Introduction: Red Light Therapy for Osteoarthritis Red light therapy has gained a great deal of following in recent years. It is used for treating skin and nerve problems. Lately, red light therapy for osteoarthritis is becoming more and more popular. In this article, we will discuss the possibility of using red light therapy for osteoarthritis, the possible side effects, the devices you can use for it, and whether you can use red light therapy at home.
What Is Osteoarthritis? Before we discuss the use of red light therapy in order to treat osteoarthritis, we need to know a bit more about the condition.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that affects millions of people all over the world. This condition happens when the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones wears down because of wear and tear. While the condition can happen to any joint, it is most common on the hands, wrists, knees, and spine.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis can be treated, however, the damage which causes those cannot be reversed. There are certain treatments that can be used to slow down the effects of the condition.
There are many symptoms of osteoarthritis, but the main one is pain. The affected joints will actually hurt when you are moving. This can cause a great deal of inconvenience. The same joints can feel stiff after a period of non-movement.
Another concerning symptom of osteoarthritis is loss of flexibility, and you might not be able to move the same joints for their full range of motion. Someone suffering from osteoarthritis can also feel a bit of a grating sensation when moving.
What Causes Osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage that joins two bones becomes worn down over time. The cartilage is slippery tissue that reduces the friction between the bones during movement. When that tissue becomes so worn down, the bones will start to rub against each other and you start feeling all the symptoms that were mentioned.
It is not just the cartilage that becomes affected by this condition. Eventually, as the bones start rubbing against each other, the bones will become damaged as well.
Treatment for Osteoarthritis Doctors may use X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to get an image of the affected area. They might also ask for some blood tests to confirm if you have osteoarthritis. As for the treatment, there are several that are available for treating the condition.
As mentioned earlier, there really is no way right now to reverse the damage that causes osteoarthritis. Once the cartilage has been damaged, that is it. The best that can be done is to reduce the symptoms and make things as comfortable for the patient.
The main treatment for treating osteoarthritis symptoms is to use medications. These medications can be used to reduce the pain, inflammation, and other symptoms. The problem is that these medications have side effects.
Physical therapy is another common treatment that is used for treating osteoarthritis. Certain exercises can strengthen the muscles around the joint and improve the flexibility around there. An occupational therapist can also help you to learn how to do certain tasks and movement without having to do too much strain on the joints.
Finally, if medications and physical therapy are not enough, then there are the surgical options. For example, cortisone injections to the affected joints might reduce the pain for a long period. There are also surgeries that can be used to add some sort of lubrication on the joints.
On top of all these treatments, there is one more treatment that is gaining a following right now. Red light therapy for osteoarthritis is an increasingly popular treatment because it is non-invasive and it has no side effects.
Best Red Light Therapy for Joint Pain and Osteoarthritis Red light therapy works by exposing the affected joints to red and near-infrared light, which is believed to lessen the pain and the inflammation. It is also believed that the light therapy can even help the nerves in the affected area.
As mentioned earlier, this form of therapy is gaining more and more following. There are several significant reasons for its popularity. First of all, the procedure is non-invasive, which a lot of people appreciate about it. Once it provides relief from the symptoms, then there is nothing else to worry about, unlike having surgery. Then there is the fact that there are no side effects, which can be a serious problem.
How the Best Red Light Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis Works
So how does red light therapy for osteoarthritis work?
When the affected joint is exposed to the red light, the cells there are stimulated. It does that without having to go in there surgically. The results are that inflammation is reduced and ultimately, pain goes down as well. The patient can move more easily.
Amazingly, the pain relief is said to be immediate after exposure to the red light. There is also a belief that red light therapy is a lot better because it actually treats the underlying cause and not just the symptoms.
Red light therapy can help regenerate the tissues that have been damaged, causing the bones to rub together. So, it’s not just immediate relief that you can get when you use red light therapy but a long term solution as well. However, as mentioned before, you cannot really reverse the damages which cause osteoarthritis but the red light therapy can work wonders.
Red Light Therapy Arthritis Studies It is quite easy to claim that using red light therapy to treat a condition like arthritis is very effective. However, it is best to rely on what actual clinical studies have discovered about a treatment before deciding if it is effective or not.
Here are some studies conducted on red light therapy efficacy and benefits for arthritis that are worth looking into.
Study 1: Can Red Light Therapy Reduce Knee Pain and Improve Function? Objective One of the studies tried to check if red light therapy and the traditional physiotherapy treatments can reduce pain levels and movement in people with knee osteoarthritis. They wanted to see if adding red light therapy to standard treatments like exercise, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound would provide additional benefits.
