Ever felt like you've aged overnight when simple tasks like opening a jar or reaching for the top shelf became a challenge? Fear not! I think we've all experienced those times. Right? You've probably tried over-the-counter drugs, home remedies, and other things! However, the pain isn't ready to go away. Guess what, though? There is a potential non-side effect method for treating tendinitis - red light therapy, a practical approach to relieve tendinitis with positive outcomes. It can help you heal more quickly and with less pain. Are you ready to learn how red light therapy works for tendinitis? This blog post is your one-stop resource. I'll go over the advantages that are backed by studies. Buckle up and read it!
How is Red and Blue Light Therapy Helpful for Tendonitis?
Tendinitis causes inflammation, tenderness, pain, and discomfort in the affected joint. It might happen in your wrist, thigh, elbow, finger, shoulder, or elsewhere. Red and blue light therapy might be helpful for pain relief and faster healing. Let's dig into how it works.
Red light therapy, known as cold light therapy, has longer wavelengths that penetrate deeper tissues. This helps to promote tissue repair processes in the body. Not only this, but red light therapy can also act as a natural pain reliever, while blue light with shorter wavelengths primarily targets the upper layers of the skin. It has shown antibacterial effects, which might be beneficial in cases of tendonitis with bacterial involvement. Also, some studies suggest blue light can also modulate pain perception and offer pain relief.
Red Light Therapy Goes Beyond Pain Relief
So, how exactly can red light therapy help? Let's take a look at the potential advantages:
Repairs Tissue
Got a stubborn tendon that just won't heal? Red light therapy might be able to speed things up. It improves your blood flow and stimulates collagen production, thus helping your body repair tissues faster. Hence, it reduces your recovery time and gets you back to your favorite activities sooner.
Studies on the effects of red light therapy on wound healing have also shown that red light exposure stimulates the production of new fibroblasts, blood vessels, and tissue. Each of these procedures helps promote less pain and quicker healing. Red light therapy increased wound contraction and tensile strength, resulting in quicker, more efficient body healing. Red light also promotes the formation of new blood vessels and stimulates the production of fibroblasts, which aid in tissue repair.
Diminishes Inflammation
When it comes to tendonitis, inflammation could be its enemy, and red light therapy might be its kryptonite. It can aid in reducing inflammation, which lessens discomfort and improves the healing environment. RLT helps minimize discomfort, reduces inflammation, and speeds up the healing process. It's excellent for people with strained muscles or tendonitis.
Applying red light to muscles can improve your performance in sports or other physical activities. Various clinical trials have shown that red light therapy can be useful in the treatment of inflammation and pain associated with muscle soreness/tendinitis. Red light therapy given before exercise may improve the healing of strained muscles.
Greater Flexibility and Range of Motion
Your range of motion and flexibility can be improved by red light therapy-induced increased collagen production and joint lubrication. This gives you more flexibility, helps you achieve better form, and enables you to make movements without any pain. Red light therapy can help improve the range of motion in affected joints by reducing inflammation and stiffness in tendons, muscles, ligaments, and joints
Soothes Pain
Tired of that constant ache? Red light might be your savior. Studies suggest it can help reduce pain by influencing your nervous system and calming down inflammation, the source of much of your discomfort. The anti-inflammatory qualities of red light can greatly reduce the pain in the muscles and joints that are frequently linked to tendonitis.
Another study in which red light therapy was administered with optimal doses of 904 nm and 632 nm wavelengths directly to the lateral elbow tendon insertions showed short-term pain relief and less disability. This enables you to push your boundaries without worrying about discomfort.
Treat Tendonitis at Your Home
To be honest, battling tendonitis can feel like a full-time job between appointments, treatments, and the constant struggle with daily activities. The good news? Red and blue light therapy can offer a convenient and accessible solution right from the comfort of your own home! So, you can treat your pain while catching up on Netflix—talk about multitasking!
LED light therapy devices come in various shapes and sizes. You can find panels targeting larger areas like the back or knee, wraps designed for wrists or ankles, and even LEDs you can stick directly on your sore spot.
Most devices offer adjustable settings for wavelength, intensity, and treatment duration, allowing you to personalize your experience.
Things to Remember Before Buying an RLT Device
Before you rush out and buy a light therapy device, remember:
- Do your research and choose a reputable brand with positive reviews.
- Always consult your healthcare professional before starting any new treatment.
- Look for devices with FDA clearance for safety and efficacy.
- Start slowly and gradually increase treatment time as tolerated.
Conclusion
Are you sick of putting up with the pain of tendinitis? You probably want an easy-to-use solution that works well for managing your tendinitis pain. For this reason, red and blue light therapy may be the ideal course of action you have been looking for. But for a speedy recovery, consistency is essential, so follow your treatment plan strictly. Remember to always speak with your healthcare provider before beginning any treatment, even though red and blue light therapy have demonstrated encouraging results in the treatment of tendonitis pain.
So why not attempt light therapy? Obtain a gadget that has been approved by the FDA and treat tendonitis in the comfort of your own home!
References
- Foley, J., Vasily, D. B., Bradle, J., Rudio, C., & Calderhead, R. G. (2016). 830 nm light-emitting diode (led) phototherapy significantly reduced return-to-play in injured university athletes: a pilot study. Laser therapy, 25(1), 35–42.https://doi.org/10.5978/islsm.16-OR-03
- Chaves, M. E., Araújo, A. R., Piancastelli, A. C., & Pinotti, M. (2014). Effects of low-power light therapy on wound healing: LASER x LED. Anais brasileiros de dermatologia, 89(4), 616–623.https://doi.org/10.1590/abd1806-4841.20142519
- Tripodi, N., Feehan, J., Husaric, M., Sidiroglou, F., & Apostolopoulos, V. (2021). The effect of low-level red and near-infrared photobiomodulation on pain and function in tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials. BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation, 13(1), 91. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-021-00306-z
- Gross, A. R., Dziengo, S., Boers, O., Goldsmith, C. H., Graham, N., Lilge, L., Burnie, S., & White, R. (2013). Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression. The open orthopaedics journal, 7, 396–419. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874325001307010396
- Bjordal, J. M., Lopes-Martins, R. A., Joensen, J., Couppe, C., Ljunggren, A. E., Stergioulas, A., & Johnson, M. I. (2008). A systematic review with procedural assessments and meta-analysis of low level laser therapy in lateral elbow tendinopathy (tennis elbow). BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 9, 75.https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-9-75
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