Use Of Infrared Light Therapy For Pain Relief

Light therapy is a non-drug and non-invasive means of healing, and therefore, helping in pain relief. Pain is the primary linkage between your body and the brain. Using light therapy for pain relief is better than masking it with pain killers or pain balms. Painkillers and balms are effective for only a short period of time, as you did not hit the pain from its source.

Which Light Therapy is Used for Pain Relief?

Infrared (IR) is the most commonly used type of light therapy to ease pain. Low Intensity Laser Therapy is a form of Infrared light used on more concentrated treatments. Research contacted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proved that these technologies are effective in curing aching joints and muscle pain temporarily. The tech also aids in muscle relaxation and increasing circulation of blood.

History of Light Therapy for Pain Relief

For thousands of years, light therapy has been in use, even when the user didn’t understand the concept behind it. In the ancient world, light was recognized as a special factor and termed as giver of life.

In the modern world, Niels Ryberg was the first scientist to study how light therapy could be of help. In 1903, he invented the first the first device that generated artificial light and used it to cure various health conditions.

Researchers from Eastern Europe issued publications with case studies proving that soft laser light therapy helped in easing pain for arthritis patients.

In the early ‘90s, NASA conducted a research that was aimed at finding out if, with the help of LED light, plant life could be supported in the space. The outcome of the study was a new understanding of the relationship between light and biology. The research later brought a new understanding of how light interacted with human and animal cells. The study showed that cells exposed to near infrared light grew up 200% faster than normal growth. The light arrays thus increased the healing process to a similar percentage.

How Effective is Light Therapy for Pain Relief?

People are very light-sensitive. Human body and mind is affected by light in many and unclear ways that even scientists are yet to fully comprehend. Whether it’s from the sun, a bulb, a fluorescent tube or a laser, as long as it is light.

The whole idea behind light therapy for pain relief is that infrared light penetrates the skin without hurting it. It has been proven with evidence that infrared red light, when it penetrates the skin into the body, it stimulates the functioning of mitochondria. Mitochondria is the part of body cell that produces collagen and protein, and stimulates the process of healing on the cell.

A recent study also proves that light therapy is effective in treating inflammation. The study, conducted on mice shows that neuropathic pain caused by inflammation reduced significantly when treated using red light therapy.

Types of pains treatable by light therapy

• Chronic neck pain,
• Pain caused by knee osteoarthritis
• Back pain.
• Sport related injuries
• Up to second degree burns