What is Bone Density?
Bone density refers to the mineral content, such as calcium and phosphorus, and the arrangement of collagen fibers in bones. Bone density is a primary indicator of bone strength closely related to fracture resistance. Many people may not know that bone density is significant for a person's overall health. Radiant bones are necessary for everyone! If the bone density is too low, they can easily break. Bones absorb nutrients and minerals to gain strength during childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. After adulthood, bone mass peaks, and bone density no longer increases automatically [1]. As people age, they may also decrease in density. For women, especially after menopause, they are prone to osteoporosis, a disease that severely weakens bones, making them prone to breakage.
In daily life, behaviors such as smoking, excessive drinking, lack of sun exposure, too little exercise, and a high-salt diet can seriously affect the maintenance of bone health. Apart from a healthy lifestyle, there is also a magical light that is very beneficial to bones, that is, red light therapy commonly used in orthopedic hospitals to assist in treating bone problems.
The Principle of Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy is one of the most famous phototherapy techniques based on photobiomodulation (PBM, a photochemical process). Red light has a profound, bio-stimulating effect on human body cells and has a wide range of roles at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. After the body absorbs this light, it activates photosensitive enzymes in mitochondria, causing mitochondria to produce more adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
ATP is a universal energy source and is essential for all biological reactions. Even a small increase in ATP quantity can enhance bioavailability, powering cellular metabolic functions-red light triggers, in turn, many intracellular signaling pathways by altering mitochondrial or cellular redox states. Red light therapy is clinically known to have cell migration, proliferation, survival, tissue repair, etc., and regeneration advantages.
How Do You Get Radiant Bones With Red Light Therapy?
According to research, red light therapy is a safe and effective way to restore bone health.[2] Whether your bones suddenly make abnormal noises when you are bending or squatting or have any bone injury, red light therapy can help you get radiant bones in several ways.
Improves Bone Tissue Metabolism
Osteoblasts and osteoclasts coordinate the growth and maintenance of bones. On the one hand, osteoclasts clean up aging or damaged bone tissue; on the other hand, osteoblasts repair or build new bone tissue. Photobiomodulation stimulatory effects can dilate blood vessels and capillaries, improve microcirculation, blood flow velocity, and mitochondrial metabolism, deliver more nutrients and oxygen to the surrounding bone tissue, and enhance bone tissue repair. It is also beneficial for sports injuries involving Achilles tendon or ligament tears.
Restores the Vitality of Bone Cells
Red light therapy can promote the oxidation of mitochondria in the cytoplasm, generate more energy, maintain the integrity and permeability of cell membranes, improve cell excitability and the deformation ability of red blood cells, and remove free radicals generated during metabolism. It activates biological macromolecules such as nucleic acids, restores the vitality of bone cells, and keeps them mineralized.
Pain Relief
Most bone problems are accompanied by obvious pain; the photochemical effects of red rays can reduce sensory nerve excitability and interfere with pain while improving blood circulation. It alleviates ischemia, hypoxia, and other symptoms conducive to exudate absorption swelling subsidence to achieve immediate pain relief.
Promotes Fracture Healing
After the fracture occurs, the bone cortex, periosteum, and adjacent soft tissues at the fracture place are damaged. The rupture of the blood vessels forms a hematoma (swelling of clotted blood within injured tissue), and patients often have more severe swelling and pain. Red light irradiation on fracture sites can improve local blood circulation and dissipate inflammation and swelling.
In the proliferative stage, red light promotes the absorption and metabolism of vitamin C, leading to improved collagen synthesis[3]. It promotes fibroblast replication granulation tissue growth and drives painless wound healing. In addition, due to more local nutrient supply, low-level light therapy provides a good internal environment for the growth of bone callus and strengthens periosteum ossification.
Can Red Light Therapy Prevent Age-related Bone Loss?
After age 35, bone health has an inflection point; bone mass begins to be lost, and the risk of osteopenia (reduced bone mineral density) and osteoporosis (porous bones) increases significantly. Due to aging, many people are also prone to chronic obesity. Large body weights and reduced bone density are interlinked. With continuous scientific research, red light therapy can save aging bones and maintain bone health with optimum body weight.
It has also shown a very positive effect in the treatment of osteoporosis. A 2017 study analyzed red light effects for age-related osteoporosis in rats. The researchers found that this therapy could "effectively improve osteoporosis, increase bone mineral density, improve bone structure, and improve bone biomechanical performance in older rats."
The wavelength of red/infrared light can penetrate deep tissues and bones by encouraging cell communication and mitochondrial function in skeletal tissues. Concentrated light stimulates mitochondria in cells, helping the body produce more collagen to self-energize, regenerate and heal. Collagen is the widely distributed protein in humans, accounting for 70% of the protein in the skin (our largest organ) and 30% in the body. Collagen strengthens bone connective tissue health and provides firmness and elasticity to the skin. It is also an essential component of bone nutrients. Aging decreases collagen production, resulting in low bone density and poor bone health. It is no exaggeration to say that collagen is the scaffold for all life. Red light therapy restores collagen, the basis of all cellular healing.
Recommendations for Healthy Bones
When red light treatment is used with moderate strength training following a balanced diet, it can maintain healthy bone density throughout life. It is definitely beneficial for the whole body's health rather than just for the specific area irradiated by light.
Red light therapy has a long history and strong scientific evidence, and most patients, including the elderly, can receive such treatment to improve bone density. These rays penetrate the skin surface, stimulating deep cell regeneration and repair without harming the outer epidermis. There is no pain, fever, or discomfort during treatment. In addition, red light therapy has not reported significant side effects. Bone density begins to decline by the age of 40. Therefore, one must invest in bone health as early as possible. Improve bone health and density with innovative red light therapy equipment, and you will naturally have a high-quality life!
References and Citations:
[1] Weaver C. M. (2017). Nutrition and bone health. Oral diseases, 23(4), 412–415.
[2] Cotler, H. B., Chow, R. T., Hamblen, M. R., & Carrol, J. (2015). The Use of Low Level Laser Therapy for musculoskeletal Pain management. MOJ orthopedics & rheumatology, 2(5), 00068.
[3] Berni, M., Brancato, A. M., Toriani, C., Bina, V., Annunzita, S., Cornella, E., Truchi, M., Jannelli, E., Mosconi, M., Gastldi, G., Caliogna, L., Grassi, F. A., & Pasta, G. (2023). Role of Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in Bone Healing: Systematic Review. International journal of molecular sciences, 24(8), 7094.
[4] Qiao, D., Li Y., Li, X., Zhang, X., Qian, H., Zhang, G., & Wang, C. (2020). An association of obesity with bone mineral density and osteoporosis in adults; a systematic review meta-analysis. Public health, 180, 22–28.
[5] Zhu, C. T., Li, T., Zhan, P., Zou, M., Guo, Q., & Qu, X. W. (2017). Beneficial effects of low-level laser (LLLT) irradiation on senile osteoporosis in rats. European review for medical and pharmacologicalsciences, 21(22), 5230–5238.
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