Clinical Confidence, Patient Buy-in, and Practice Growth with MLS Laser Therapy
Q&A with Dr. Kyle Pankonian,
Red Rock Chiropractic Center
For Dr. Kyle Pankonin, MLS® Laser Therapy isn't just an adjunct. It's the backbone of his practice.
Serving the small town of Lamberton, Minnesota, for more than 25 years, Dr. Pankonin has built a reputation for treating complex neuromusculoskeletal conditions with consistent, measurable results. Patients travel from out of town for care, drawn by outcomes that include a 91% overall success rate across chronic pain conditions.
Dr. Pankonin explains how MLS Laser Therapy reshaped his clinical approach, why upgrading technology mattered, and how advanced laser care transformed both patient results and practice performance.
How has MLS Laser Therapy changed your approach to chiropractic care?
We have five MLS Lasers, which are a big part of our practice. Just about every condition that walks into a chiropractic office, in my opinion, is a potential laser case, especially in the world of neuromusculoskeletal medicine.
I keep track every year, statistically, of every patient that we treat with MLS Laser Therapy, and last year we had a 91% success rate, meaning that 91% of the cases that we treat with the laser saw at least a 50% or greater improvement of their condition.
We have three different niches that we concentrate on: chronic knee pain, peripheral neuropathy, and chronic neck and back pain. We have specific protocols for each - but the centerpiece of each of those protocols is the MLS Laser.
Last year, we had an 86% success rate on chronic knee pain, an 85% success rate for chronic neck and back pain, and an 84% success rate for peripheral neuropathy.
We also treated many cases of plantar fasciitis, shoulder tendonitis, bursitis, greater trochanteric pain syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and a whole host of other conditions. Some are acute, some are chronic, but overall, across the board, we see a 91% success rate. Some less, some more, but overall, that's where we're at.
What feedback have you received from patients after upgrading to the MLS Therapy Laser?
I think what patients most appreciate about the MLS Therapy Laser is simply the results that they get. They're appreciative of the fact that they can get relief without drugs and without surgery.
A lot of people who come in for laser therapy have been stuck in the medical model of what I call "drug it, numb it, or cut it" for pain. They're going to give them a pill, a shot, or surgery. Well, pills don't fix pain. They just temporarily relieve it. Shots do the same thing, and surgery is a last resort.
A lot of these patients are looking for alternatives to get the relief that they're after. At the end of the day, when they get relief, as most of them do with laser therapy, they're thankful. They're grateful that you, as a doctor, have invested in this advanced technology and that you offer it in your clinic.
That ultimately drives your practice. Content, happy, satisfied patients refer others. We commonly get new patients come in and say, "I want that laser therapy, Dr. Kyle," because they've heard it from a friend, a family member, a neighbor, and the relief that they've gotten.
How has offering MLS Laser Therapy impacted your practice financially?
Laser therapy is a great clinical addition to the practice from a financial point of view.
We got our first laser in 2016, and now we have five lasers. In 2023, we generated $256,000 from just laser therapy alone. A quarter of a million dollars from just laser therapy.
In my practice, we're about a 50/50 blend of insurance and cash. Prior to implementing cash-based services in our practice, we saw a lot of patients, but our bottom line really wasn't that good.
Now, since implementing things like laser and decompression therapy, and adding some of the niches into the practice—which center around the laser—we've been able to add an additional about half a million dollars of cash-based services.
What best practices would you recommend to doctors who are considering adding MLS Laser Therapy to their treatment plans?
I always tell doctors: whatever you normally do in your chiropractic practice, that is your silver plan. The gold plan is whatever you normally do with a certain condition for treatment and MLS Laser Therapy. You're going to see a lot of people go for the gold plan. You're going to see increased results. Not only clinically, but also from a financial point of view. You're going to see an increase in revenue.
It is an investment to get a laser, no doubt, but if you use it right, you can recoup your investment on the laser within the first year. After that, it's off to the races, and you're gaining on your bottom line. Don't be afraid to invest in high-end technology like this. It is not only a game-changer clinically, but it can be a game-changer financially as well.