Two years ago, I experienced incredible pain from three herniated discs, but I was determined to do everything I could to avoid surgery. This is when I first came upon research that showed the benefits of red light therapy for back pain.
After two months of daily use with a red light panel, I was in much less pain and my doctor confirmed that my herniations healed faster than she expected. As a side benefit, I also noticed that I felt more rested in the mornings. This piqued my interest in learning more about red light therapy. And in the last two years, the popularity of red light therapy has grown significantly with new products constantly hitting the market.
What is Red Light Therapy?
Also known as photobiomodulation (PBM) and low-level laser light therapy (LLLT), there are more than 10,000 research studies dating back to the 1960’s using light therapy with more than 1,000 randomized clinical trials. Nearly 400 trials are currently active.
Despite this extensive history, light therapy has not been openly accepted by the conventional medical community because its mechanism of action (exactly how it works) has not been confirmed. However, in recent years, the positive results seen from clinical trials have grabbed the attention of holistic and alternative therapy practitioners as well as increased the popularity of red light therapy in the marketplace.
According to the PBM Foundation, PBM or red light therapy (RLT) is “… the application of red and near-infrared light to diseased or injured tissues to reduce inflammation, promote regeneration and enhance immune resilience.”
Like the way sunlight promotes vitamin D synthesis in the body or photosynthesis is used by plants, RLT initiates changes to our cells.
Mitochondria are the organelles inside our cells that produce energy. When we experience stress, such as illness or injury, our mitochondria make less energy and create more free radicals. Over time, these free radicals increase systemic inflammation that can lead to disease. When red light is applied to the body at the right wavelength and intensity, and for the right amount of time, inflammation is reduced, and energy is increased to allow the body to begin to heal itself.
Red Light Therapy for Inflammation, Tissue Repair and Pain Reduction
When I dove into the research, I was amazed by the number of studies performed using red light therapy applications for pain relief.
RLT has been most researched with respect to chronic back pain and many studies claim it relieves pain associated with herniated discs and sciatica. Current conventional treatments for herniated disc pain include medications (NSAIDs), spinal injections and, for extreme or long-term cases, surgery. However, these treatments all have serious side effects. Because RLT is non-invasive and has no obvious side effects, it may be a safer alternative to reduce inflammation, increase tissue repair and decrease pain sensitivity.
Decrease Inflammation
One important way to reduce pain is to decrease inflammation. A 2017 literature review of animal studies noted that decreased inflammation was a consistent clinical result when applying RLT to spinal cord injuries. In addition, it showed that RLT was able to penetrate the body to the depth of the spinal cord and target a specific location. Another 2017 literature review agreed by noting that a decrease in inflammation was one of the most common effects of light therapy.
Tissue Repair
A 2018 study of people with hip replacements noted the decrease of pro-inflammatory markers after RLT. As a result of decreased pain and inflammation levels from RLT, tissue repair increased.
Reduce Pain
A 2015 systematic review and meta-analysis selected 7 randomized controlled trials from 2000 to 2014 to see the results of RLT on the pain visual analog scale, a commonly used format to measure degrees of pain. In all the trials, the scale for non-specific, chronic low pain was reportedly lower in the RLT groups than in the placebo groups.
Other Red Light Therapy Applications
In addition to back pain, there are many other areas being studied using RLT. These include:
Skin Improvements and Wound Healing
Even as far back as 2008, light therapy was being used clinically to treat hard-to-heal wounds and inflamed tissues. A 2016 review article summarized that “… red and near-infrared light … appears to emerge as a promising drug-free approach for promoting wound healing, reduction in inflammation, pain and restoration of function …”
Bone Fractures
I was surprised to see a video of Pope Francis featured on the PBM Foundation website. He says he was able to avoid surgery for a fractured knee by leveraging RLT and other modalities. Click here to view his video and read the research.
Improved Sleep
A 2022 randomized placebo-controlled trial looked at RLT effects on humans who were deprived of sunlight because they spent significant time indoors. RLT was used at home by people with mild sleep issues for 5 days a week for 4 weeks. At the end of 4 weeks, they were evaluated in areas of general well-being, health, sleep and circadian rhythm. This took place in both winter and summer months. The results showed consistent improvements in mood, reduced drowsiness and increased quality of life in the winter months. No change in sleep itself was noted.
Another 2022 article used full-body RLT on athletes and saw increased recovery and increased deep sleep despite getting less sleep overall. The article concluded that RLT may be a possible therapy to help the body recover faster from stress.
Dental Support
For many years, dental research has seen positive results using light therapy for surgical ablation as well as reducing inflammation and wound healing. According to a November 2023 review, red light therapy is being considered for combating bacteria in periodontal diseases.
Fibromyalgia and Acute and Chronic Musculoskeletal Conditions
A 2021 special article from the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine cited that PMB therapy reduced non-specific pain for fibromyalgia as well as knee pain, osteoarthritis and neck pain.
There are many other applications being studied, such as autoimmunity, weight reduction and hair loss, that are clinically seeing mixed results. While the research isn’t overwhelmingly positive, I’ll continue to watch for new research in these areas.
