Energia Medical LLC - Blog #Pain Management

Does Light Therapy Work for Pain Management?

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 13:00:00 -0500

Photobiomodulation, or Light Therapy, is a medical procedure where infrared or near-infrared light is used for neural stimulation, wound healing, and pain management and relief.

The process uses the power of LED lights to initiate biological responses that result in accelerated cell regeneration and tissue growth. This helps in managing pain, muscle soreness, and inflammation. Several clinical trials have demonstrated that a certain wavelength of light can speed up wound healing and decrease pain and inflammation.

LED Light Therapy is a well-known method of pain management today. This article discusses the

mechanism of Light Therapy and what the literature says about the effectiveness of this procedure in managing pain.

How Does Light Therapy Work?

Red light can penetrate deep into the skin and initiate neural simulation. When the body part with pain is exposed to light, photoreceptive cells initiate metabolic events, which start a chain of several processes in the body on the cellular level. Infrared light stimulates the production of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) – the source of energy for cells.

Light energy also stimulates the production of nitric oxide, a substance that helps relax arteries, reduces oxidative stress, and assists and regulates blood pressure. Increased blood flood due to nitric oxide allows oxygen and nutrients to reach and heal the cells, resulting in lesser pain or soreness.

What Pains Can be Treated with Light Therapy?

As Light Therapy provides a targeted method of pain relief, it is proven to treat many types of pain, whether acute or chronic. It can be used on almost any part of the body to treat various types of pain.

Chronic Or Acute Pain

Acute pain can lead to chronic pain and develop a series of health issues, including a general feeling of unwellness, sleeping problems, fatigue, high blood pressure, and fatigue. 20.3% of Americans are estimated to live with chronic pain.

This means that 1 out of 5 adults experiences pain. Light Therapy can be used to treat acute or chronic pain without any major side effects. It heals tissues and results in an increased range of motion and improved functionality in patients with chronic pain.

Arthritis Pain

Light Therapy has been known to relieve pain and stiffness associated with various types of arthritis. Several studies prove the efficacy of Laser Therapy in treating arthritis pain. One study reveals that it can relieve up to 70% of pain and disability in patients with arthritis, resulting in improved activity.

Chronic Low Back Pain

Research has shown a significant decrease in chronic low back pain with the use of LED Light Therapy in a placebo-controlled trial. It also shows that the pain can decrease by 50% without any side effects or risks of thermal injury.

Red Light Therapy is being used by medical practitioners and chiropractors to treat various kinds of pain, including:

Post-operative pain
Joint and neck pain
Muscle soreness and pain
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Sprain, strain, and tendinitis
Plantar Fasciitis

How is Light Therapy Used?

Light Therapy is used via pads that emit infrared light. These tools are portable and fairly easy to use. They are also available in a variety of sizes and shapes for different body parts. You can get specialized pads for feet, legs, and calves or go for straight pads for other areas of the body such as the neck, shoulder, back, and thighs.

Is Light Therapy Effective?

Research shows that Light Therapy kickstarts neural stimulation and can help with pain management, healing, and neural regeneration. Several studies argue that photobiomodulation must become a crucial part of mainstream medicine due to its clinical applications in cellular mechanisms. LED Light Therapy is a better alternative to pain management than medication, as medicines carry side effects, and the body might become immune to them over some time.

Are There Any Risks?

The use of Light Therapy for pain management and control was cleared by the FDA in 2002. There are no serious side effects to Light Therapy. Light Therapy is a much safer way to treat pain with little to no side effects.

Conclusion

Light Therapy is proven to stimulate healing, increase tissue regeneration, and reduce pain and inflammation. Studies have shown that this method of pain management is highly effective and free of any side effects and risks.

Need a Light Therapy tool? Check out our collection of LED pads here and reap the benefits of risk-free pain management. Call Rob Berman at 860-707-4220 or email Rob to discuss light therapy.

Citations

Tsai, S. R., & Hamblin, M. R. (2017). Biological effects and medical applications of infrared radiation. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology, 170, 197–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2017.04.014

Searing, L. (2018, October 19). The Big Number: 50 million adults experience chronic pain. Retrieved June 8, 2022, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/the-big-number-50-million-adults-experience-chronic-pain/2018/10/19/30831828-d2e0-11e8-83d6-291fcead2ab1_story.html

Brosseau L, Welch V, Wells G, Tugwell P, de Bie R, Gam A, Harman K, Shea B, Morin M. Low level laser therapy for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: a metaanalysis. J Rheumatol. 2000 Aug;27(8):1961-9. PMID: 10955339.

