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We Wanted to Find the Best Red Light Therapy Device to Help With Pain. Here’s Why We Can’t Recommend Any.

By Teresa Carr

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Using a wand or scary-looking mask to bathe your face in red light is all the rage for helping to make skin look and feel better. But another use for red light therapy is also gaining traction: treating pain.

The therapy involves using devices with laser lights or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to deliver specific wavelengths of light that penetrate the skin surface into deeper tissues to affect cellular function—a process known as photobiomodulation. While scientists aren’t sure exactly how light relieves pain, research suggests that it may stimulate cell regeneration, reduce pain signals, and calm inflammation.

Devices for home use ranging from wraps to wands—some of them costing thousands of dollars—claim to alleviate pain for everything from an arthritic knee to an aching back. But there’s reason to be dubious.

Physician and researcher Dr. Mohab Ibrahim, who directs the Chronic Pain Management Clinic at the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine in Tucson, Arizona, has researched different forms of light therapy for pain. As a scientist, he maintains some skepticism. “Researchers still do not have a full understanding of the biological mechanisms for how red light therapy works,” he said. “Or even who is a good candidate.”

But as a clinician, Ibrahim acknowledges that people in pain often have limited options. “Here is a therapy that is low risk, relatively affordable, and has the potential to work,” he said. When patients ask about red light therapy, he encourages them to give it a go.

Unfortunately, like all the pain experts I consulted, Ibrahim wasn’t able to recommend specific devices for home use. There are no evidence-based guidelines for what type of device and settings may work best against different forms of pain, he pointed out. And neither the US Food and Drug Administration nor any independent testing organization has reviewed red light therapy devices to ensure that they’re effective at relieving pain.

That leaves us without solid grounds for judging the best red light devices. So instead, we’ll give you the lowdown on the evidence and what medical experts say. And if you’re still interested in trying a red light device, we’ll provide some general advice on what to look for—and what to avoid.

The evidence is mixed

Despite thousands of studies, research still lacks definitive answers on whether red light therapy alleviates pain. Some studies show a benefit; others do not.

To truly show that red light therapy works, we would need evidence from large clinical trials comparing the treatment with a placebo (a fake device, for example), said Dr. Praveen Arany, an associate professor of oral biology at the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and former president of the World Association for Photobiomodulation Therapy (WALT), a nonprofit organization supporting research, education, and clinical applications for light therapy.

Unfortunately, Arany said, researchers haven’t yet found funding for those expensive large-scale studies.

One major problem with the research available, said Ibrahim, is that the study methods vary widely—for example, by the wavelength and intensity of the light, whether it’s pulsed or steady, and how long it’s applied. Another issue is that many studies use professional devices with laser lights rather than LEDs, which give off less focused light and are the mainstay of home products because they are safer and often cheaper than lasers.

Timothy Demchak, a professor in the department of applied medicine and rehabilitation at Indiana State University, is convinced that red light therapy is a safe, effective way to alleviate pain. He said that many of his physical therapy patients have benefited from treatment with the laser devices that he uses in his practice.

In a review of red light research published in the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Demchak and colleagues reported evidence to suggest that therapy using LEDs or lasers helped against some types of muscle and joint pain, such as neck pain, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia.

But the group didn’t find strong evidence that red light therapy worked against some other common aches, such as lower back pain. The field desperately needs more rigorous research, Demchak said. Many of the existing studies are lower quality—they may involve too few patients, for example, or lack a comparison group that didn’t receive the red light treatment.

Nonetheless, under the right circumstances, he contends that red light therapy can be “very, very effective.” It comes down to figuring out the optimum treatment protocol for each type of pain, he said.

Those protocols don’t yet exist. WALT has developed guidelines for using red light to prevent oral mucositis (mouth ulcers that can be a side effect of cancer treatment). But the organization has had a harder time reaching a consensus for how to treat common afflictions such as back and neck pain, said Arany.

While different researchers may claim that specific devices and settings are effective, he said, as of yet they haven’t been able to provide a satisfying scientific explanation for how and why the device may work in those conditions. Without that information, he says, it’s hard to generalize results to all types of products and patients.

“There are so many devices,” said Arany. “People are just not agreeing on universal guidelines.”

The medical establishment is skeptical

Due to the lack of consistent evidence supporting red light therapy, as well as the tremendous variation in how it’s implemented, most health insurers don’t cover treatments performed in a doctor’s office. And major medical organizations haven’t issued guidelines for using red light therapy to treat pain.

Although some providers such as Demchak use red light therapy in their practices, the American Physical Therapy Association doesn’t recognize it as an effective form of therapy. And a spokesperson for the Arthritis Foundation told me that they “were unaware of any clinicians or researchers the Arthritis Foundation works with who give red light therapy much regard.”

If you still want to try a red light therapy device

If you’re in pain, check with your doctor before trying to treat yourself at home. “Pain is a warning sign,” said pain expert Mohab Ibrahim. “There might be something benign or it might be something serious that needs to be addressed.”

Even if the source of your pain has been diagnosed, you should still check with your doctor before trying red light therapy. In particular, Ibrahim cautions against using red light on areas where there is a wound, rash, or other skin condition without first getting your doctor’s okay.

