As you already know, chronic joint or muscular pain can be a nightmare to live with.
And if you`ve already tried a number of ways to manage your pain, it might be worth considering this type of pain therapy.
Also known as Cold Laser Therapy or Infrared Light, it has been clinically proven in reducing joint pain and alleviating arthritis.
In this article I will talk about the technology, how it works, and how it should be used.
RED LIGHT THERAPY RESEARCH
There is still a lot that we don`t know about RLT and its potential applications. Most RLT devices or therapy procedures you`ll encounter are designed around what science has found out about RLT so far but there could be much more we still don`t know.
Here are some of the major medical application of RLT that are currently being explored and optimized.
JOINT PAIN & ARTHRITIS
Arthritis is a problem that plagues millions of people in a myriad of different ways.
Unfortunately, it`s also not really a curable condition and pain management therapies are usually the way to go about it.
RLT alone is typically not enough to fully mitigate the pain from arthritis or other joint pains, but in combination with other physical therapies it is proven to have a help relieve pain, increase the motion range of the joint, and improve cartilage regeneration.
BACK PAIN
As with arthritis, there are more than a few studies that have investigated the effects of red light therapies on back pain.
So far, it seems categorically proven that RLT at wavelengths between 800 and 1200 nm have a considerably stronger pain relieving effect than placebos.
Additionally, it`s been shown that blood circulation and back pain healing times are also improved by RLT.
NECK PAIN
Neck pain seems to be no exception to other joint pains when it comes to the effectiveness of red light therapy.
Yes, this treatment alone is usually insufficient for a noticeable effect, but in combination with a proper physical therapy, RLT offers a substantial boost to pain relief and healing times.
IS IT SAFE?
Unlike most laser therapies, red light therapy is nearly 100% safe as it doesn`t damage the skin in any noticeable way.
The only way RLT can pose any danger is if the RLT unit is malfunctioning and applying a much higher wavelength than what it`s supposed to.
Another way you can potentially damage your skin with red light therapy is with prolonged exposure – there are some recorded cases of people falling asleep with a RLT unit in place and getting skin burns as a result of that.
Pointing a RLT unit in your eyes can cause certain discomfort or mild damage as well, but not as much as with a laser.
Nevertheless, if you follow the safety instructions of the RLT unit it should be completely safe to use.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I DO IT?
Depending on the ailment you`re trying to treat, your age, your skin`s condition, and other factors, red light therapy can reap positive rewards after anywhere between 8 and 12 weeks.
The initial therapy commitment should usually be 15 minutes, 3-5 times per week.
After that, depending on your physician`s advice and the improvement of your condition, treatments can drop to 2-4 times per week or even less later on.
CONCLUSION
Even though there`s still more we can learn about red light therapies, it`s quite clear that it has its place in pain relief and physiotherapy.
If you`re experiencing any kind of neck, back, knee or other joint pain, some of the devices we`ve listed here might be just what you need.