The Physical Therapist's Complete Guide
to Therapy Lasers
Faster tissue repair. Better functional outcomes. A drug-free modality backed by thousands of published studies. We've helped PT clinics choose the right laser for over 20 years.
Recommended Lasers for Physical Therapy
We carry systems from multiple manufacturers so we can match you to the right laser based on your clinic and caseload, not based on which brand pays us.
Why Physical Therapists Are Adding Laser Therapy
Patients want faster recovery. Referring physicians want better outcomes data. Practices want revenue that doesn't depend on insurance. Laser therapy delivers on all three.
The Clinical Case
You already know modalities. Ultrasound, e-stim, iontophoresis — they've been in the toolkit for decades. Photobiomodulation works differently. It doesn't mask symptoms or push drugs through the skin. It drives cellular repair at the mitochondrial level, increasing ATP production so tissue heals faster from the inside out.
The literature is substantial. Over 7,000 published studies support photobiomodulation for pain reduction, inflammation control, and accelerated tissue repair. For post-surgical patients — ACL reconstructions, rotator cuff repairs, total joints — laser can meaningfully compress recovery timelines. Patients get back to function faster, and your outcomes data improves.
With the ongoing push toward non-pharmacological pain management, physical therapists who can offer a research-backed, drug-free modality that patients actually feel working are positioned to get referrals from orthopedists, sports medicine physicians, and pain management clinics.
The Business Case
Most PT clinics that add laser therapy run it as a cash-pay add-on. Patient pays $40 to $75 per session at time of service. No pre-auth, no claim filing, no denials, no 60-day wait for reimbursement. Revenue hits your account the same day.
When you have three or four therapists sharing one device and treating even a few laser patients each per day, the math works quickly. Most clinics pay off their equipment in 2 to 5 months. After that, every session is margin.
There's a retention angle too. Patients who experience faster relief stay in your plan of care longer, complete their full course of treatment, and refer friends. Your discharge outcomes improve, your net promoter scores go up, and your referral sources notice.
If you're a private practice competing against large hospital-based outpatient systems, laser therapy is a differentiator that's hard for them to match quickly. It shows patients you're invested in their outcomes, not just running them through a mill.
How Photobiomodulation Works
You've seen the studies. Here's the mechanism in practical terms — how it applies to the patients on your schedule today.
The Mechanism
Infrared and near-infrared photons penetrate tissue and are absorbed by chromophores in the mitochondria — primarily cytochrome c oxidase in Complex IV of the electron transport chain. This absorption dissociates inhibitory nitric oxide, restoring oxygen consumption and upregulating ATP synthesis.
The downstream effects are well-documented: increased cellular energy for tissue repair, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, improved microcirculation through nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation, enhanced collagen organization, and modulation of reactive oxygen species. Metabolic activity at the treatment site can increase by up to 150%.
For post-surgical patients, this translates to faster wound closure, reduced edema, and earlier return to functional movement. For chronic pain patients, the anti-inflammatory and neuromodulatory effects can break the pain-inflammation cycle that keeps them stuck.
Key Biological Effects
Wavelengths and Clinical Applications
The therapeutic window for photobiomodulation falls between roughly 600nm and 1200nm. Each wavelength has different tissue targets and penetration depths:
Class 3B (5mW–500mW): Lower power, longer treatment times, no tissue heating. Good for superficial targets, small joints, wound care, and clinics with a lower-acuity caseload. More affordable entry point.
Class 4 (>500mW, typically 10W–60W): Higher power means deeper penetration and faster treatments. Adjustable power lets you dial down for superficial work. Requires safety eyewear. This is what most high-volume outpatient PT clinics choose for the speed and clinical range.
Conditions Physical Therapists Treat with Laser Therapy
Laser therapy is FDA cleared for pain relief, muscle and joint conditions, stiffness, and inflammation. Here is how it maps to a typical outpatient PT caseload.
- ACL reconstruction
- Rotator cuff repair
- Total knee replacement
- Total hip replacement
- Spinal fusion
- Meniscectomy / meniscus repair
- Achilles tendon repair
- Carpal tunnel release
- Chronic low back pain
- Acute back pain and muscle spasm
- Disc herniation / bulging disc
- Sciatica / lumbar radiculopathy
- Spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Failed back surgery syndrome
- Chronic neck pain
- Cervical radiculopathy
- TMJ / jaw pain
- Tension headaches
- Whiplash / cervical strain
- Post-concussion syndrome
- Cervicogenic headache
- Shoulder impingement
- Frozen shoulder / adhesive capsulitis
- Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
- Medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- De Quervain's tenosynovitis
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Hip bursitis / trochanteric pain
- Patellofemoral syndrome
- Ankle sprains
- IT band syndrome
- Shin splints
- Muscle strains (hamstring, quad, calf)
- Ligament sprains
- Overuse injuries
- DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)
- Return-to-sport acceleration
- Contusions
- Stress fractures (adjunctive)
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Fibromyalgia
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Post-herpetic neuralgia
- Osteoarthritis (multiple joints)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Wound healing (post-surgical, chronic)
- Scar tissue and adhesions
- Lymphedema management
- Trigger points / myofascial pain
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis / tendinopathy
- Burns (adjunctive)
Laser Therapy + Physical Therapy: Clinical Integration
Laser therapy doesn't replace your clinical skills. It makes your manual therapy more effective, your exercise programs more tolerable, and your outcomes more measurable.
