall asleep during treatment.
No downtime, no side effects, no recovery period. Patients drive themselves to the appointment and go right back to their day.
Why Buy Through ColdLasers.org?
We're not a manufacturer pushing one product line. Select any of our systems and a competitor to see a head-to-head spec comparison.
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Competitor pricing & specs based on publicly available data as of 2025. Contact us for the latest verified comparisons.
Why Buy Through ColdLasers.org?
Every manufacturer's rep will tell you their laser is the best. We carry systems from multiple brands so we can match you to the right laser, not just the one that pays us the most.
Laser Therapy ROI Calculator
Select your laser system, adjust sliders to match your practice, and see projected revenue based on typical treatment fees and patient volume.
Revenue covers payment from day one · Section 179 tax savings: $4,808
CPT Codes & Insurance for Chiropractic Laser Therapy
The honest truth: most successful practices run laser therapy as a cash-based service. But you should understand the billing options.
There's no dedicated CPT code for laser therapy. Insurance coverage is inconsistent. Medicare doesn't cover it for chiropractic, and major carriers often classify LLLT as "experimental." Workers' comp and PI cases sometimes reimburse.
Running laser as cash-pay means no claim filing, no pre-auth, no denials, no 60-day wait. Patients pay $30–$75 per session at time of service. The simplicity is part of the appeal.
How to Market Laser Therapy in Your Practice
Buying the laser is step one. Getting patients excited is step two.
Published Research Supporting Laser Therapy
Over 7,000 studies on photobiomodulation. Here are the ones most relevant to chiropractic, organized by condition.
Reviews from DCs Using Our Lasers
Our Restocking Pro Guarantee
We know this is a big investment. We offer something almost nobody else in this industry does: a restocking guarantee on qualifying systems. If the laser doesn't meet your expectations, you can return it. No runaround.
Training, Protocols & Ongoing Support
Free Training With Every Purchase
Training is included: device operation, treatment techniques, protocol selection, safety compliance. Your whole staff can participate.
250+ Treatment Protocols
Free access to Laser-Therapy.US, our protocol library with 250+ dynamically-created pictorial protocols for humans, horses, and dogs. Each shows exactly where to point, how long to treat, and what settings to use.
Clinical Phone Support
Got a patient with a condition you haven't treated with laser before? Call us. Laser specialists on staff will walk you through treatment approaches.
What's Included:
✅ 250+ protocol library access
✅ Protective eyewear
✅ Free shipping
✅ Ongoing phone support
✅ Safety compliance guidance
✅ Marketing materials (select systems)
✅ Restocking guarantee
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what chiropractors ask us most.
Ready to Add Laser Therapy to Your Practice?
Talk to someone who's helped thousands of chiropractors make this decision. Financing available on all systems. Most practices are cash-flow positive from month one.
1-800-388-0850