What are the Benefits of Infrared Light Therapy For Pain Management?

IN THIS ARTICLE: 

• 01 What is Low Level Laser Light Therapy?
• 02 What Is Infrared Light Therapy?
• 03 What is Red Light Therapy?
• 04 What Is the Difference Between Red Light and Infrared Light?
• 05 How Does Infrared Therapy Work?
• 06 What is the Science Behind Infrared Light Therapy and Pain Management?
• 07 How Does Infrared Light Help to Treat Pain?
• 08 Is Infrared Light Therapy Safe?
• 09 The Takeaway

10-minute read

The use of  light therapy to trigger biological responses is not a new phenomenon, in fact, it began to appear in medical literature as early as the 18th century. In the 1960’s Hungarian researcher Endre Mester discovered that low level laser light therapy causes damaged cells to heal faster. This discovery has since been the subject of hundreds of studies all reaching the same verdict: LLLT enhances cell rejuvenation and triggers the body's natural healing process.

So what does this mean for pain management? Quite a lot actually. Living with chronic pain is a battle endured by many on a daily basis. Below we take a look at the role of infrared and red light therapy in pain management and inflammation and examine if and how we can incorporate the technique into our daily lives. 

What is Low Level Laser Light Therapy?

Low level laser light therapy is sometimes referred to as ‘photobiomodulation’ which literally means the changing of biology with light. Photobiomodulation uses low doses of red and infrared light to trigger biochemical and cellular level responses in the body. Essentially, light activates the cell metabolism providing the mitochondria with increased energy to carry out functions optimally. More energy in the cell increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients and triggers the production of important proteins such as collagen and elastin.

What Is Infrared Light Therapy?

Infrared light therapy is a type of low-level light therapy that uses wavelengths in the range of 845-855nm to boost cellular function. Infrared wavelengths are longer than those on the visible light spectrum (such as red and blue) and stand out for their ability to treat far beyond the skin’s surface reaching tissue, joints, muscles, nerves and even bones. These effects combine to mitigate pain, promote muscle recovery, and improve overall well-being.

What is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy is another form of low-level light therapy using wavelengths in the range 600-700nm to stimulate cell function and achieve aesthetic and health benefits including wound healing, collagen production, reducing inflammation and boosting mood.

What Is the Difference Between Red Light and Infrared Light?

The red light spectrum refers to the wavelengths that span from visible to invisible light. The primary difference between red light and infrared light lies in their wavelengths, which affects how they interact with the body and the types of therapeutic benefits they offer.

Red Light

Typically within the range of 600 - 700nm , red light is visible to the human eye. It penetrates the skin to a relatively shallow depth, usually just around 2 millimeters. Because of this, red light is primarily effective for treating surface-level issues such as skin health, wound healing, and can improve the condition of the outer dermis by increasing collagen production, reducing wrinkles, and treating other visible signs of aging.

Infrared Light

Infrared light, or far-infrared, has longer wavelengths reaching up to 810-900 nm, placing it just beyond the visible spectrum of light. This allows it to penetrate deeper into the body’s tissues, reaching muscles, nerves, and even bones. Due to its deep penetration, infrared light is more suitable for use in chronic pain conditions and deep tissue issues. It helps to enhance circulation, reduce inflammation, ease pain, and promote healing of deep tissues.

The choice between red and infrared light therapy depends on the specific health goals, with red light being ideal for more superficial treatment and infrared light preferred for deeper tissue therapy. Although infrared and red light work in a similar manner, their biological effects are not identical and it is suggested that a treatment combining both red and infrared offers the most comprehensive results. 

How Does Infrared Therapy Work?  

Low level light therapy effects cell changes in two primary ways by: 

Boosting mitochondria 

Infrared light increases mitochondrial activity allowing the cell to function more optimally. ATP is a chemical responsible for producing fibroblasts, collagen hyaluronic acid and elastin. For ATP to be produced, an enzyme called cytochrome c oxidase binds with oxygen. Light therapy facilitates this process.

Creating oxidative stress 

The application of infrared light creates low level and temporary stress in the skin cells. This stress state triggers the cells to create free radicals to activate the body’s anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory defense systems. 

What is the Science Behind Infrared Light Therapy and Pain Management?

The easiest way to think about the relationship between infrared light and pain management is to consider what actually causes pain. Most pain is caused by tissue damage and inflammation. From a high level, photobiomodulation has the power to repair this damaged tissue, thereby alleviating pain.

When experiencing pain, more ATP (the energy carrying molecule in the cell) is required to facilitate the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the damaged cells. When infrared light is applied to the area, it is absorbed by Cytochrome C oxidase, an enzyme vital for mitochondrial respiration. Before the application of light, a molecule called nitric oxide prevents this enzyme from binding with oxygen. Infrared light releases the nitric oxide from the Cytochrome C so it can bind with oxygen and in turn produce more ATP. Infrared light enhances the process of mitochondrial respiration to relieve pain.

How Does Infrared Light Help to Treat Pain?

A 2006 study showing the effectiveness of infrared light in the treatment of pain showed it to be effective with no adverse consequences.

1. Deep tissue penetration allows infrared light to reach muscles, nerves, and even bones.
2. Infrared light warms tissues and widens blood vessels to improve circulation, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to reach areas in pain, which speeds up healing and reduces discomfort.
3. Increase in mitochondrial energy speeds up the body's natural ability to heal itself, helping to fix damaged tissues, reduce swelling, and ease pain.
4. Infrared therapy reduces inflammation by balancing cytokines, crucial for treating chronic pain like arthritis.
5. Infrared light heat triggers endorphin release, natural painkillers that block pain signals to the brain and ease muscle discomfort.
6. Infrared light can potentially disrupt pain signals being transmitted to the brain, which can help in significantly reducing pain perception. More of that here.

Is Infrared Light Therapy Safe?

Infrared light therapy devices have a very good safety profile and the treatment of pain and other conditions showed no significant side effects. If using an at home infrared light therapy device, always take precautions to protect your eyes.

1. It's non-invasive - meaning no cuts or intrusive procedures are needed. This lowers the chances of infections or complications often linked to surgeries.
2. No harmful radiation - unlike UV rays, infrared is non-ionizing or not so harmful that it can cause skin damage or increase the risk of skin cancer. 
3. Low heat production - heat levels are typically low and controlled to avoid burns or discomfort. At-home devices usually have built-in safety features to prevent overheating.
4. Backed by studies - research supports infrared therapy for chronic pain, muscle recovery, and joint inflammation.
5. FDA Clearance - you can find many infrared light therapy devices as FDA-cleared, indicating their safety for personal use.

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The Takeaway

Infrared light therapy, part of the invisible light spectrum, operates similarly to red light therapy but penetrates much deeper into the body. (800-1200nm) This makes it a more complete option when treating pain, inflammation and muscle recovery. If you are looking to treat inflammation and pain while improving skin health and appearance a combination of red and infrared light therapy is suggested. Early studies are indicating that there are differences in the way red and infrared light interact with the cell in collagen synthesis and therefore each have their own distinct benefits. 

If you have any questions about how to purchase light therapy devices from Project E Beauty, please contact Customer support directly at hello@projectebeauty.com for assistance. 

  written by Charlotte Rycroft