Muscle and tendon injuries commonly afflict athletes, causing pain, reducing performance, and delaying recovery. Such injuries may range from simple strains to complete tears which can hinder an athlete’s training or competitions. In recent years, red light therapy/low-level laser therapy has become popular as a treatment option for design tendon injuries. This blog will look into the types of tendon injuries that red light therapy is effective and also how the new treatment technique could enhance the performance of the tendons.
Types of Tendon Injury That May Benefit
Tendinitis
Tendinitis, often resulting from overuse or recurring injury, is the inflammation of a tendon. It is associated with pain, swelling, and stiffness that can become progressively worse with activity. Common sites of involvement include the Achilles tendon, patellar tendon, and rotator cuff. Such a debilitating condition significantly impairs an athlete's performance and is best managed with a multimodal therapeutic approach.
Tendinosis
While tendinitis involves inflammation, tendinosis is associated with the degeneration of a tendon due to chronic overuse. This usually roots from untreated tendinitis and represents a more serious loss of tendon integrity. Tendinosis may manifest in athletes through persistent pain, stiffness, and weakness in the affected area. Since tendinosis is associated with chronic injury, care of tendinosis must be given in a sufficient amount of time so that recovery occurs.
Tendon Tears
Tendon tears are usually partial or complete and represent some of the grave injuries to the tendon. Due to the potential for significant functional loss, most tendon tears require medical intervention. Symptoms include intense pain that limits movement accompanied by swelling and a restricted active range of motion. If an athlete suspects a tendon tear, they always have to consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.
How Red Light Therapy May Help Tendons?
Commonly known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), red light therapy employs specific light wavelengths that penetrate the skin and activate cellular processes. In regard to tendons, there are a number of theoretical mechanisms that have explained how red light therapy could improve tendon healing and performance.
Reducing Inflammation
Inflammation contributes significantly to pain and dysfunction resulting from tendon injuries. Low-level light may reduce inflammation by improving cellular metabolism, which, in turn, may promote the release of anti-inflammatory mediators. By reducing inflammation, this could minimize the perception of pain and enhance recovery time.
Promoting Collagen Production
Collagen is the key protein involved in strengthening and healing the tendons. It forms the framework of the tendon and is critical to the recovery process after an injury. Red light therapy promotes collagen production, essential for regenerating injured tendon structures, enhancing its effectiveness. Increased collagen production will affect performance positively by making the tendons strong.
Improving Blood Flow
Increased oxygenated blood delivery to injured tendons is extremely important in supplying the tissues with the repairing elements. Notably, red light therapy boosts blood flow by inducing vasodilation in the targeted regions. In turn, better blood circulation may facilitate recovery since the damaged tissues are provided with adequate resources for their healing.
Pain Relief
Pain relief is one of the most immediate benefits attributed to red light therapy. It influences cellular processes that reduce pain signals and further modulate the sensation of pain. Indeed, for athletes, regular sessions of red light therapy provide a significant reduction in discomfort from tendon injuries, thus returning them to training regimens sooner rather than later.
Using Red Light Therapy for Tendon Issues
Targeting the Affected Area
Optimal healing occurs when red light is applied directly to the injured tendons. It is important that complete coverage of the entire affected region is observed when using light to assist healing. With varying depth and intensity depending on the device applied, it is important that treatment should be applied correctly.
Frequency and duration of treatment
Maximizing treatment efficacy requires adherence to the manufacturer's guidelines. Daily sessions of red light therapy can range from 15 to 30 minutes and can be repeated daily or a number of times in a week. The treatment's effectiveness can be maximized depending on what frequency the therapy is administered.
Consistency is Key
Tendon healing requires some time. Treatments are performed quite regularly for optimal results. Some individuals may notice rapid improvement after initial treatments, though others might experience a longer wait for significant change. Patience and adherence to the treatment plan are necessary.
Combining with Other Therapies
The use of red light therapy is helpful together with other therapies such as rest, icing, physiotherapy, and taking medications as prescribed. Nonetheless, it shouldn't replace professional medical counsel. Athletes should continue to follow their healthcare provider’s recommendations for managing their injuries.
Common Concerns
Is it Safe for Tendons?
When used properly, red light therapy is regarded as safe for the treatment of tendon disorders. Side effects are often mild and transient, with a possible exception of slight redness or warmth in the area being treated. Athletes should ensure the use of only FDA-cleared devices, plus the recommendation to reduce risks.
How Long Until I See Results?
This depends on the level of injury and individual response to treatment. Recovery times can range from a number of weeks onward, depending on the illness: some may improve within weeks; for others, such therapy may continue. Regular monitoring facilitates steady progress, gauging the therapy's effectiveness for the individual athlete.
When to Seek Professional Help?
It is necessary to see a physician and/or a physical therapist for evaluation and treatment. Red light therapy is an adjunct to medical therapeutic interventions, not a replacement. In case an athlete experiences increased pain or lack of relief from treatment, he/she should contact a healthcare provider.
Summary
In athletes, red light therapy presents a complementary strategy that can be used in tendon injury treatment. Its possible effects include mitigation of inflammation, stimulation of collagen synthesis, enhancement of blood circulation, and relief of pain, which may facilitate recovery and improve the performance of tendons. Further research will outline the complete clinical efficacy of RLT, but interested athletes are suggested to consult their health providers in devising a protocol that is appropriate for their condition.
References
- Glass G. E. (2021). Photobiomodulation: The Clinical Applications of Low-Level Light Therapy. Aesthetic surgery journal, 41(6), 723–738. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjab025
- 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
- Lyu, K., Liu, X., Jiang, L., Chen, Y., Lu, J., Zhu, B., Liu, X., Li, Y., Wang, D., & Li, S. (2022). The Functions and Mechanisms of Low-Level Laser Therapy in Tendon Repair (Review). Frontiers in physiology, 13, 808374. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.808374