Type of Red Light Therapy Products
Because RLT is getting more attention, there is a glut of products flooding the market. Even though some may say that they are FDA-approved, you should still do your own research. Here are the general categories:
Large Body Panels
Like the name suggests, large body panels are designed for you stand in front of or lay down with your core body exposed to the red light. Some manufacturers allow for multiple panels to be joined together so the RLT can be applied to the whole body at one time. The panels are usually more expensive, ranging from $1,000 and more, but if you have a large body area, like your back, that you’d like to expose to RLT at one time, then one or more panels might be right for you.
Portable Panels
Portable panel sizes range from devices that will fit in your hand to ones that are ¼ to ½ the size of a large body panel. These panels are great for using RLT on a specific body area, such as a knee. They are also much better for using while traveling. Portable panels may include a stand and range from $200 to $800.
Other Devices
In just the past two years, I’ve noticed so many specialized RLT products, such as facial masks and handheld torches. There are even RLT devices for small pets and soon blankets for horses! Many stores, including Costco, are selling RLT devices. The best advice I can give is to consider what outcome you’re looking for (i.e. pain relief in knee joints or improving facial skin conditions) and research the options. Consider the reviews and ask your friends and family if they’ve tried RLT devices. Just because a product is expensive, it doesn’t mean that it delivers better results than a less expensive version.
Red Light Therapy Resource
The very best resources I’ve found are Alex Fergus’ Light Therapy Insiders and YouTube videos. Alex has been researching and discussing RLT (and other forms of light therapy) for many years and is extremely thorough in his research and presentations. He provides some anecdotal information but bases his opinions on the research.
Length of Time to Use Red Light Therapy?
Currently, there is no consistent dosing and length-of-use guidelines for RLT applications, however, a promising step forward is the formation of WALT, the World Association of photobiomoduLation Therapy. WALT is a private organization with a goal of establishing best practice standards for light therapies based on clinical evidence. WALT has suggested dosage recommendations for back pain and inflammation that are based on randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RLT data.
Is Red Light Therapy Right for You?
Since my herniated discs, I used my RLT devices for a fractured wrist (thank you, pickleball!) and, again, received positive feedback from my doctor as to how well and how quickly my fracture healed. I continue to use it several times a week for chronic back pain and enhanced sleep. When I am on my game and adhere to a healthy diet and positive lifestyle strategies of good sleep and less stress, I believe that RLT provides even more benefits to me.
If you’re considering RLT and you want to better understand the terms used, watch this introduction video by Alex Fergus .
Full disclosure: I purchased the Mito Red Light panel and handheld device. If interested, you can get a small discount towards your Mito Red Light purchase by clicking here.
In my opinion, RLT shows many promising benefits and may be a viable alternative to use alone or with conventional treatments for pain and inflammation from acute and chronic conditions.
Additional Research:
Tafur J, Mills PJ. Low-intensity light therapy: exploring the role of redox mechanisms. Photomed Laser Surg. 2008;26(4):323-328. doi:10.1089/pho.2007.2184
Anders JJ, Lanzafame RJ, Arany PR. Low-Level Light/Laser Therapy Versus Photobiomodulation Therapy. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. 2015;33(4):183-184. doi:https://doi.org/10.1089/pho.2015.9848
Photobiomodulation (PBM) research – a comprehensive database compiled by Vladimir Heiskanen (Finland)
NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine ClinicalTrials.gov, search results for LLLT. Accessed May 1, 2023.
de Freitas LF, Hamblin MR. Proposed Mechanisms of Photobiomodulation or Low-Level Light Therapy. IEEE J Sel Top Quantum Electron. 2016 May-Jun;22(3):7000417. doi: 10.1109/JSTQE.2016.2561201
Yadav A, Gupta A. Noninvasive red and near-infrared wavelength-induced photobiomodulation: promoting impaired cutaneous wound healing. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2017 Jan;33(1):4-13. doi: 10.1111/phpp.12282
DE Oliveira MF, Johnson DS, Demchak T, Tomazoni SS, Leal-Junior EC. Low-intensity LASER and LED (photobiomodulation therapy) for pain control of the most common musculoskeletal conditions. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2022 Apr;58(2):282-289. doi: 10.23736/S1973-9087.21.07236-1
Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017;4(3):337-361. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337
Giménez MC, Luxwolda M, Van Stipriaan EG, et al. Effects of Near-Infrared Light on Well-Being and Health in Human Subjects with Mild Sleep-Related Complaints: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Biology (Basel). 2022;12(1):60. Published 2022 Dec 29. doi:10.3390/biology12010060
Rentz LE, Bryner RW, Ramadan J, Rezai A, Galster SM. Full-Body Photobiomodulation Therapy Is Associated with Reduced Sleep Durations and Augmented Cardiorespiratory Indicators of Recovery. Sports (Basel). 2022;10(8):119. Published 2022 Jul 31. doi:10.3390/sports10080119
Takeuchi Y, Aoki A, Hiratsuka K, et al. Application of Different Wavelengths of LED Lights in Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy for the Treatment of Periodontal Disease. Antibiotics (Basel). 2023;12(12):1676. Published 2023 Nov 28. doi:10.3390/antibiotics12121676
