In laser therapy, the term "thermal relaxation time" refers to what?

The term "thermal relaxation time" refers specifically to the time required for tissues to cool between pulses in laser therapy. This concept is critical in understanding how laser energy affects biological tissues. After a laser pulse is delivered, the tissues absorb the energy and begin to heat up. Once the pulse ends, the tissues do not immediately revert to their original temperature; instead, they require a specific amount of time to dissipate the heat that has been absorbed.

Understanding this time period is essential for determining appropriate pulse durations and intervals in laser treatment protocols to ensure that the treatment is effective while minimizing the risk of overheating or damaging tissues. If the intervals between pulses are too short and do not allow for adequate thermal relaxation, it may lead to excessive tissue temperature and potential injury, which is why thermal relaxation time is a key consideration in laser therapy settings.