Joint Pain

Joint pain is one of the most common health conditions, with over a third of adults reporting joint discomfort in national surveys. [1]

What are Joints and Why does Joint Pain Happen?

Our joints are the essential parts of our body that form connections between our bones allowing for movement. When they’re damaged or strained, it can cause pain and affect range of motion. The most common joints where people experience pain and discomfort are the knees, shoulders, and hips. Wrists and ankles are also common spots for joint pain. 

What is Arthritis and Why does it Cause Joint Pain?

Arthritis is defined as an acute or chronic joint inflammation in the joint that often co-exists with pain and structural damage.  Arthritis isn’t just one disease, it’s a way of referring to over 100 joint conditions. Arthritis is extremely common being a third of the American population and this number is bound to increase with the mean population age. It’s also the single most common cause of medical disability in the U.S. Arthritic joint symptoms include pain, stiffness, decreased range of motion, and joint deformities The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which tends to worsen with age. Rheumatoid arthritis is another common autoimmune disease that causes activation and dysfunction of the immune system leading to inflammation and consequently pain in the joints [3,4]

Red light therapy for joint pain: Red light therapy is a simple, non-invasive treatment that uses LEDs to deliver red and near infrared (NIR) wavelengths of light to the body and cells. It’s a popular modality with trainers and sports medicine professionals, and there’s a growing body of peer-reviewed clinical research showing that red light therapy treatments can improve pain symptoms in joints.

Clinical Evidence for Red Light Therapy for Arthritis and Pain Relief

Unlike most home remedies, red light therapy is backed by hundreds of peer-reviewed clinical studies that show effectiveness for pain and joint disorders, with very few risks or side effects. Below we’ll dive into some of the science and research behind LED red light treatments for pain.

Red light therapy for arthritis and joint pain: Red light therapy has a strong clinical track record for osteoarthritis pain. In one double-blind clinical study, 50 patients with degenerative osteoarthritis in both knees were treated with either red light, infrared light, or a placebo for ten days. 

There were no significant pain improvements in the placebo group. But the red and infrared groups saw their pain reduced by over 50%. This led the research team to conclude that red light therapy “is effective in relieving pain and disability in degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee.” [4]

Red light therapy may be particularly beneficial if you have arthritis or other joint-related inflammation or pain. A meta-analysis looked at the benefits of red light therapy. Scientists looked at 13 trials. 212 patients received randomized to laser, 174 patients to placebo laser, and 68 patients active laser on one of their hands and placebo on their other hand. Treatment lasted from 4 to 10 weeks with follow-ups to 3 months.

Researchers have found that RLT was effective for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis with few side effects. Another randomized double-blind study has found that RLT may benefit knee osteoarthritis and compliance with rehabilitation exercises [5.6].

Red light therapy for ankle pain: In a 2018 clinical trial, patients with acute ankle sprains were treated with red light from LED devices for six days. Compared to a placebo group, the patients reported significantly less ankle pain after three days. The researchers concluded that red light therapy “is effective for pain and edema in the initial phase of ankle sprains.” [8]

Red light therapy for lower back pain: Red light therapy has consistently shown good clinical results for lower back pain. Infrared and near infrared light have demonstrated improved pain scores in studies and trials, especially for the treatment of chronic lower back pain. [7]

Other Health Benefits of Red Light TherapyAnother study has discussed the benefits of this therapy on inflammation. It seems that it improves inflammatory and inflammation-related chronic health issues, including psoriasis, tendonitis, obesity, arthritis, and autoimmune thyroiditis. [8,9]

Red light therapy is incredibly beneficial for pain and inflammation. According to a systemic review and meta-analysis evaluating low-level laser therapy for musculoskeletal disorders in adults, RLT may reduce pain when used regularly and a recommended dose.

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