Do you realize that recent research indicate that about 350 million people around the world are suffering from arthritis? That includes both women and men, adult and child with more than 40 million individuals in the U.S affected by the disease.
Definition of Arthritis
It is said that the Mayo Clinic defines arthritis in this manner: “Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness that affects some or all of your joints. The most prominent signs of arthritis are stiffness and joint pain that tend to get worse with age.
The most prevalent forms of arthritis include osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes cartilage – the tough, slippery material which covers the ends of bones, where they create a joint to degrade. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that affects the immune system. targets joints, starting by attacking the joint’s lining.”
The symptoms of both osteoarthritis as well as Rheumatoid arthritis may include discomfort, inflammation, stiffness as well as redness and a decreased mobility. People suffering from the condition may experience discomfort or redness in the skin surrounding the affected joints. Both forms of arthritis can cause injury in various ways.
Impact on Quality of Life
According to doctors from the Mayo Clinic, with osteoarthritis, “cartilage cushions the ends of bones, allowing the joint to move almost without friction, however enough wear and tear can lead to bones grinding directly on the bone, causing the pain and impedes movement. The wear and tear may take place over time or it could be caused due to joint injuries or an infection.”
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, “also causes changes in bones and the degeneration of connective tissues which connect bone to muscle and help to hold joints together. If the cartilage in the joint is badly damaged and the joint’s lining is damaged, it can be swollen and inflamed.”
Rheumatoid Arthritis
In rheumatoid arthritis “the body’s immune system targets the joint’s lining capsule, a tough , tough membrane that covers all joints. The lining gets swelling and inflamed. The process of disease can cause bone and cartilage loss within the joint.”
Traditional Treatment Options
The majority of medical treatments (including Mayo Clinic) focus on “relieving the symptoms and improving joint function.” They also advise that different treatment options may be required or even a combination of treatments prior to determining which is most suitable for every patient. Common medications include
- NSAIDs that relieve discomfort and decrease inflammation (i.e. Advil, ibuprofen).
- Ointments or creams for the skin.
- Prednisone and other steroids can reduce pain and inflammation, and reduce the destruction of joints.
Physical Therapy as an Option
There is a Mayo Clinic and other health healthcare providers also employ physical therapy to combat arthritis. “Exercise can increase flexibility and also strengthen joints by strengthening the muscles.” In the event that patients don’t show improvements after taking medication or physical therapy and surgery, it’s usually the next step to take.
There are three primary surgical alternatives:
- Joint repair
- Joint replacement
- Joint Fusion
Lifestyle modifications could also be suggested to ease symptoms. Patients might be advised to shed weight, work out or use ice and heat packs or other devices for assistance such as canes, walkers, and so on. Laser therapy at low levels can be utilized to treat arthritis also.
Arthritis Treatment with Infrared Light Therapy
If you’ve experienced the negative effects of osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid joint, you’re aware of the pain and discomfort that this illness can create. However, there is a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical option for alleviating arthritis discomfort that goes far beyond medications and ointments that you rub on the skin. It is LED red and infrared laser therapy.
Similar to plants, which get an energy supply from sunlight in photosynthesis The red light therapy process uses certain wavelengths that have been proven to work light energy to induce an instinctual response in the human body that improves the flow of blood, speed up the healing process, reduce joint stiffnessand increase the overall performance of cells on a microscopic scale.
Benefits of Red Light Therapy
People suffering from arthritis will surely benefit from the use of LED near-infrared and red light therapy, which is FDA-approved to ease the pain that is associated with arthritis. The therapy uses red light by increasing the energy of cells to boost and increase the body’s capacity to heal itself through the body’s internal.
The Exquisite Difference
Exquisite’s exclusive shape-taking properties enable cells to absorb more light energy, allowing them to reach the maximum potential for restorative benefits. This is not only beneficial to people suffering from a range of painful conditions however, red light therapy aids in rejuvenating the skin on a cells level. Red light therapy can enhance the appearance and texture of skin, and the combination of blue and red light can kill acne-causing bacteria and improves the overall health of the skin. Red light therapy is also able to increase collagen production, which can help reduce wrinkles and fine lines providing a radiant and healthy appearance to your skin.
Exquisite’s distinctive advanced red-light therapy provides therapeutic benefits for pain relief comparable to or even better than expensive, first-generation devices which makes all-natural pain management an extremely real possibility for anyone suffering from arthritis or other types or chronic pain.
Everything you need to know about Wavelength
In the case of efficient treatment of pain-related conditions using LED treatment with red-colored light wavelength is the most important factor to the success.
In contrast the blue therapy near-infrared and red wavelengths can penetrate deeply into the muscles and joint tissue to relieve the pain, improve circulation and reduce inflammation. Red light therapy with LEDs provides damaged cells with more energy that can speed up the process of healing damaged tissue cells, boost cell proliferation, and improve the state of homeostasis inside the body.
The original idea was created by NASA engineers to manage pain and injury treatment as well as muscle atrophy during long-term space missions. Red light therapy is utilized today as a non-toxic and safe method to treat a wide range of skin and pain conditions such as arthritis.
