Red light therapy for pain works just like a hot cup of tea on a rainy day.
We know you are here looking for pain treatment options, and Red light therapy has caught your eye.
You must be getting a lot of questions in mind like:
- Does red light therapy such as Joovv red light devices help relieve pain?
- What type of pain does red light therapy heal?
- Is red light therapy safe?
And many more.
Trust me! We have answered how red light therapy improves sleep and tendonitis pain. We are going to answer this as well.
So let’s move ahead!
What’s red light therapy for pain?
Okay! To answer this question, we will dive into the technical dimension.
It’s a step-by-step process.
- The device or instruments expose your skin to red or infrared light.
- The red light then produces a biochemical effect in your cells.
- This effect helps strengthen your mitochondria or the powerhouse of the cell.
- Your energy production gets a good boost.
That’s it?
You must be thinking, how does it even help relieve pain?
The twist here is, that your mitochondria produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
What’s that now?
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is a molecule that transfers energy to all your body cells.
And how does Red light help?
Red light therapy boosts your mitochondria’s ATP production.
And the results are –
- Repaired and healed cells resulting in wound healing.
- Better functioning of cells leads to reduced pain and inflammation.
- Boosted Collagen production- The collagen protein gives your skin a shape and exists in muscles and connective tissues. The split-up tissues are stitched together through a network made up of collagen when the wounds repair.
- Stem cells are set in motion- Stem cells are home to various specialty cells like brain cells, bone cells, blood cells, and heart muscle cells. Exposing your stem cells to red or infrared light activates them. The activated cells then travel to the wounded area and help in the healing process.
How does Red light therapy benefit in suppressing pain?
Much research has been on how helpful low-level light therapy or Red light therapy is for you. (1)
Red light therapy for pain benefits #1: Heals wounds and repairs tissues
Many researchers have claimed that red light therapy hastens the healing process by reducing inflammatory cells.
Red light therapy for pain benefits #2: Decreases pain and inflammation
Red light plays an essential role in curbing inflammation and pain.
Studies suggest that it is a beautiful cure for people suffering from Achilles tendonitis.
The research included seven patients suffering from Achilles tendonitis.
After the red light therapy work, they felt reduced pain and inflammation in all 14 tendons.
Red light therapy for pain benefits #3: Boosts Joint health
Elderly patients suffering from osteoarthritis, when exposed to those red light-emitting diodes, felt a significant decrease in pain, better joint health, and the effects were long-lasting.
Red light therapy for pain benefits #4: Enhances injury and recovery time
A study conducted on 65 athletes with various tendonitis and ligament damage, sprains, and strains has a lot to tell about red light therapy.
The study concluded that red or low-power laser therapy helped in a Fastrack healing of wounds and reduced the return to game period.
Red light therapy for pain benefits #5: Reduces dental pain
Another small study claimed that people suffering from temporomandibular dysfunction syndrome (TMD) felt reduced pain, jaw tenderness, and clicking after a low level of infrared light therapy.
Red light therapy for pain benefits #6: Cures back and neck pain
Red light therapy also treats your back and neck. It helps relax the muscles by exposing them to infrared waves.
Red light therapy for pain benefits #7: Promotes an active lifestyle
With reduced pain and minimized recovery time, you can function better physically and mentally.
Chronic pain can put limitations over your capacity to lead a healthy life. With Red light therapy on your side, all these limitations are removed.
With continued research, the benefits of red and infrared light continue to develop.
Constant progress is being made towards making this treatment and Red and near-infrared light therapy devices more effective, pocket-friendly, and readily available.
What types of pain does red light therapy treat?
Red light therapy is like a potato!
Versatile and amazing!
Just like a potato which can be cooked in different ways to satisfy your taste buds every time, red light therapy can be used as a versatile pain treatment option. (2)
Here is a list of all the different pain types red light therapy may help relieve:
Curing chronic pain
Red light therapy can be a great option if you have chronic pain issues.
Since it is safer in comparison to the other treatments, you can easily use it at home.
You can use it at a suitable frequency ( up to 3 times a day).
Relieving joint pain
The research was made taking into account fifty patients with degenerative osteoarthritis of both knees.
The patients have to apply the treatment for 15 minutes 2 times a day for ten days.
The results were incredible!
There was a significant improvement in pain relief, and the effects lasted longer.
Treating neck pain
Red light therapy can be your magic wand if your neck pain is making you crazy.
The research took into consideration 60 students with acute neck pain.
When the students were exposed to red light, they experienced significant pain relief.
Not only this!
