Abstract
More than half all Americans experience pain. 20-30% of these people suffer from orofacial pain. As health care practitioners we need to manage the pain as well as addressing the etiology in order to bring about the best outcome for the patient.
While current, traditional treatment modalities are both respected and important, an integrative approach is essential, including PBMT, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), chiropractic medicine, osteopathic medicine etc.
PBM, or PhotoBioModulation treatment, a therapeutic form of red and infrared light therapy, has come to be a unifying term covering low level laser treatment (LLLT), sourced from laser and/or LED light devices. PBM therapy increases healing efficiency, including reduction of inflammation and faster muscle recovery. Acupuncture, a complimentary pain management modality, stimulates neurological responses including endorphin release and by activating the meridian channel, reversing stagnation (pain) and increasing the flow of vital energy. These two modalities are in fact interdependent, complimenting and fortifying one another’s benefits. The meridian system can complimentarily be activated with PBM, when directed to the correct location. Meridian mapping techniques, the identification of correlated meridian points and anatomicalmapping techniques, the identification of correlated meridian points and anatomical landmarks, will be discussed.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the significance of exploring alternative approaches to pain management
- Learn integrative treatment approaches, including PBM therapy and acupuncture
- Review the functional mechanisms of PhotoBioModulation and Acupuncture
- Learn how to integrate PBM into your patients’ home care program
- Apply evidence-based principles to develop integrative PBM and acupuncture treatment protocols for common orofacial pain conditions.
