Arthritis can have a significant impact on quality of life and its prevalence is much more prominent than people may think.
Roughly 53 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with arthritis, so if you’ve just recently been faced with a diagnosis know that you’re not alone.
This common condition causes pain and inflammation in a joint, with no current cure. You shouldn’t be disheartened though as treatments can reduce the symptoms.
Symptoms of arthritis can be eased through the likes of exercise, physiotherapy, or medicines. A non-invasive, accessible, and more convenient alternative treatment is red light therapy.
Arthritis and red light therapy go hand in hand as this form of treatment can help you overcome the symptoms that are most prevalent with the condition.
How Does Red Light Therapy Help Arthritis?
Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to penetrate deep beneath the skin to stimulate various biological processes within the cells.
The wavelengths are part of the visible light spectrum and range between 620 nm to 750 nm. This area of the spectrum boasts longer wavelengths and lower energy compared to other light therapy variants, meaning the light can specifically target where the arthritis is found.
In a clinical trial looking at the effects of low-power light therapy on pain and disability in elderly people with degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee, pain reduction in the red and infrared groups after treatment was found to be more than 50% in all scoring methods.
Significant functional improvement was seen in red- and infrared-treated groups, showing that light therapy can relieve pain and disability in degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee.
Red light therapy has been found to assist with pain relief in numerous studies published worldwide, with its influence gradually becoming more known outside of the medical community.
With arthritis, a condition that doesn’t have a cure, any treatment should focus on lowering inflammation as this is what contributes to the pain. Red light therapy is incredible at doing this, making it a non-invasive and useful treatment for people living with arthritis.
Lowers Inflammation in the Joints
Inflammation is a major issue for arthritis and is what causes swelling of the impacted area. It’s the main driver for pain too, limiting mobility as a consequence.
Red light therapy has anti-inflammatory effects due to the modulation of cellular processes and immune responses. Once the light is absorbed by the cells, inflammation can be reduced.
This form of therapy can directly focus on the joint and inflammation and speed up the healing process, faster than the body’s natural response.
In turn, moving as you normally would do will feel easier as pain and swelling can be lowered.
Reduces Pain Quickly
Arthritis can inflict chronic pain which can feel debilitating and prevent you from doing what you love - whether that’s painting, exercising, or any other hobby.
With treatment to lower the pain and other symptoms, many people go on to live full active lives.
Red light therapy can provide that much-needed pain relief as the light technology targets the troubled areas at the source. It stimulates your cells’ natural healing processes to reduce pain and aid with any recovery (particularly when it comes to inflammation) over an extended period of time.
Relieve Stiffness
With arthritis, whether it's rheumatoid or osteoarthritis, one of the challenges is the stiffness in the joints. Sometimes referred to as a feeling of being ‘locked,’ the impact on the joints can result in mobility being compromised.
One cause of this is inflammation in the synovium which is the lining of the joint. When stiffness occurs, simply begin red light therapy treatment to help lower swelling in the area and enhance motion.
Kineon’s MOVE+ Pro is a completely wireless and portable red light therapy device that has been specifically designed to help you target pain quickly and easily. It’s been tried and tested by many people with arthritis too!
One reviewer said: “Applying to arthritic hand and foot joints. Immediate reduction in pain levels…” Another person said: “I have received a great deal of relief from the arthritis pain in my right hand…”
The Science Behind Red Light Therapy and Arthritis
With thousands of case studies and research papers looking into the link between red light therapy and arthritis, this handy therapeutic technique has shown to be hugely beneficial for those dealing with frustrating symptoms.
Here at Kineon, we’ve looked at some of the key research and combined this with what we know about science to give you a full rundown on how red light therapy should be in your treatment plan if you have arthritis.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work for Arthritis?
Red light therapy can directly interact with the mitochondria in your cells as the wavelengths of light can penetrate beneath your skin.
