When a person first hears about a new, non-invasive therapy, they can quickly dismiss it. As we have written about in other blogs, one of our team members has a lightbox to help with the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. When her doctor recommended one over fifteen years ago, she laughed and thought it sounded absurd — a lamp that would cheer her up. They were as well known as they are today, and she now swears by it!
Sometimes, a new therapy can take a moment to catch on. But if it’s backed by research, it’s worth paying attention to! Red light therapy can penetrate the skin and improve energy production in the cells. It can improve blood flow by relaxing blood vessels.
Nerve pain, or neuropathy, can be a byproduct of blood sugar concerns. It can manifest in numbness, tingling, pain or a lack of sensation in any part of the body but most often in the hands and feet. It is difficult to treat and can require lifestyle changes.
New research suggests that red light therapy may treat neuropathy. The theory before the tests was that red light could activate the nerve cells to fire correctly, reducing pain. Research has also shown the healing abilities of red light therapy, so the study hoped it could help regenerate the damaged nerves. Red light therapy also reduces inflammation, reducing further nerve degeneration.
“The lives and functionality of people with [neuropathy] are so severely damaged by the problem that we set out to develop a novel approach. We eventually decided to study photobiomodulation as an alternative to combat the pain,” said pediatric nursing specialist Denise Miyuki Kusahara, one of the study’s authors.
There were 144 people with neuropathy in the study. Half the people received physical therapy. The others received physical therapy and red light therapy. Both groups were treated 18 times and had check-ins for 10 weeks.
People who received the combination of physical therapy and red light therapy experienced less pain and better sleep ten weeks after treatment. The results were seen most clearly in people with intense pain.
The researchers do not feel a follow-up study is needed. They believe their results show that their red light therapy could be used immediately to help people. They did stress that the procedure must be done by someone trained to use 890 nm monochromatic infrared light — it isn’t just a red lightbulb! If someone knows how to use the equipment and understands how to adjust the intensity and duration for each patient’s needs, they should be able to start treating people today!
If you struggle with neuropathy, this research could benefit you. Contact your doctor and discuss if red light therapy might help your situation.
