Comparative Analysis of Pulsed and Continuous Wave Modes in High-Intensity Laser Light Therapy: Implications for Deep Tissue Treatment

High-intensity laser at a wavelength of 1064 nm has gained significant attention in the field of therapeutic applications due to its potential to penetrate deeper. Continuous wave laser therapy, although effective, poses a challenge of elevated skin temperature. This study endeavors to explore the transition from continuous to pulsed laser, aiming to enhance light fluence in deep tissue while mitigating skin temperature rise. Investigating continuous versus pulsed wave in transdermal deep tissue light therapy, this research utilizes a high-intensity laser at 1064 nm to optimize fluence in deep muscle tissue of the human knee, minimizing absorption-driven skin temperature rise. Simulated parameters, including peak power (60 W), pulse width (2 ms), duty cycle (10%), frequency (50 Hz), as well as beam size of 20 mm, indicate that pulsed wave irradiation after 300 s achieved the lowest skin surface temperature (42.5°C) and the highest fluence (approximately 4.2 J/cm²).