The mitochondria are like the little energy factories in your body. When the light reaches them, it prompts them to produce more energy, which helps your cells to work better and heal faster.
That’s why any nerve or joint pain can be soothed by light as it can specifically target the affected area.
Reduces Inflammation
Red light therapy has been shown to reduce inflammation by increasing blood flow and stimulating cellular function.
Various cytokines activate specific cells in arthritis which then hastens the inflammatory process by activating transcription factors. This takes on a cascading effect as the release of these cytokines can influence the secretion of others.
Red light therapy has been shown to play a regulatory role in arthritis by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulating anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Blood flow being increased is another plus as poor blood flow in an affected area of arthritis can cause nerve compression and pain. When the red light improves the blood flow, pain is reduced and healing is promoted.
Relieves Pain and Increases Lack of Mobility
In people with arthritis, the primary cause of pain is due to the release of inflammatory substances by cells in response to local inflammation. This stimulates cell signals to produce pain-causing symptoms, like the relative enzyme.
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is the key player in the pain-inducing process. Photobiomodulation (light therapy) has been shown to effectively reduce “COX-2 content, leading to the inhibition of PGE2 production, relieving pain, and swelling in joints.”
Boosts Cell Repair and Regeneration
Light therapy has been found to “inhibit metalloprotein enzymes, alleviating the erosion and degradation of joint tissues and components, preserving the normal function of joints.”
With the blood flow-boosting benefits that red light therapy assists with, regeneration is made possible as the necessary nutrients and oxygen can be transported to the cells.
Another important element of the regenerative processes includes macrophages which play a role in the conduction of these stages.
In a study looking at the effect of red and near-infrared photobiomodulation on macrophage phenotypes in the repair process following an acute muscle injury, researchers found that light therapy was able to modulate the inflammation phase, optimize the transition from the inflammatory to the regeneration phase and improve the final step of regeneration, enhancing tissue repair.
Arthritis and Red Light Therapy: Your Questions Answered
Is Red Light Therapy Helpful for Arthritis?
Red light therapy is extremely helpful for arthritis. The symptoms of this condition tend to come down to the inflammatory effects it takes on the body as this brings on pain and prevents optimum movement.
The powers of light therapy have been found to play a regulatory role by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines while upregulating anti-inflammatory cytokines. As a result, swelling and pain are reduced and mobility is improved.
How Long Does It Take for Red Light Therapy to Work for Arthritis?
Some people with arthritis will see results from red light therapy within a few days of starting the treatment, while others might have to wait a few weeks to see significant improvements.
You should keep in mind that each body is different and people will respond differently, especially as the severity and type of arthritis can differ.
Like with anything worth doing, consistency is key. It takes time and effort to see improvements so stay patient and persistent.
How Often Should You Use Red Light Therapy on Lower Arthritis?
You can use red light therapy to lower arthritis as often as you’d like. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach as the effectiveness depends on your individual situation and the severity of your condition.
We recommend people start red light therapy at home with 10 to 15-minute sessions spread out over 3-4 days a week. You could then increase this to every day.
Aside from its helpful benefits, another pro of red light therapy is that it can be used frequently without any adverse effects. It’s generally considered safe to be used every day or multiple times a week.
It’s also non-invasive so many class it as a safer option than other treatment methods. To learn about how often you can use red light therapy, read our article here.
Can You Treat Arthritis at Home?
Arthritis cannot be cured, but treatment for the symptoms can be done at home. In fact, it’s much more convenient to do so.
With red light therapy, it’s as simple as purchasing a device and then going through the instructions to administer your own support. So there are no more long drives to a clinic or doctor’s office, instead, you can find quick relief in the comfort of your own home.
If you buy the MOVE+ Pro from Kineon, we will never leave you guessing as we have a whole host of information and help out there. We also run a private Facebook group where you can speak with others who have arthritis and understand how they’re using red light therapy to ease pain, boost mobility, and lower inflammation.
To learn more about using red light therapy at home, read our full article here.
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