Types Of Light Therapy
Light therapy at home is easy, effective and safe. Its important to note that light therapy can be combined with other treatments for pain management, such as physical therapy, medications, exercises, acupuncture, etc.
In light therapy, the desired light therapy is delivered with therapeutic intent. Different types of light therapy have different effects on the human body. The longer the wavelength and intensity, the deeper the penetration, delivering energy to the target cells so they can benefit from it. FDA-cleared devices deliver light therapy at correct parameters such as wavelength, irradiance, treatment repetition and duration. Light therapy devices, usually placed over the site of pain, are noninvasive and painless.
The various types of light therapy include red light therapy, infrared light therapy, dual optical energy, low light therapy and green light therapy as well as other light therapies.
Red Light Therapy :
Red light therapy works on the red light frequency, visible to the human eye and easily distinguishable. Red light therapy for pain uses light to penetrate the skin without causing pain. It uses low levels of heat that do not hurt the skin or burn it, nor does red light therapy expose the skin to damaging UV rays.
Red light therapy at home has the advantages of best red light therapy for pain, in the comfort and safety of your home.
Infrared Light Therapy :
Dual Optical Energy:
Low Light Laser Therapy :
Osteoarthritis And Infrared Light Therapy
Ever thought about treating osteoarthritis with infrared light therapy? If that’s the case, then you are already on the right track. In case you didn’t know, infrared light therapy has a positive impact on inflammation, joint pain, and arthritis.
All that you have to do is pair stretching with infrared light therapy to see a significant improvement in your osteoarthritis pain. This can easily and comfortably be done with the Hot Yoga Exercise Tent. This enclosure is spacious enough to perform exercise while undergoing light therapy. Surprisingly enough, these combined treatments are much more effective than either one on its own.
As we mentioned above, red light therapy is excellent for reducing pain. But did you know that is also fantastic for increasing the range of motion and functionality of your joints?
Miraculously, those with knee pain have seen their stamina increase after months of red light therapy and stretching. One of the craziest things is that infrared light therapy can actually help your cartilage regenerate too.
Infrared therapy is also wonderful for healing meniscus tears. In fact, it is known to decrease the symptoms of this painful diagnosis. Infrared light therapy is even offered to patients who refuse to undergo surgery for their meniscal tear pain.
What’s the real deal about generalized knee pain? If “general knee pain” is your primary issue, then you’ll be happy to know that infrared light therapy can work wonders for this type of problem as well.
Ok I Think I Understand Infrared Light Therapy For Rheumatoid Arthritis Now Tell Me About Infrared Light Therapy For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Infrared heat therapy has also been demonstrated to reduce joint pain in arthritis and improve different symptoms in many areas of the body.
Infrared Heating Pads are perfect for arthritis pain as its a continuous condition and youll want daily relief. It is commonly associated with the elderly but it is, in fact, the leading cause of disability among people of different ages and genders.
LED technologies for treating arthritis are not just effective, theyre also affordable, and natural.
A number of studies are done on the effect of whole body hyperthermia therapy in the shape of dry infrared heat on the signs of arthritis. RA patients throughout the world are increasingly exploring alternative solutions to alleviate the pain, inflammation, stiffness and discomfort connected with RA flares.
Red light therapy doesnt only help in osteoarthritis, but many ares of life. Cats claw is a strong anti-inflammatory and anti-viral that could be quite helpful for rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. You might produce the pain worse and boost your risk of creating joint deformities.
There are a lot of infrared light therapy benefits and virtually all of them are scientifically proven and all of them are safe as well.
A mix of cold laser and electric stimulation, cold laser therapy is among the best healing therapies in the health care community today.
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Red Light Therapy Pros And Cons
Red light therapy offers an excellent source of pain relief and better health. These pros and cons provide an insight into this treatment to make your decision better:
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The Most Beneficial Wavelengths
The term red light therapy refers to a treatment in which devices fitted with light-emitting diode bulbs bathe the body in red light and/or near-infrared light. Specifically, this involves red light with wavelengths between 630 and 660 nanometers and NIR light with wavelengths between 810 and 850nm.
This range of wavelengths is known as the therapeutic window, in which there are beneficial changes in cellular activity and a positive ripple effect of biological activity in the body including pain relief from arthritis with no side effects.
These wavelengths are part of the light spectrum of natural sunlight but unlike sunlight, which contains potentially harmful ultraviolet waves, red/NIR light will not cause burns or harm the body.
Red light therapy is also known as low-level light therapy or photobiomodulation. In many studies, you’ll also see the term low-level laser therapy, which is the same concept the application of red or NIR light but rather than LED bulbs, low-level laser light uses cold lasers, meaning lasers that don’t generate a lot of heat.
