How does red light therapy work for pain relief

       It may seem unlikely that simply sitting under a lamp will benefit your body (or brain), but light therapy can have a real impact on some diseases.
        Red Light Therapy (RLT), a type of photomedicine, is an approach to wellness that uses different wavelengths of light to treat various health conditions. According to the National Center for Atmospheric Research, red light has a wavelength between 620 nanometers (nm) and 750 nm. According to the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, certain wavelengths of light can cause changes in cells that affect how they function.
        Red Light Therapy is considered a complementary therapy, meaning it should be used alongside traditional medicine and medical doctor-approved treatments. For example, if you have fine lines and wrinkles, you can use red light therapy with topical medications prescribed by a dermatologist (such as retinoids) or in-office treatments (such as injections or lasers). If you have a sports injury, a physical therapist can also treat you with red light therapy.
        One of the problems with red light therapy is that research isn’t entirely clear on how and how much it’s needed, and how these regimens vary depending on the health problem you’re trying to address. In other words, comprehensive standardization is required, and the FDA has not yet developed such a standard. However, according to some studies and experts, red light therapy may be a promising complementary treatment for a number of health and skin care concerns. Be sure, as always, to consult your doctor before starting any new treatment.
       Here are some of the possible health benefits that red light therapy can bring to your overall health care routine.
        One of the most popular uses of red light therapy is in the treatment of skin conditions. Home appliances are ubiquitous and therefore popular. These are conditions that red light may (or may not) treat.
        Research continues to emerge on the ability of red light to reduce pain in a variety of chronic conditions. “If you use the right dosage and regimen, you can use red light to reduce pain and inflammation,” said Dr. Praveen Arani, associate professor at the University at Buffalo and acting director of Sheppard University’s Center of Excellence for Photobiomodulation. Shepherds, West Virginia.
        how so? “There is a specific protein on the surface of neurons that, by absorbing light, reduces the cell’s ability to conduct or feel pain,” Dr. Arani explained. Past research has shown that LLLT can help manage pain in people with neuropathy (nerve pain often caused by diabetes, according to the Cleveland Clinic).
       When it comes to other issues, such as pain from inflammation, much of the research is still done in animals, so it’s not clear how red light therapy fits into a human pain management plan.
        However, according to a study of chronic back pain in humans published in the journal Laser Medical Science in October. Light therapy may be useful in pain management from an additional perspective, and further research is needed to better understand the relationship between RLT and pain relief.
        Research shows that red light can stimulate the mitochondria (the cellular energy home) by triggering an enzyme that increases ATP (the cell’s “energy currency” according to StatPearls), which ultimately promotes muscle growth and repair. 2020 Published April in Frontiers in Sport and Active Living. Thus, a study published in AIMS Biophysics in 2017 suggests that pre-workout photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy using red or near-infrared light can increase muscle performance, heal muscle damage, and reduce pain and soreness after exercise.
        Again, these conclusions are not well founded. Questions remain about how to use the correct wavelength and timing of this light therapy, depending on the sport, how to apply them to each muscle, and how to use them, according to a December 2021 Life magazine review. This translates into improved performance.
       An emerging potential benefit of red light therapy – brain health – yes, when shone on the head through a helmet.
        “There are compelling studies showing that photobiomodulation therapy [has the potential] to improve neurocognitive function,” Arani said. According to an article published in the Journal of Neuroscience, PBM not only reduces inflammation, but also improves blood flow and oxygen to form new neurons and synapses in the brain, which may be beneficial for people who have had a traumatic brain injury or stroke. research in April 2018 helped.
        According to a study published in BBA Clinical in December 2016, scientists are still investigating when to give PBM therapy and whether it can be used immediately after a traumatic brain injury or years later; however, this is something worth paying attention to.
        Another promising bonus? According to the Concussion Alliance, ongoing research into the use of red and near-infrared light to treat post-concussion symptoms may be beneficial.
        From skin to mouth wounds, red light can be used to promote healing. In these cases, red light is applied to the wound area until it is completely healed, Alani says. A small study from Malaysia published May 2021 in the International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds shows that PBM can be used with standard measures to close diabetic foot ulcers; July 2021 in Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine and Lasers. Preliminary animal studies in the Journal of Surgery suggest it may be useful in burn injuries; additional research published in BMC Oral Health in May 2022 suggests that PBM may promote wound healing after oral surgery.
        In addition, a study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in October 2021 states that PBM can improve cellular function, reduce inflammation and pain, stimulate tissue regeneration, release growth factors, and more, leading to faster healing. and human research.
        According to MedlinePlus, one possible side effect of chemotherapy or radiation therapy is oral mucositis, which presents with pain, ulcers, infection, and bleeding in the mouth. PBM is known to prevent or treat this specific side effect, according to a systematic review published in Frontiers in Oncology in August 2022.
       In addition, according to a review published in the June 2019 journal Oral Oncology, PBM has been successfully used to treat radiation-induced skin lesions and post-mastectomy lymphedema without phototherapy causing any additional side effects.
        PBM itself is being seen as a potential future cancer treatment because it could stimulate the body’s immune response or boost other anti-cancer therapies to help kill cancer cells. More research is needed.
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