Training: theory and practice, two sides of the same coin

The keyword for the courses, workshops, one-to-one or public in-depth sessions of ASAveterinary is concreteness, especially when the participants are veterinary specialists who use MLS® Laser Therapy on two fronts: on one side the animal, which must be brought back to the best quality of life, and on the other side the owner, who must see objective evidence of the effectiveness of the therapy. ‘All of this while also benefiting their business,’ adds Patrick Herbots, veterinarian specializing in small animal surgery, equine and canine physiotherapist, and ASA trainer.

Training not only to learn the guidelines for using MLS® Laser Therapy, but also to further qualify one’s professionalism. What are the benefits that veterinarians can reap for their work by participating in a training session?
First of all, we teach an evaluation method and an approach that is actually useful to get an overview of the situation. Specifically: after an analysis of the pathology based on the symptomatology, we move on to defining priorities, an essential premise to understand how to intervene and develop an adequate therapeutic plan. During the training we also teach how to evaluate the treatment of the surrounding tissues for the management of the healing process and the importance of tissue palpation. Last but not least we also explain how to change the treatment parameters from the saved protocols in order to obtain better results. Not all patients, also because of different metabolism, respond to the same therapy in the same way; it is therefore appropriate to focus on case-by-case customization when necessary. All factors that influence the performance of the professional and the results for the patient.

Those who enrol in the courses, not knowing ASA’s guidelines for the administration of training, probably do so also for other reasons...
Usually those who join our training sessions are veterinarians between 30-50 years old, sometimes accompanied by a nurse, interested in learning more about the principles of laser therapy and its benefits in treating common pathologies of dogs, horses, and exotic species. The ultimate goal is to understand if its integration into their practice is truly an element that adds value. In some cases, among the participants there are also specialists who have purchased the laser without specific knowledge about it but now they must learn how to use it correctly.

The greatest number of questions and doubts probably come from them…
Actually, all participants do not hesitate to ask questions; there is great need for information: they are mainly interested in how to structure targeted protocols or how to define the most suitable frequencies to use for each case. They also ask for advice on how to convince the owners of the effectiveness of laser therapy to successfully treat their life companions. No significant doubts, instead, after attending a training session: the important thing is to reassure them that the therapy is safe, non-toxic, and painless for the patient. Which means it acts in depth without burning or causing pain.

Patrick Herbots - MLS seminar at Kasetsart University (Bangkok)
Patrick Herbots - National Taiwan Normal University (Taipei)
Patrick Herbots - Kasetsart University Veterinary International Conference