With the advances in the technology of near and red devices for light therapy individuals can now avail of self-administered treatment at home. There is no longer a need to travel to an office for physical therapy to receive light therapy at a low intensity. Now, you can enjoy all the advantages from red-light therapy in at the convenience of your home. But there are many differences in light therapy. devices are made to be the same.
Pain Mangement & Red Light Therapy
Exquisite Light Therapy’s method of pain management is based off light. It is backed by science and cleared through the FDA.
Exquisite’s multi-faceted, all-in-one Blue, Red as well as Infrared therapy devices can be effective on various parts of the body. It also can treat a range of pain-causing ailments, such as arthritis.
Increased Absorption
Contrary to other LED near infrared and red light therapy products on marketplace, Exquisite has the unique ability to shape near towards the surface, resulting in greater light absorption and maximum therapeutic effectiveness.
Do not opt for an infrared or red light therapy device without FDA clearance or studies to support the claims of its effectiveness.
Learn more about the multiple Exquisite light therapy models to determine which is the most suitable solution for your needs.
The Exquisite SERIES
The combination of near-infrared and red light therapy devices from our Exquisite Series can aid in reducing joint pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. each one has a method for managing specifically for the pains and aches.
Don’t let another day go by suffering. Find out more about LED infrared and red light therapy, and explore our range of products to discover the one that’s best for you. Go this link to browse all of the red light therapy options available.
What the Research Says and Infrared Light Therapy
In a study from 2015, Michael Hamblin et al. examined the use in low-level laser therapy in the treatment of muscles and skeletal pain. Based on the research “Pain is among the top frequently cited reason for doctor consultations within the United States. Three out of every three Americans suffers from chronic pain each year. The primary reason people miss work or school days is due to musculoskeletal discomfort. Current treatments include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as steroid injections, surgical procedures and opiate pain medication all of which carry particular risk profiles.”
“What is needed are efficient treatments for pain that are safe and low-risk. Over the past forty years low-level light (light) therapy (LLLT) and LED (light emitting diode) therapy (also called photobiomodulation) has been proven to decrease inflammation and edema inducing analgesia, as well as aid in healing for a variety of musculoskeletal disorders. The goal of this paper is to examine the efficacy of LLLT to treat pain as well as the biochemical mechanism of effect, the dose-response curves, and the ways in which LLLT could be used by orthopedic surgeons in order to improve outcomes and decrease adverse events”
“With the anticipated epidemic of chronic pain in developed nations it is essential to establish cost-effective and secure methods for treating painful conditions which will enable people to lead healthy life and full of energy. Furthermore, the inclusion of LLLT (which is utilized by numerous specialists around the world) to be incorporated into the arsenal that is the American health care provider will provide new treatments for patients. A new, cost-effective treatment for pain can improve the levels of quality of life and reduce costs.”
Low-Level Light Therapy in the Treatment of Pain
This study provides some intriguing findings and we will cite the following extensively:
“Acute orthopedic problems like strains, sprains post-surgical pain whiplash-related injury (54), muscle back pain, lumbar or cervical tendinitis [57,58] as well as chronic diseases like osteoarthritis [59-64], Rheumatoid arthritis and frozen shoulder [65] back and neck pain [56], epicondylitisCarpal tunnel syndrome, tendinopathyand fibromyalgia Plantar fasciitis [70] Post tibial bone fracture surgery [9and chronic pain syndromes are able to be treated by LLLT. Dental disorders that cause pain, like orthodontic procedures [71], dentine hypersensitivity , and third molar surgery [73] all respond well to treatment using LLLT. The conditions that cause pain in the neuropathic can be treated, such as post herpetic neuralgia (74) as well as trigeminal neuropathy (10) or diabetic neuropathy(75). Because of the broad spectrum of diseases, it is possible that there are multiple mechanisms in play to alleviate pain.”
“The inner nerve ends of peripheral the nociceptors composed of the myelinated thinly A and the unmyelinated slow-conducting C fibers, are located in the epidermis. This intricate network converts harmful stimulations into action potentials. Additionally, these nerve ends are very superficial and therefore are inside those penetration levels of wavelengths utilized to create LLLT (Figure 4.).”
“The cells of neurons are located in the dorsal nerve root ganglion, however the extended cytoplasm (axons) of neurons extends out from the cell’s body to naked nerve endings on the skin’s surface. The effects directly resulting from LLLT begin at the the epidermal neural network but its effects extend into subcutaneous tissues as well as sympathetic ganglia and neuromuscular junctions inside the nerve trunks and muscles.”
What’s Really Happening in the Body
“LLLT when applied at an adequate level of intensity results in an inhibition of action potentials, resulting in around 30 percent blockade of neural activity within 10-15 minutes of application. This blockade can be reversed in a matter of one hour [76]. The application of the laser to the peripheral nerve can result in a cascade effect that there is a reduction in synaptic activity in second order neuron so that cortical regions in the pain matrix will not be stimulated.”
