Can light therapy help with chronic pain?Updated 6 months ago

There are a number of medical trials which have shown tremendous benefits of laser therapy on chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Photobiomodulation has even been shown to be more effective than standard treatment options like NSAIDs [1] [2] [3], which can have serious long-term side effects.

Clinical Studies

1. Photobiomodulation: Implications for Anesthesia and Pain Relief  

This review provides strong evidence in neuroscience identifying inhibition of neural function as a mechanism for the clinical application of PBM in pain and anesthesia.

2. Low-intensity LASER and LED (photobiomodulation therapy) for pain control of the most common musculoskeletal conditions 

The results demonstrated a 50% improvement in reported pain scores at treatments 10 and 12. In addition, a significant increase in physical functioning was seen and was maintained through the 30 days follow-up visit.

3. The Mechanistic Basis for Photobiomodulation Therapy of Neuropathic Pain by Near Infrared Laser Light 

These in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that treatment with an irradiance/fluence rate at 270 m W/cm2 or higher at the level of the nerve can rapidly block pain transmission.