7 News – Photobiomodulation for chronic pain

Drugs or Light? You decide

More people are looking for ways to alleviate their aches and pain without the use of medication.

For some, meditation or a healthy diet might do the trick, but people say they’ve discovered a “lighter” way to ease the pain.

“When you first hear about it, you’re like, uh, is this a miracle cure?” said Edward Gabrillo, who visited for the first time on the suggestion of his parents.

Light-emitting diode (LED) devices are used in red light treatment to expose the skin to intense wavelengths of red or NIR light. Although the human eye cannot see the whole infrared spectrum, they are considered part of the visible spectrum of light. As light particles (photons) penetrate past the epidermis into deeper tissues, red and NIR light wavelengths are recognized to benefit the human body.

Treatment can be difficult since pain is very complicated and subjective, especially when long-term pharmaceutical usage might have substantial negative effects.

Photobiomodulation, or low level laser therapy, is another name for red light therapy. It is natural, effective, and devoid of side effects, and clinical investigations have revealed significant therapeutic promise. NIR (near-infrared light) therapy is comparable to red light therapy in that it penetrates further into the body.

Many clinical investigations indicate to near-infrared and red light advantages as possible first-line pain treatments for a wide range of illnesses, including osteoarthritis and other joint pain, bone fractures, muscle injuries, connective tissue disorders, nervous system disorders, and spinal disorders.