These days, you’ll find that red light therapy is more popular than ever, and not without reason. After all, you’d be happy to discover that it offers users many more benefits than fat-burning alone.
It’s also known to help patients overcome severe medical conditions. So, it’ll be beneficial for you if you have conditions like arthritis.
Red light therapy for arthritis can be more effective than other treatments if you know how to use it correctly. This kind of therapy is also known as low-level light therapy.
You may be relieved to know that it’s a non-invasive treatment. Red light therapy uses LEDs to treat people. You’ll find that these LEDs can deliver red and near-infrared light wavelengths to your body.
This process helps reduce the oxidative stress that is sometimes present in your cells. It also stimulates energy production like never before. In this way, it allows your body to heal and cope with various conditions.
One of these conditions is arthritis, as we mentioned before. This is also why red light therapy is the go-to solution for athletes. If you’re an athlete, you’ll find it easier to recover from exercise after using red light therapy.
To use red light therapy for arthritis, you’ll need a good device that emits red light. You’ll find several at-home devices online that can deliver red light to your mitochondria (known as the powerhouse of the cell). You can use these devices to target the areas of your body that are targeted by arthritis aches and pains.
You’ll discover that one great advantage of using red light therapy for healing is that it doesn’t burn your skin.
This makes it safer and easier to use than other arthritis medical treatments. The fact that you can use it by yourself for some pain relief is the icing on the cake.
But if you’re unsure about where to begin, we’re here to help. We can also help if you’re seeking more information on arthritis. In the following sections, we’ll discuss how red light therapy can help relieve your arthritis.
Red Light Therapy and Arthritis
You’ll find many people relying on infrared light therapy for arthritis. This isn’t surprising if you think about how accessible and safe it is.
But if you’re unfamiliar with it, you may not know how it can offer relief to arthritis patients. So, let’s talk about how red light therapy can benefit you if you’re suffering from arthritis.
Those suffering from arthritis usually opt for physical therapy and traditional treatment. If you’re one of them, you’ll know that these options often focus on relieving the symptoms of arthritis.
So, as you can imagine, they don’t always offer relief from the long-term pains of arthritis. For example, many medical institutions suggest that you use creams and ointments to reduce arthritis pain.
Some medical retailers even suggest steroids and other topical medications to reduce inflammation. These treatments don’t work on the cellular level to provide you with relief.
This is where red light therapy for arthritis differs from traditional treatments that you may have tried before.
If you’ve suffered from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, you will know the pain they cause. So, it’s no wonder that patients prefer non-invasive treatments to help them overcome pain. You’ll find that red light therapy uses specific light wavelengths to penetrate your cells.
This process stimulates a natural response in your tissues. This in turn can accelerate repair in your cells.
Exposure to red light therapy can also increase blood and oxygen circulation in your cells. You’ll notice a decrease in muscular and joint pain after using red light therapy.
Both red light and near-infrared light therapy for arthritis can be effective for healing. These therapies help your body from the inside out since they target your cells. In doing so, they allow you to take a holistic approach to tackling your arthritis.
Common Types of Arthritis and Their Symptoms
Now, let’s dive into some common types of arthritis and their symptoms. Learning more about the types of arthritis can help you decide if red light therapy for arthritis would be a good option for you.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This type of arthritis is an autoimmune disease, so it involves your immune system affecting parts of your body.
It’s most common for the immune system to attack your joints if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. This is what causes inflammation in your joints, which leads to pain.
If you leave rheumatoid arthritis untreated, it can lead to long-term damage to your joints. The most common symptoms of this type of arthritis are pain in your heels, knuckles, or elbows.
These symptoms can either start suddenly or develop gradually. So, it can be difficult to ascertain if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis in its initial stages.
But once you discover you suffer from it, it would be useful to try out red light therapy for arthritis pain. You can use an at-home device or visit a clinic to start your treatment and find relief.
Osteoarthritis
This is widely known as the most common form of arthritis in the world. It’s not easy to prevent this condition. This is because it stems from aging and normal overuse of your joints.
The most common factor behind osteoarthritis is aging. Some people also suffer from this condition as a result of obesity or injuries.
Anything that puts extra stress on your joints can lead to the development of osteoarthritis. You’re most likely to suffer from pain related to this condition in your spine, knees, hips, and feet.
As you can imagine, these are the places in your body that have to bear the weight of a heavy frame.
A symptom of this kind of arthritis is that it doesn’t cause fatigue or sickness like other forms of arthritis. What happens when you suffer from osteoarthritis is that your body starts to break down your cartilage.
The cartilage is also known as the ‘shock absorber’ of the body. So, it’s no wonder that osteoarthritis can be quite a painful condition.
Another symptom of osteoarthritis is that it makes simple movements painful. This is especially true for those who are overweight. If you have osteoarthritis, you may also notice a low, grating sound when you try to move affected joints, like your knees.
Red light therapy for arthritis, when used on these affected joints, can produce great results.
You may need to consult a doctor first if you’re not sure if you’re suffering from osteoarthritis. But if you’re sure, you can begin your therapy with an at-home red light therapy device.
Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis affects the skin and causes inflammation of the joints. Since it affects the skin as well, it’s easier to identify this kind of arthritis than other types of arthritis.
The most obvious symptom of psoriatic arthritis is patchy, bumpy, red, and white areas of skin. Often, patients suffering from psoriatic arthritis find scales on their skin.
You’re likely to find affected skin in your genital area, navel, scalp, elbows, and knees if you have this kind of arthritis. Another symptom of psoriatic arthritis is the swelling of your fingers and toes.
Also, it’s useful to note that around 10–30% of those suffering from psoriasis may also suffer from psoriatic arthritis.
Red light therapy for arthritis in your knees can be useful for those with aggravated joint pain. So, it’s no surprise that it’s useful to treat the main symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.
Does Red Light Therapy Help Arthritis Effectively?
Many companies make claims that their at-home treatment devices offer results. But the sad reality is that very few of them manage to live up to their lofty claims.
This isn’t the case for red light therapy devices, as many of the studies conducted on their effects are backed by clinical studies.
These studies show that red light therapy is both safe and effective for most people wanting to find relief from arthritis-related pain.
Studies show that the treatment for arthritis using red light therapy is useful for knee pain. But red light therapy for wrist pain has given users some impressive results too.
But you should know how to use red light therapy for arthritis in the right way if you want results. For instance, if you’re using an at-home device, make sure to follow all the instructions.
Learn how to use your infrared lamp for arthritis before you start using it on yourself or someone else.
Also, remember that it’s unlikely you’ll see significant changes in pain in just one use. Make sure to use your device often if you want a long-term reduction in your arthritis symptoms.
Conclusion
All said and done, there’s enough evidence to suggest that red light therapy for arthritis is truly effective. Besides pain relief, red light therapy has many other benefits. It can help you burn fat and improve the appearance of your skin.
Fat burning can be really useful for those suffering from osteoarthritis. This condition is often caused by excessive weight gain.
The skin-related benefits can be useful for those suffering from age-related arthritis. This is because red light therapy also works on boosting collagen production in your skin.
If you’re looking for at-home devices to kickstart your red light therapy sessions, you have plenty to choose from. So, all that’s left for you to do is pick a device and get started on your red light therapy journey.
Jean Smith is a fitness enthusiast and blogger who focuses on fitness and a healthy lifestyle. She is passionate about assisting people in living healthier lifestyles and is constantly on the lookout for new and creative methods to stay fit and healthy. Her articles are excellent resources for anyone interested in improving their health and fitness.