Can light therapy treat tendonitis?Updated 2 years ago

Tendinitis is an inflammation or irritation of a tendon — the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone.

This condition is commonly caused by overuse, and causes pain and tenderness just outside a joint.

While tendinitis can occur in any of your tendons, it's most common around your shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees and heels.

Some common names for various tendinitis problems include:

• Tennis elbow

• Golfer's elbow

• Pitcher's shoulder

• Swimmer's shoulder

• Jumper's knee

With consistent use, light therapy at the correct wavelength and dosage (like the Move+ provides) can provide targeted relief to the area by stimulating blood flow and energy production (ATP) in the cells.

This reduces pain and inflammation, and triggers the healing process to help damaged or inflamed tissues repair themselves.

What does the science say?

A 2015 systematic review evaluated 3 studies related to red light therapy and the treatment of tendinopathy.

Researchers concluded that:

“the use of red light therapy compared to placebo, is effective in the treatment of tendinopathy”

Another study that analyzed the inflammatory Prostaglandin E2 response in tendinitis of the Achilles tendon, found that these levels significantly reduced after active LLLT, compared with concentrations before treatment.

They concluded that:

"Laser therapy can reduce inflammation and pain in activated Achilles tendinitis."