Results There were 71 patients with knee osteoarthritis who took part in the study and they were divided into two groups. One group received standard physiotherapy, while the other received the same treatments plus red light therapy applied to acupuncture points on the knee.
After treatment, those who received red light therapy reported significantly less pain and improved ability to walk and climb stairs compared to those who only had physiotherapy. The addition of red light therapy appeared to enhance pain relief and mobility.
Conclusion Red light therapy, when used alongside physiotherapy, helped reduce knee pain and improve movement. The study suggests that red light therapy is a safe, non-invasive treatment that could be included in osteoarthritis care guidelines¹.
Study 2: Can Red Light Therapy Strengthen the Quadriceps and Improve Knee Function? Objective This second study looked into the effects of red light therapy when applied to the quadriceps muscles. The researchers wanted to find out if the treatment could provide immediate pain relief and improve strength and mobility in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.
Results
A total of 51 participants with knee osteoarthritis received red light therapy applied to their quadriceps muscles for 30 minutes per session. After each session, they reported a 54% reduction in pain and showed noticeable improvements in their ability to stand up from a chair and walk faster. Using isokinetic dynamometer for strength measurement also revealed an increase in both muscle force and endurance.
Conclusion The study revealed that a single session of red light therapy provided immediate pain relief and improved muscle strength in knee osteoarthritis patients. These findings suggest that red light therapy may serve as a valuable non-invasive treatment².
Red Light Therapy Dangers and Side Effects One of the biggest concerns when it comes to any kind of treatment is the possibilities of side effects. So far, there are no side effects that can result from the use of red light therapy. This is one of the main advantages of this type of treatment, such as surgery and medications.
Total Spectrum Devices: Ideal for Red Light Therapy for Osteoarthritis Overview of the Total Spectrum Series for Osteoarthritis Relief Total Spectrum Devices are custom-made for Red Light Therapy and aid those suffering from osteoarthritis by alleviating pain, enhancing circulation, and aiding nerve healing. With various wavelengths the light can penetrate deeply into the tissues to promote healing. The MINI is perfect for focusing on specific and smaller areas, while the COMPACT treats an extended area for uniform relief. The MAX, ULTRA, and ELITE models provide stronger stimulation to boost healing. All models have wavelengths that range from 480 nm to 1064 nm.
Choosing the Right Total Spectrum Device for Osteoarthritis Treatment When picking a Total Spectrum Device for osteoarthritis, you need to think about the size of the area to be treated and the level of intensity that is needed. The MINI is best suited for small, localized relief, whereas the COMPACT treats a larger area for uniform treatment. MAX, ULTRA, and ELITE devices offer deeper stimulation for quicker recovery. All devices use safe wavelengths to minimize pain and boost healing.
How Red Light Therapy for Osteoarthritis Compares with Other Treatments
Compared to other treatments, red light therapy is seen to be safer. That’s because there are no side effects that can be attributed to it. The treatment is also non-invasive, which means there are no instances when something can go wrong and cause injury.
FAQS: Addressing Common Questions Can red light therapy cause cancer? No, there is no proof that red light therapy can cause cancer. There is no evidence that the treatment can lead to any adverse results. This is one of the reasons why the treatment is very popular today.
Can red light therapy reverse osteoarthritis? Unfortunately, no. As discussed earlier, it is not possible to completely reverse the effects of osteoarthritis. The damage to the tissue will be there. However, because red light therapy promotes cellular activity, blood circulation, and nerve regeneration, the effects of the damage can be minimized.
How long does it take for red light therapy to work for arthritis? Studies have shown that red light therapy can have an instant effect when it comes to pain relief.
What is the best light therapy for osteoarthritis? The best light therapy for osteoarthritis is to expose as much of the affected area as possible to ensure maximum coverage.
What are the disadvantages of red light therapy? There are no real disadvantages when it comes to using red light therapy. It is non-invasive and it can even be done in the comfort of your own home.
References
Yetişir A, Öztürk GY. Effects of low-level laser therapy on acupuncture points on knee pain and function in knee osteoarthritis. Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2023;70(1):e20230264. doi: 10.1590/1806-9282.20230264.
Li CF, Chen YJ, Lin TY, Hsiao YH, Fu JC, Chen CH, Lee CL. Immediate responses of multi-focal low level laser therapy on quadriceps in knee osteoarthritis patients. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2019;35(11):702-707. doi: 10.1002/kjm2.12113.
1 comment
I was diagnosed a few days ago via MRI. I have an appointment on May 27 with Occupational Therapy. I hope they know something about red light therapy. I have a pain relief machine I haven’t tried yet, maybe tonight. The pain is interfering with my sleep. Thanks for the information.