The shoulder is one of the flexible joints in the upper limb and is prone to fatigue. According to the World Health Organization, shoulder pain has become a common condition that affects about 1 billion people worldwide. Two reasons mainly cause shoulder pain:
- Frozen shoulder: mainly manifested as impaired movement of the shoulder joint, pain, muscle stiffness, etc.
- Shoulder muscle spasms: In daily life, if you work at a desk for a long time and lift heavy objects frequently, the shoulder muscles tense. Due to lack of rest, striking pain is felt in the muscles.
When shoulder pain occurs, many people's first treatment is to massage the sore area. Although they feel comfort after pressing, the effect is not long-lasting and starts to hurt again in a day or two. Standard treatment methods include medications, physical therapy, and surgery, but they have side effects and limitations. Red light therapy is an alternative effective intervention for shoulder pain relief.
Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy is one form of photobiomodulation in which low-level wavelengths of red and near-infrared light are applied to the skin. Such light is capable of permeating the skin and underlying muscles and tendons. Unlike UV light, which is destructive to the skin, red light is safe. Hence, it appeals more to those looking for a mild, non-invasive type of treatment.
The basis for red light therapy lies in its power to stimulate cellular activity, especially in the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. As mitochondrial function increases, red light therapy enhances energy production, which cells need to repair and regenerate. It improves blood circulation, reduces inflammation, and hastens the rate of healing making this treatment effective enough to cure various conditions, including shoulder pain.
Relevance to the Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain ranges from acute injuries like frozen shoulder and dislocations to chronic ones, such as arthritis and tendonitis. In most of these conditions, the pain is often accompanied by inflammation, stiffness, and reduced mobility, all of which can be very distressing for a person. Pain medicines and physical therapy are some of the conventional methods of treatment, but they may not always provide the relief desired or have serious side effects.
Since this red light therapy targets the very causes of pain and inflammation, it is fast gaining attention as a valuable treatment modality in cases of shoulder pain. Whether one considers post-surgical recoveries, sports injuries, or even chronic pain, it offers a very 'inner-healing' approach.
Benefits of Red light Therapy for shoulders
- Enhance Mobility and Flexibility
Most shoulder pains limit movement and make life quite miserable. Red light helps restore the range of motion and flexibility within the shoulder joint by reducing pain and inflammation. It assists you to get back to work, exercise, or anything that you love to do quickly.
- Faster Recovery from Injuries
Red light therapy quickens the healing process by repairing tissues and reducing inflammation. Whether you have been injured through sports or have undergone surgery on your shoulder, this consistent use of light therapy will get you back into activities sooner.
- Immediate and Long-term effects
Several users have reported reduced pain and stiffness after just a few sessions, eventually allowing them to be more mobile and comfortable. These continue with the long-term benefits: improved flexibility, strength, and tissue regeneration over time. It turns red light therapy into not only a means of treatment based on immediate pain relief but also an important device for long-term recovery and shoulder health.
Why choose Red Light Therapy for shoulder pain?
- Non-invasive Pain Relief
The greatest advantage is that red light therapy is non-invasive. It does not carry risks and side effects associated with medications and less surgical intervention. There are no cuts, injections of drugs, or harsh chemicals—only soothing light. Many are drawn to red light therapy because it allows pain relief without the need for prescription painkillers, which could be addictive.
- Targeted Healing
Red light therapy is effective in targeting certain areas of discomfort and, hence, ideal for treating shoulder pains. A few conditions, such as rotator cuff injuries, frozen shoulders, bursitis, or arthritis pains, are hard to manage with traditional techniques.
Red light therapy allows a precise treatment method to target the affected area. It hastens the body's natural healing process by directly delivering light energy to damaged tissues, hence increasing the speed of recovery while reducing pain.
What does therapy involve?
- Application Process
Administration of red light therapy is relatively easy and can be done at home with handheld devices or LED panels, or by professionals in specific clinics. In the case of shoulder pain, therapy usually consists of placing the device over the affected area for a recommended period of 15 to 30 minutes per session. This light will easily penetrate into the skin and target deeper tissues without causing any heat or discomfort. Handheld devices are easier to target the areas, as one can apply the light right where they need it. Larger LED panels are used to cover broader areas when people experience pain in different regions.
- Treatment Frequency
Consistency in treatments is the key to reaping the benefits of red light therapy. For optimal benefit, frequency may be suggested as many times per week as possible. Depending on the severity and underlying condition of your shoulder pain, weeks or months of continued treatment might be necessary. Because of the cumulative nature of treatments, these improvements in pain level, mobility, and general shoulder function will show up rather gradually.
Conclusion
Red light therapy is becoming a potent tool for dealing with shoulder pain. It is non-invasive in nature and acts precisely at the injury site, thus helping heal. Thus, for patients who want to avoid discomfort and wish to steer clear of medications and surgery, it is certainly a popular choice. Whether you have a new shoulder injury, post-surgery rehabilitation, or any long-standing chronic condition, red light therapy will get you mobile, reduce your pain, and speed up recovery. Once you appreciate the benefits and applications, you can control your shoulder pain and improve the quality of your life.
References
- Cotler, H. B., Chow, R. T., Hamblin, M. R., & Carroll, J. (2015). The Use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) For Musculoskeletal Pain. MOJ orthopedics & rheumatology, 2(5), 00068. https://medcraveonline.com/MOJOR/the-use-of-low-level-laser-therapy-lllt-for-musculoskeletal-pain.html
- 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://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24155802/
- 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
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