The difference is simply that lasers concentrate the light more than LEDs for therapeutic purposes, however, it’s not necessary to be as precise as with lasers used for surgery. The key is to deliver light photons as deeply into the tissues as possible, and both lasers and LED devices do this very effectively.
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Why Do We Have Knee Pain In The First Place
Many factors may contribute to the chronic development of knee pain, which is why its challenging to have a one-medicine-fit-all treatment for knee pain. Medications working well for some may not work for others. Knee injuries manifesting into ligament or cartilage tear, fracture, or dislocations could cause disturbance to the mechanical function of your knees. Subsequently, you may find difficulties in supporting your weight and walking stably.
Besides, medical conditions such as arthritis or gout are leading causes of knee pain too. More than often, people suffering from these conditions could only put an end to their misery through knee replacement surgeries A study comprising 6000 participants revealed 4 in 5 people who have undergone total knee replacements can enjoy its benefits for up to 25 years. So, what if we told you, you could enjoy the same fruits of TKI with a less-invasive approach?
What Does It Treat
Researchers have known about red light therapy for a while. But there arenât a lot of studies on it, and they donât know if itâs better than other types of treatment used to help you heal. Red light therapy may help with:
- Dementia. In one small study, people with dementia who got regular near-infrared light therapy on their heads and through their noses for 12 weeks had better memories, slept better, and were angry less often.
- Dental pain. In another small study, people with temporomandibular dysfunction syndrome had less pain, clicking, and jaw tenderness after red light therapy.
- Hair loss. One study found that men and women with androgenetic alopecia who used an at-home RLT device for 24 weeks grew thicker hair. People in the study who used a fake RLT device didnât get the same results.
- Osteoarthritis. One study found red and infrared light therapy cut osteoarthritis-related pain by more than 50%.
- Tendinitis. A very small study of 7 people suggests RLT lessens inflammation and pain in people with Achilles tendinitis.
- Wrinkles and other signs of skin aging and skin damage. Research shows RLT may smooth your skin and help with wrinkles. RLT also helps with acne scars, burns, and signs of UV sun damage.
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Buying Guide For Best Infrared Therapy Lamp
Anyone who suffers from chronic pain understands just how frustrating the quest for relief can be. Its especially difficult if you prefer natural treatments because many non-pharmaceutical options arent particularly effective. But clinical studies have shown that infrared light therapy can be extremely successful in treating pain, wounds, and other health issues, which is why an infrared therapy lamp could be the ideal addition to your pain management strategy.
Infrared therapy lamps use light of a specific wavelength to penetrate through layers of skin to affect your cells, tissues, bones, and other body parts to help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and assist in the healing process. However, for an infrared lamp to be effective, it must produce the right wavelengths of light or youll only be wasting your time and money.
In addition to knowing what wavelength to look for, you have to choose the best type of lamp for your needs, as well as determine what size and other features will be most helpful in your situation. With such a wide variety of infrared lamps to choose from, finding the right one can be a challenge.
Theres no need to worry. Our helpful shopping guide has all the information you need to select the best infrared therapy lamp for your particular pain issues. If youre still unsure, check out the matrix above for our top five picks.
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Is Infrared Therapy Safe For Knee Pain
According to studies in the last 30 years, cold laser is proven to be safe to use and has no side effects when used for arthritic knee or any kind of pain and inflammation. However, I would advise you to avoid pointing the laser to suspicious or cancerous lesions and to avoid if you are pregnant.
Also, do not look directly at the light source, to keep your eyes safe. If you cant help yourself, use these eye protection goggles.
Cold laser for knee pain at home is one of the best drug-free ways to relieve and heal your knee pain without medication, side effects, and risks.
Cold laser home devices, though seemingly expensive, are proven effective and will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
As always, Id love to read your comments and questions. Tell me your experience and your concerns and I promise to answer.
To your health and happiness,
Meital
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Physical Therapy As An Option
The Mayo Clinic and other health care providers also use physical therapy to treat arthritis. Exercise can improve range of motion and strengthen muscles surrounding joints. If patients arent showing improvement after medication and/or physical therapy, then surgery is often the next course of action.
There are three main surgical options:
- Joint repair
- Joint replacement
- Joint fusion
Lifestyle changes might also be suggested to improve symptoms. Patients could be encouraged to lose weight, exercise, use heat and ice packs or other assistive devices like walkers, canes, etc.