Before Manual Therapy or Exercise
Apply laser to the target area before you mobilize, manipulate, or load it. Photonic energy reduces local pain, relaxes guarding, and increases tissue extensibility. Patients tolerate more aggressive manual techniques and move through greater range during exercise. The treatment window opens wider.
After Treatment or Exercise
Post-treatment laser application accelerates the recovery response. Cells that just experienced mechanical stress or therapeutic loading receive a burst of ATP to repair micro-damage. Post-exercise soreness is reduced, inflammation is controlled, and recovery between sessions is faster. Patients show up to the next visit further along.
Pairs With Your Full Toolkit
Laser stacks well with everything you already do: therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, dry needling, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, electrical stimulation, aquatic therapy, neuromuscular re-education. It's additive, not competitive. You bill it separately. Another line item without replacing existing revenue streams.
Post-Surgical Protocols
This is where laser therapy really shows its value in a PT setting. After ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, or total joint replacement, patients are dealing with surgical inflammation, tissue trauma, and pain that limits their participation in rehab. Laser reduces post-operative edema, controls pain without additional medication, and accelerates collagen remodeling. Patients progress through their rehab milestones faster, which matters to both the patient and the referring surgeon.
Typical Treatment Plans
What Patients Experience
Sessions last 3–10 minutes per treatment area with a Class 4 laser. Most patients describe a mild, pleasant warmth. Some relax or fall asleep during treatment. There is no downtime, no side effects, no recovery period.
For your schedule, that means a laser add-on doesn't blow up your appointment block. A 5-minute treatment fits inside a standard session or can be billed as a brief add-on at the end.
Why PT Clinics Buy Through Us
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 for PT Clinics
Select your laser system, adjust sliders to match your clinic volume, and see projected revenue. Multiple therapists sharing one device makes the math even better.
Revenue covers payment from day one. Section 179 tax savings: $4,808
CPT Codes and Insurance for Laser Therapy in Physical Therapy
Here is the honest picture: most PT clinics that profit from laser therapy run it as a cash-pay add-on. But you should understand the billing landscape.
There is no dedicated CPT code for laser therapy. Insurance coverage remains inconsistent. Medicare does not cover it. Many commercial carriers classify LLLT as "experimental" or "investigational." Workers' comp and personal injury cases sometimes reimburse, and some carriers will pay under certain codes when properly documented.
The simplest and most profitable approach for most PT clinics: bill laser as a cash-pay add-on. Patient pays $40 to $75 per session at time of service. No claim filing, no pre-auth, no denials. It sits on top of your regular insurance-based plan of care as an elective enhancement. Patients who want faster recovery are willing to pay for it.
How to Build Laser Therapy Volume in Your PT Clinic
Buying the laser is step one. Getting patients and referring physicians to understand the value is step two.
Published Research Supporting Laser Therapy in Physical Therapy
Over 7,000 studies on photobiomodulation. Here are the ones most relevant to physical therapy practice, organized by clinical application.
Reviews from PTs Using Our Lasers
Our Restocking Guarantee
We understand this is a significant investment, especially for independent practices. We offer something almost nobody else in this industry does: a restocking guarantee on qualifying systems. If the laser doesn't meet your clinical expectations, you can return it. No runaround.
Training, Protocols, and Ongoing Support
Free Training With Every Purchase
Training is included with every system: device operation, treatment technique, protocol selection, safety compliance, and laser safety officer designation. Your entire team can participate — PTs, PTAs, and support staff.
250+ Treatment Protocols
Free access to Laser-Therapy.US, our protocol library with 250+ condition-specific, pictorial treatment protocols. Each shows exactly where to treat, how long, what settings to use, and expected dosing parameters. Covers human, equine, and canine applications.
Clinical Phone Support
Working with a patient presentation you haven't treated with laser before? Call us. Laser specialists on staff will walk you through dosing, treatment positioning, and protocol selection.
Included With Every System:
-- 250+ protocol library access
-- Protective eyewear (multiple pairs)
-- Free shipping
-- Ongoing clinical phone support
-- Safety compliance guidance
-- Marketing materials (select systems)
-- Restocking guarantee
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what physical therapists ask us most.
Ready to Add Laser Therapy to Your PT Clinic?
Talk to someone who has helped thousands of clinics make this decision. Financing available on all systems. Most practices are cash-flow positive from month one.
1-800-388-0850