Gale, G. D., Rothbart, P. J., & Li, Y. (2006). Infrared therapy for chronic low back

pain: a randomized, controlled trial. Pain research & management, 11(3), 193–196. https://doi.org/10.1155/2006/876920

Karu T. (2013). Is it time to consider photobiomodulation as a drug equivalent?. Photomedicine and laser surgery, 31(5), 189–191. https://doi.org/10.1089/pho.2013.3510

Searching For Pain Relief? Opioids Versus Red Light Therapy

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 15:54:44 -0400

It is not surprising that, “Pain is the most common reason for physician consultation in the United States.” But it is surprising that medical doctors throughout the nation have been routinely prescribing opiate medications for almost every condition involving pain. “More than 191 million opioid prescriptions were dispensed to American patients in 2017…”

But due to the risks posed by opioids, should you (or your patients, if you are a health practitioner) use them to alleviate pain, or choose a more natural approach to pain relief and management? Opioids’ Dangerous Side Effects The “Opioid Epidemic” in the United States that first began in the 1990s brought awareness of the dangers that these drugs pose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, as well as others, state that the common side effects of opioids, even when taken as directed, are: nausea, vomiting, and dry mouth; sexual issues; dizziness; sleepiness and changes in sleep patterns; mood swings and personality changes; constipation; confusion; depression; itching and sweating; increased sensitivity to pain; slowed breathing; physical dependence (which can bring the discomforts of withdrawal); and tolerance (which can bring the possibility of an unintentional overdose that may cause death).

According to the CDC, “Opioids were involved in 49,860 overdose deaths in 2019 (70.6% of all drug overdose deaths).” This equates to approximately 136 deaths per day. The Mayo Clinic’s website reveals that, “Studies suggest that up to one-third of people who take opioids for chronic pain misuse them, and more than 10 percent become addicted over time.” So are opioids really worth this amount of risk? New Opioid Guidelines A new study states that opioids should not be used to treat chronic non-cancer pain. According to Pat Anson of Pain News Network, a new position paper by the European Pain Federation (EFIC) put out in 2021 “released new guidelines that strongly recommend against using opioids to treat fibromyalgia, low back pain, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome and other types of chronic non-cancer pain. The new recommendations advise that opioids should not be prescribed for people with chronic primary pain as they do not work for these patients. However, the guideline states that low doses of opiods may be suitable for treating ‘secondary pain syndromes’ caused by surgery, trauma, disease or nerve damage…”

Natural Alternative Opioids for pain relief may offer more harm than help. And opioids never actually heal the source of the pain — putting the patient on an endless treadmill of prescriptions. But what if there was a way to get the human body to release its own natural chemicals for pain relief with no negative side effects? And what if these naturally released chemicals not only provided quick and effective pain relief, but also accelerated the body’s own innate healing processes? Red Light Therapy is the answer both of these life changing questions! The Better Choice - Red Light Therapy! Red Light Therapy is a non-addictive, non-risky means of achieving pain relief and accelerating healing. Red Light Therapy is non-invasive; painless; fast-acting; dependable; extremely easy to administer; and, best of all, has no known harmful side effects. Red Light Therapy is also known as “photobiomodulation” (PBM) and “Low level Light Therapy” (LLLT).”

Contrary to opioids, Red Light Therapy can be administered without worries because, “PBM has an almost complete lack of reported adverse effects...” A 2015 study concluded that, “LLLT is beneficial for pain relief and can accelerate the body’s ability to heal itself.” And unlike opioids, Red Light Therapy provides effective pain relief plus stimulates the body’s own healing processes. Thousands of peer-reviewed scientific studies have proven that Red Light Therapy is a very effective and dependable healing modality. A 2017 study affirmed that “…Low doses of light have demonstrated the ability to heal skin, nerves, tendons, cartilage and bones.” In Conclusion – Red Light = No Risks! Say “no” to opiates. If you suffer from acute or chronic pain, consider purchasing a Red Light Therapy system for your home use that can bring you and your family effective and dependable pain relief and accelerate your body’s own healing processes without the threat of any harmful side effects.

And if you are a medical doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, acupuncturist or massage therapist, consider adding Red Light Therapy to your treatment menu. Purchasing even a small Red Light Therapy system for your clinic can provide a big boost to your practice in at least three significant ways: (1) expand your treatment menu and, as a result, your potential earnings; (2) make a significant positive impact on the well being and quality of life of your patients — and their resulting satisfaction with your practice, and (3) make your clinic stand out above the competition. There are no downsides or risks to Red Light Therapy for both patients and practitioners! Call Rob at 860-707-4220 or email Rob.