Lesson 5: What is the Correct Dosage?

Joules or dose is one of the most important things to know about your low level laser because success for most conditions is directly related to how much energy or dose of energy is delivered. Many people do not know the term “joules” and most laser owners, and in some cases even the manufacturer of the laser, do not know how many joules of energy their laser produces. Joules is defined as the amount of energy delivered by one watt of power in one second. It is the measurement of the dose of energy produced by lasers. The formula is calculated as power in watts multiplied by the treatment time in seconds and divided by the area in CM² and is the energy density of the photons emitted by the laser. The formula is expressed as J/CM². Lasers such as the Q1000 that can control the elements of this formula produce superior results.Another way of writing the formula is output x time divided by the spot size covered. By changing any one of these, the benefits of the laser are altered. Laser output, like the energy delivered on all 110 volt power lines, varies unless controlled in some way. The Q1000 laser controls its dosage by sophisticated miniature computers. Since low level lasers produce a linear beam that is not collimated, the spot size gets larger and less powerful the farther away it is moved from the target. This makes measuring joules of energy difficult for any instrument that is held at varying distances from the skin or is moved during the application.

While some companies lead you to believe that wavelength regulates success, success of low level laser therapy depends more on the total joules of energy, more so than wavelength. Some scientists and companies in the attempt to get the energy deeper into the body tissues increase the total joules of energy, to a point where it is to much energy and the benefits decrease as the energy moves down the back side of the Bell Curve. This can put a negative connotation in the user’s mind that low level lasers don’t work when in reality they have exceeded the beneficial joule/dose range or used the wrong laser.

The QLaser System is designed to operate for three minutes per cycle unless shut off sooner by the operator. The dosage is as follows:

  • Q10 – DOSE 2.52 Joules
  • Q 1000 - DOSE 7.56 Joules.
  • 660 Enhancer DOSE 6.43 Joules
  • 808 Enhancer DOSE 54.05 Joules