They also experienced an improved range of motion within six weeks, reduced pain, and their functionality escalated.
Curing osteoarthritis
As we all know, the two significant traits of osteoarthritis are :
- Joint pain and
- Inflammation
As mentioned above, red light therapy is an excellent cure for both pain and inflammation.
To sum it up!
If you are suffering from osteoarthritis, Red light therapy can be your rescue.
Low-intensity light therapy or red light therapy, when combined with exercise, can further improve your range of motion.
Curing Bursitis
The primary symptoms of Bursitis include:
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Redness
Red light therapy hastens the healing process by boosting your mitochondria’s ATP ( Adenosine Triphosphate) production.
It helps reduce swelling and improves motion.
So, we are glad to inform you that Bursitis also comes under the radar of red light therapy.
Red light therapy is your savior!
The truth has been spoken!
Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome, also known as median tunnel syndrome has the following traits:
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Weakness in the palm or hand
Red light therapy helps in relaxing the muscles, thereby reducing numbness and tingling.
Though the therapy is effective in the short run, there are limited to no studies to evaluate its efficacy for the long term.
Healing Diabetic foot ulcers
Diabetic foot ulcers are painful, expose even the tendons and bones, and be treated timely.
Red light therapy is known for improving blood circulation and fastening the healing process.
So it is easy to deal with these ulcers with the help of red light therapy.
Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
Acute pain happens to be the first thing that comes to mind when we say rheumatoid arthritis.
And it has been proven that Red light therapy helps in a substantial decrease in pain and stiffness related to arthritis.
So we can evaluate how huge is the radar of red light therapy when it comes to pain relief.
Are there similar treatment options for pain?
Red light therapy is a magical treatment curing numerous problems.
But other great treatments are of great use for pain relief. (3)
Tens therapy
- Jams up pain receptors by electrocuting stimulators, so you don’t feel any pain.
- Focuses on the pain area by putting the electrodes on the pain area.
- No side effects.
Hot and cold therapy
- Heat therapy promotes healing by improving blood flow.
- Cold therapy reduces swelling and pain by reducing the blood flow.
- Both the treatments focus on targeted pain relief.
- Little to no side effects
Pain medications
- It can be availed easily through a doctor’s prescription.
- The dose can range from low to high.
- Can pose dangers to health if taken in heavy dose without consulting your doctor
- Can be addictive
- Does not provide targeted pain relief
Physical therapy
- Special techniques are used to relieve pain and expand movement in injuries.
- May need a physical therapist in some cases.
- Increases your range of motion through stretching and strength training.
There are various types of light therapies like Blue light therapy or full-spectrum therapies.
However, they do not contribute to pain relief.
What Are the Risks related to red light therapy?
If you are perturbed about the safety of red light therapy, rest assured.
Red light therapy is safe and painless and is invisible to the human eye. (4)
And there are no marked rules on how much or for how long you must use it.
However, in sporadic cases, you may get blisters and burns.
But it usually happens if used for a prolonged period or because of broken wires or if the device becomes corrosive.
Though it is safer for the eyes than traditional laser therapies, it is advisable to wear proper eye protection while going for therapy.
Where Do You Get Red Light Therapy?
In most cases, it’s done in a doctor’s chamber.
Some salons also offer these services.
You can also get your own red light biohacking sleep therapy device.
But you must consult your doctor before going for home therapy.
In case you need red light therapy today itself, you’d want to go through joovv reviews.
Frequently asked questions.
Take a look at some of the frequently asked questions.
Does Red light therapy or low-level laser therapy for pain work?
Red light or low-level laser therapy helps relieve pain by improving blood circulation and speeding up the healing process.
With low-level wavelengths of light, it treats different pain-related problems.
It provides faster healing in comparison to other treatments.
How many sessions of red light therapy does it take to see the result?
It will take up to 10 sessions for you to see the results for red light therapy.
You will start noticing minor differences after the first biohacking session with red light therapy.
However, results will be significant and dramatic after you have completed all the sessions.
What are the side effects of red light therapy?
Red light therapy is safe and painless and does not have many side effects.
However, there may be some effects.
Sometimes it can cause irritation, headache, and eye strain.
Is Red light therapy suitable for back pain?
Red light therapy is an excellent cure for back pain.
It improves blood circulation, thereby reducing pain caused by a variety of health issues.
Not only this, but it also improves the range of motion and boosts functionality.
Sources:
1 https://www.healthline.com/health/red-light-therapy
2 https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/red-light-therapy
3 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325884
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6988247/