Joint pain is one of the most common health conditions, with over a third of adults reporting joint discomfort in national surveys. In this article, we’ll explain the causes of joint pain and break down some of the leading treatment options. We’ll also take a look at red light therapy for joint pain as well as the science and research behind it.
What is Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses LED lights to deliver red and near infrared (NIR) wavelengths of light to the body and cells. It’s a popular modality with trainers and sports medicine professionals, and there’s a growing body of peer-reviewed clinical research showing that red light therapy treatments can improve pain symptoms in joints.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
Red light therapy typically utilizes two different spectrums of light, red and near infrared. Red light is delivered using 660nm wavelengths and readily absorbed by surface tissues and cells. Near infrared is delivered at 850nm wavelengths and can penetrate into deeper tissues, leading to enhanced recovery and inflammation support. Near infrared light is invisible to the naked eye.
Clinical Evidence for Red Light Therapy for Arthritis and Pain Relief
Red light therapy has a strong clinical track record for osteoarthritis pain. In one double-blind clinical study, 50 patients with degenerative osteoarthritis in both knees were treated with either red light, infrared light, or a placebo for ten days. The red and infrared groups saw their pain reduced by over 50%. This led the research team to conclude that red light therapy “is effective in relieving pain and disability in degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee.”
Red light therapy has also been shown to be effective for ankle pain. In a 2018 clinical trial, patients with acute ankle sprains were treated with red light from LED devices for six days. Compared to a placebo group, the patients reported significantly less ankle pain after three days.
Red light therapy has consistently shown good clinical results for lower back pain. Infrared and near infrared light have demonstrated improved pain scores in studies and trials, especially for the treatment of chronic lower back pain.
Other Health Benefits of Red Light Therapy
LED red light treatments can have a wide range of additional health and wellness benefits. These are some of the most common:
- Enhanced cellular function and ATP energy
- Inflammation management
- Improved blood flow and healing
- Better sleep and circadian rhythm
Risks and Side Effects of Red Light Therapy
LED devices are quick and easy to use at home. They’ve also proven to be safe, with almost no side effects, in hundreds and hundreds of clinical trials and studies. Doctors and health practitioners use LED treatments because they’re non-invasive and well-tolerated by patients young and old.
How to Use Red Light Therapy
Red light treatments have become a lot more popular with both professionals and consumers in the last 5-10 years. Today you can find red light therapy at a wide range of clinics and businesses such as CRYO Stay Young.
Red Light Therapy Can Improve Joint Pain
Red light therapy is a safe, effective therapy for various joint pain and inflammation concerns, and it’s backed by a large body of peer-reviewed clinical research and used by a large number of physical therapists around the world to treat pain.
