Kirsten Sinclair, podiatrist, on why she’s excited to be part of the expanding use of Class 4 Therapeutic Laser in Healthcare

As a Podiatrist in private practice, I was always looking out for ways to improve and grow my treatment options and my business. After hearing about the MLSⓇ laser in 2019, I added this modality into my clinical practice and didn’t look back. I began doing virtual laser demonstrations for Celtic SMR Healthcare in 2021, alongside working as a Podiatrist and running my clinic in the Orkney islands. I discovered that I really enjoyed sharing my love of therapeutic laser and helping other clinicians across the UK and Ireland to add laser into their practices. At the start of this year (2022) the opportunity arose for me to join Celtic full time so I jumped in with both feet. Since I got my MLSⓇ laser in 2019, it has been a constant learning curve, I learn new things almost every day and that’s something I particularly enjoy.

The term ‘laser’ may be considered a little outdated with the modality more often being referred to now as ‘photobiomodulation’ or PBM. The reason for this being that laser is considered to be a very non distinct term which could potentially refer to a number of different applications for phototherapy. Numerous devices are available to carry out PBM treatments, with most being class 3B lasers or more recently, higher powered class IV lasers. There are many variables between different devices including the wavelength of the light delivered, the power of the machine itself, delivery technique and the frequency of the light pulses. I chose the MLSⓇ laser mostly due to it’s efficacy, ease of use and where its treatment parameters sit within the variables mentioned. I’m so glad I did!

I am passionate about PBM and the MLSⓇ laser because I’ve seen first hand the difference it can make for both patients and practice and regularly hear more reports from PBM practitioners about the successes they’ve had. There is some very exciting research going on in the world of PBM at the moment, including at the ASA Institute in Florence into the use of PBM to treat patients with Covid 19 and at the Limburg Oncologic Laser Institute where they are researching the effect of PBM in cancer care to prevent or reduce the side effects of treatments, specifically lymphedema, radiodermatitis, hair loss and neuropathy as side effects of chemotherapy.

I am delighted to be presenting at The Foot & Ankle Show Digital in April 2022, talking about the science as well as sharing some case studies to demonstrate the incredible results achieved with PBM. I’ve said it many times before and will say it again, I feel like we’re at the tip of the iceberg with the use of PBM in healthcare and I’m excited to be here for it.