ATP is the Key
“Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the primary source of energy for all cells. in neurons, this ATP is created through mitochondria when they reside inside the dorsal root-ganglion. These mitochondria then move across the cytoskeletons of the nerve via an unirail mechanism of molecular motors. LLLT functions as an anesthetic agent because both LLLT and anesthetics are known to disrupt the cytoskeleton for a couple of hours, as evident by the formation of reversible varicosities or beads across the axons. These causes mitochondria “pile up” and the cytoskeleton to be disturbed [77].”
“The precise mechanism that causes the effect is not known, but it’s not a thermogenic effect. It has been proven that LLLT at the appropriate dose reduces mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) on DRG neurons, and ATP production decreases [78] and therefore the absence of ATP might be the reason for the neural blockade. The most immediate result of blocking nociceptor receptors is the relief of pain, which happens within a matter of minutes and can be seen through the timed beginning of a conduction blockade in somatosensory-evoked currents (SSEPs) [76].”
Short, Medium, and Long-Term Effects
“This suppression of peripheral sensitization does not just reduce the threshold for nerve activation but also lowers the production of proinflammatory neuropeptides (i.e. substance P as well as CGRP). In chronic pain conditions, the reduction in the amount of tonic stimulation to activated nociceptors , as well as their synaptic connections, can lead to a slow-down in the regulation of second-order neuron [78].”
“The modulation of neurotransmitters could be an additional possible mechanism for pain relief, since serotonin and levels of endorphin have been found to rise in animal models [79,80] as well as after laser treatment for myofascial discomfort in patients [81The same can be observed in patients suffering from myofascial pain [81. Therefore, LLLT may produce short, medium and long-term effects. Rapidly acting pain relief is experienced within minutes of applying the treatment as a result from a neural blockade the sympathetic and peripheral nerves, and release of neuromuscular contractions resulting an improvement in muscles spasms [82,83].”
Can Low-level Light Therapy Reduce Inflammation?
“In the short term, there is a decrease in local edema as well as a decrease of inflammation from hours to the days. The role of LLLT in decreasing inflammation and swelling is well-established in animal models and in clinical studies. The number of inflammatory cells have been proven to decrease when joints are treated using protease collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis and in acute chronic pulmonary inflammation (87). The pro-inflammatory levels’ expression cells have been proven to be decreased through LLLT for burn injuries [88], muscle cryo lesions (89) and in delayed hypersensitivity of the type [90in delayed type hypersensitivity [90]. The long-term effects of LLLT are seen within one or two weeks and last for months , and even years because of better tissue healing.”
Orthopedic Outcomes
“According to more than 4000 studies available on pub.med.gov the site can be conclusively concluded that the majority of clinical and laboratory studies have shown that LLLT can have a positive impact on chronic and acute muscular and skeletal pain. Due to the variety of the populations, treatments and the comparison groups, this variety implies that each study is not positive. The pain is a complicated disease that manifests in a variety of forms , with a combination of biological, mechanical, and socioeconomic variables. It’s extremely difficult to assess LLLT against other treatments and LLLT treatments are complicated due to various lengths of treatment, and all with no standardization of wavelengths or dosages. There are currently none of the long-term (greater than two years follow-up) study of human patients that have examined LLLT. The overall favorable short-term clinical trials, in conjunction with robust laboratory studies should provide the confidence clinically that LLLT might be beneficial to those suffering from musculoskeletal pain regardless of the reason.
Conclusion
“One must be honest regarding the therapeutic benefits of LLLT. The previous discussion has proven that LLLT is effective for pain relief, and it can also boost the body’s capacity to recover itself. LLLT has a long-standing history and has solid evidence from the basic sciences to support its application in the treatment of pain. It is safe for use with minimal side negative effects and is generally well-accepted by people who are elderly. Lasers or LEDs do not fix structural problems or instability in bone or soft tissue. Additionally, LLLT should only be utilized as an adjuvant treatment to relieve pain for patients suffering from neuropathy and neurologic problems. Successful outcomes, just like any other medical treatments, are contingent on a solid clinical foundation paired to a thorough understanding of the nature of inflammation, injury and pain. and the mechanisms of LED and laser effects.”
Alternative Treatment Option: Red Light Therapy
As you can observe from the studies, infrared light therapy or low-level therapy, as it’s known can be an effective alternative treatment that can help treat the root cause of arthritis symptoms and not only the symptoms.
References:
The Use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) For Musculoskeletal Pain
Howard B Cotler1,2,*, Roberta T Chow3, Michael R Hamblin4,5,6, and James Carroll7
1 Gulf Coast Spine Care LTD, USA
2 Laser Health Spa LLC, USA
3 Brain and Spine Research Institute, University of Sydney, Australia
4. Wellman Center for Photo medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
5 Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, USA
6 Division of Health Sciences and Technology, USA
7 Thor Photomedicine Ltd, UK
Omry Gottlib
Omry’s passion & curiosity, coupled with his 13-year+ background in Business, provides a unique advantage for his work. He is ever driven to push the envelope.