Is Infrared Lamp Good For Arthritis
Infrared Light May Be Useful in Controlling RA Symptoms âLow level laser therapy is very effective symptomatic care, but it is not a curative. However, it does not involve injections, medication, or narcotics and is not painful, and is good at decreasing pain, inflammation, and swelling,â he says.
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The History Of Infrared Light Therapy
Lights are all around us even the way we perceive our surroundings and colours is through light waves. Therefore, scientists and astronomers are constantly searching for ways to deploy the abundance of light to benefit humankind. Tracing back to the 1800s, Frederick Herschel and Johann Ritter discovered infrared rays . Ever since the revolutionary discovery, infrared therapy has been used to treat various health conditions, and its results have been promising.
According to current clinical developments, infrared light accelerates healing processes by increasing the net blood flow. With a better blood flow, our body can transport more natural healing substances such as oxygen, platelets, and plasma to the injury site. Infrared lights could also penetrate the muscles, where its heat would relieve muscular pain. As you can notice by now, infrared rays can heal from within while giving people immediate pain relief isnt that just amazing?
How Red Light Therapy Can Restore Movement Throughout The Body For Osteoarthritis Sufferers
Loss of function, swelling, deformity, and pain can affect any joints, including the wrists and fingers. It can even affect joints in the neck, jaw, shoulders, and back, which significantly impacts an individuals life.
Following are some important studies on the effects of red and infrared light on OA elsewhere in the body .
A 2016 study found red light therapy to be a safe and effective treatment that reduced pain and swelling and increased joint mobility in patients afflicted with Heberden’s and Bouchards osteoarthritis, a type of arthritis that causes severe swelling and deformity of joints. After five to seven treatments, the patients pain decreased, as did their ring sizes, and they experienced an increased range of motion.
A 2013 paper on osteoarthritis by world-renowned red light therapy expert Michael Hamblin states that a single application of red light therapy led to significant reductions in inflammatory cytokines 24 hours after treatment. Cytokines are proteins released by cells that are involved in the bodys communication of pain signals thus, reducing inflammatory cytokines could lead to a lessened perception of pain.
In a 2013 study, a team of Canadian researchers found that red light therapy was effective in reducing pain and improving function in acute radiculopathy , cervical osteoarthritis, and acute neck pain.
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Who Suffers From Arthritis
In the United States, 23% of all adultsover 54 million peoplehave arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Of the individuals diagnosed, 60% are of working age . Women are much more likely to suffer from arthritis and are far more vulnerable to rheumatoid arthritis, one of the most debilitating forms of the condition.
Arthritis symptoms include pain, aching, stiffness, and swelling in or around the joints. This pain can make even the simplest everyday tasks a struggle and can sometimes severely limit physical activities. Only a medical professional can make a definitive arthritis diagnosis, but many sufferers find relief with home treatments. In particular, light therapy can help by relaxing muscles and relieving spasms, pain, and stiffness. A study published in the Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, for example, found that infrared light treatments on inflammatory arthritis of the spine resulted in improved function and quality of life for participants.
How Does Far Infrared Therapy Help With Joint Pain And Inflammation
Far Infrared therapy is an effective and safe remedy for pain and inflammation. It can penetrate deep through the layers of the skin, to the muscles and bones. Since infrared therapy enhances and improves circulation in the skin and other parts of the body, it can bring oxygen and nutrients to injured tissues, promoting healing. It helps ease pain, relieve inflammation, and protect against oxidative stress.
Far Infrared therapy is a gentle, non-invasive, natural therapy method that has proven to show positive results in less than a few weeks.
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Benefits Of Red Light Therapy For Knee Pain
Red light therapy has been proven to reduce joint pain and improve range of motion by reducing inflammation and stimulating healing within the joint, especially the knee joint.
Could you please explain what red light therapy is and the science behind it?
Dr. Luke Stringer: Absolutely. Super excited to be talking about this today, Liz. Weve started to implement a lot of this in the clinic with our patients and weve been getting some awesome results. Red light therapy has actually been around for quite some time now, but in the last five plus years, its really started to pick up in terms of clinical implications and the effectiveness it has in conservative care. Theres different types of red light and the reVive Light is red light therapy that addresses more the surface level of the joints and the tissue, and it penetrates not as deeply as typical IR infrared. Infrared light therapy is awesome too, but it penetrates a lot deeper, more internal tissue. Essentially infrared and red light therapy work on different wavelengths and obviously the wavelengths of the light impact different parts of the joint and the tissue.
How does red light therapy work specifically to relieve knee pain?
Its loads of nerdy stuff. I think the best thing without getting too deep in the podcast, is kind of jumping in on the reVive Light website. And then you can kind of take a deep dive into exactly the science of it, but its really cool and effective.
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