Tendonitis is a common injury that affects athletes, especially runners. The pain usually starts at the back of the knee or ankle and radiates down the leg. If left untreated, it can cause long-term damage to the tendons. Red Light Therapy For Tendonitis has become very popular over the last decade, especially with the surfacing of successful DIY biohacking devices like Joovv.
This treatment uses red light bulbs to stimulate the body’s natural healing response. It has become one of the go-to biohacking devices for treating all sorts of issues like muscle pain and not-so-good thyroid systems.
Red light therapy is effective for treating pain and other musculoskeletal injuries. In addition to reducing inflammation, it also helps increase blood flow and promotes tissue repair. It may take several treatments before you see results, but in some cases, it can help heal within days.
What Is Tendonitis?
Tendonitis occurs when a tendon becomes inflamed or irritated.
It usually starts off as a minor problem but if left untreated, it can lead to chronic tendonitis.
The most common types of tendonitis are Achilles tendonitis, biceps tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, flexor tendonitis, gastrocnemius tendonitis, gluteal tendinitis, hip tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, patella tendonitis, quadriceps tendonitis, rotator cuff tendonitis, shoulder tendonitis, supraspinatus tendonitis, tibialis posterior tendonitis, triceps tendonitis, ulnar collateral ligament tear, wrist tendonitis, and zoster sores.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work For Tendonitis?
Red light therapy uses low-energy lasers to emit infrared light into the affected areas. This stimulates the growth of new collagen fibers within the damaged area. Collagen is the main component of healthy tendons. (1)
This process improves circulation to the area and reduces swelling. In addition, it increases the amount of oxygen available to cells and boosts metabolism.
How To Use Laser Therapy For Tendonitis
You can use laser therapy the following way:
Step 1:
The first step to using red light therapy is to determine if your condition is caused by inflammation or stress. Inflammation is often caused by repetitive motion or overuse.
Stress is more difficult to identify, but could include conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, sprains, muscle strains, and tendonitis. Once you have determined what type of injury you are dealing with, you will need to decide which wavelength works best for your particular injury.
There are many different wavelengths available including infrared, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, violet, white, and even combinations of these.
Step 2:
The next step is to find a device that produces the appropriate wavelength. You can use either a laser or LED device.
A laser emits light from one end while an LED produces light from both ends. Both devices work well for most applications, although there are differences between them. LASERs emit a narrow beam of light, which means they are good for small areas like a finger joints.
They are not recommended for larger areas due to their inability to penetrate deep tissue layers. On the other hand, LEDs produce a broad beam of light that penetrates deeper than lasers. However, they do not provide the same degree of precision needed for smaller joints.
Step 3:
Once you have chosen the correct device for your needs, you will want to set up a schedule for how frequently you should perform each session.
Most people recommend performing sessions three times per week for four weeks. Some people report getting better results after just two treatments. After 4-6 weeks of weekly treatments, you will want to stop for 2-4 weeks before starting again.
Step 4:
After following the above steps, you will want to perform a few tests to ensure that your injury is responding positively to the therapy.
First, check your range of motion. If you notice any improvement, then you know the treatment is working. Next, test your strength. If you feel stronger, then you know that the therapy is helping. Finally, check your flexibility. If you notice improved flexibility, then you know that your treatment plan is working.
If you are experiencing pain during any of these tests, you may want to consider adding additional therapies to your regimen. These might include massage, stretching exercises, ice packs, heat packs, ultrasound, acupuncture, or physical therapy.
Types of Other Pains That Laser Therapy Treats
Bursitis – This occurs when fluid builds up under the skin causing irritation and inflammation. Bursae are small sacs filled with fluid that protect joints from friction and pressure.
Ligament Tears – These occur when a ligament becomes stretched beyond its normal range of motion. Ligaments hold bones together and help stabilize joints.
Sprains – A sprain happens when a ligament tears and stretches out of place.
Tendinitis – Tendinitis refers to inflammation in a tendon.
How Long Will My Tendinitis Treatment Take?
Red light therapy treatments will take between 10 minutes to 1 hour depending on the severity of the injury.
How Often Should I Get Tendinitis Treatment?
You should receive one session per day for at least 4 days a week for 2 weeks. You can continue this treatment schedule indefinitely until the symptoms have completely resolved.
Are There Any Side Effects During Tendinitis Treatment?
There are no known side effects associated with red light therapy.
However, you may experience some mild soreness after your first treatment. If you do experience any soreness, try icing the area for 15 minutes before continuing with your treatment.
You should not use other heat therapies such as ultrasound or hot packs during your treatment sessions.
Can Red Light Therapy Be Used To Treat Other Conditions?
Yes! Red light therapy can be used to treat many different conditions including:
- Athlete’s foot
- Arthritis
- Back pain
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Frozen shoulder
- Hip pain
- Joint pain
- Knee pain
- Neck pain
- Neck stiffness
- Osteoarthritis
- Post-surgical recovery
- Shoulder pain
- Sprains
- Stress relief
- Sports injuries
- Swelling
- Wrist pain
- Wrinkles
- Other benefits of using red light therapy include:
- Increased joint mobility
- Improved circulation
- Enhanced healing time
- Relief from arthritis pain
- Reduced swelling
- Reduced inflammation
- Reduction in scarring
- Reduced bruising
- Reduced pain
- Reduced stress levels
- Reduced risk of infection
- Reduced risk of surgery
- Reduced risk of scar formation
- Reduced risk of wound healing complications
- Reduced risk of thrombosis
- Reduced risk of varicose veins
- Reduced risk of vein damage
What Is The Cost Of Red Light Tendinitis Therapy?
Cost varies based on where you live and how much you need to see improvement. Prices typically range from $50-$200 per treatment. But if you’re using personal red light therapy devices like Joovv, the overall cost reduces in the long run.
Are There Any Alternatives For Tendinitis Treatment?
Yes, there are alternatives to red light therapy. These include:
- Acupuncture
- Massage therapy
- Medications
- Physical therapy
Conclusion for Red Light Therapy For Tendonitis
Red light therapy is the swiss army knife of biohacking! It treats every sort of pain. Now you don’t have to worry about sports injury if you can subscribe to red light therapy as a routine.
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Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4846838/