If, after all those caveats, you are still interested in trying out a red light device at home, the experts we consulted offered some general advice. We link to top-selling devices on Amazon as examples of the different styles and configurations we mention, but we have not tested any of these devices and are not recommending them.

What to look for

• It’s tailored to the source of your pain. Red light therapy devices come in various configurations, including rectangular panels, wraps, wands, and gloves. The intensity of the light falls off rapidly the further away you are from the source. With that in mind, Praveen Arany, a light-therapy expert, recommends choosing a product that conforms to the aching body part so that the light is against your skin.
  
  Examples include knee-shaped wraps, belts for your back or shoulders, and gloves for your hands. If your body is larger or smaller than average, check the product’s measurements to make sure that it will fit you. Wands and panels allow you to direct the light exactly where it hurts, but keep in mind that you may have to prop the device up or hold it in place for several minutes if it doesn’t come with a base or stand.
• It offers multiple wavelengths. What’s commonly referred to as “red light therapy” typically uses wavelengths from the red, near-infrared, and infrared part of the light spectrum, about 600 nanometers to 1,000 nanometers, with longer wavelengths penetrating more deeply. There are no widely accepted guidelines for what wavelength to use for specific types of pain, so figuring out which setting works best for you may take some trial and error.
• It includes features for safety and convenience. While research suggests that red light therapy is safe, Arany is concerned that prolonged exposure could negate any benefits and possibly even damage tissues. A timer or auto-shutoff feature can ensure that you don’t exceed the manufacturer’s recommended treatment times. Other nice-to-have features include a remote control and the ability to operate from rechargeable batteries so that you are not tethered to a wall socket.
• It isn’t too expensive. Researchers would need more clinical evidence to meaningfully link price to quality, Ibrahim said. Given that a $5,000 red-light device may not be more effective than a $100 model, he recommends that patients start with a less expensive product.
  
  You may be able to save by buying a device using pre-tax dollars from a health savings account or flexible spending account. Check your plan for details.

What to watch out for

• It claims to be FDA-approved. Although you may run across the term “FDA-approved” in articles and ads, no red light devices are actually approved for treating pain, according to FDA spokesperson Carly Pflaum. Generally, the FDA regulates these devices as Class II medical devices, meaning that they don’t potentially pose a serious risk to consumers. Unlike Class III devices like pacemakers or breast implants, products in the Class II category typically aren’t required to go through the FDA’s rigorous approval process, which uses evidence from clinical studies to determine that the device works for the intended use and is safe.
  
  Red light therapy devices may be FDA-registered or FDA-listed, indicating that a company has notified the agency about a product and the manufacturing location, but it doesn’t mean that the FDA has actually evaluated the product. Companies may also go through the process for FDA clearance, meaning that the agency has reviewed information about the device and concluded that it’s substantially equivalent to others on the market.
  
  FDA clearance provides some reassurance about safety and effectiveness, since presumably equivalent products haven’t raised red flags. However, clearance doesn’t necessarily mean that treatment with the product has been proven to relieve pain. You can check whether a device is cleared in the FDA’s database.
• It makes promises that are too good to be true. Red light therapy won’t cure arthritis or eliminate chronic pain. Even in studies that show it helps, the benefit is often modest.

How to use your device safely

With red light therapy, more isn’t better, so never exceed the manufacturer’s instructions for how long or how often to use the device, advises Arany. The treatment isn’t supposed to heat the tissues, so if the area you’re treating starts to feel warm, stop immediately, he said.

Many devices come with safety goggles or dark glasses. Although the intensity and wavelength of light used in home devices is likely not harmful to the eyes, Demchak advises using eye protection out of an abundance of caution, especially if you’re using the device near your eyes.

This article was edited by Claire Perlman and Kalee Thompson.

Meet your guide

Teresa Carr

Teresa Carr is an award-winning science journalist based in Golden, Colorado. She is a contributing editor at Undark magazine and a former senior editor at Consumer Reports. With degrees in both physics and English literature, Teresa is curious about how the world works and eager to tell you about it.

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Medically reviewed by Karen Wolters, RN.

Why Use Red Light Therapy for Pain?

Using red light therapy for pain can form part of a healthy lifestyle. Light therapy is great or supporting bodily balance as well as improving the efficiency of cellular functions. Like exercise, nutritious eating, and restful sleep, healthy light exposure can have a big impact on managing inflammation and pain all over the body. Which type of red light therapy pad you will need will largely depend upon where the pain is located on your body.

Shop Red Light Therapy Devices For Pain

Red Light Therapy for Pain: How to Select the Best Pad Sizes and Shapes for Your Needs

What’s your description of the perfect pain relief device? For most people, it would probably be non-invasive, painless, fast-acting, effective, relaxing, dependable, have no known negative side effects, and be very simple and easy to self-administer.

And it would be a plus if you could watch television, listen to music, read a book, talk on the , or work on your computer while the device was working on you. So here’s some good news: LED Red Light Therapy is all of this and much more!

In addition to providing fast, effective, and dependable pain-relief, LED Red Light Therapy for pain also increases circulation and triggers, accelerates, and supports your body’s own innate healing processes!

So if you would like to experience the many benefits of LED Light Therapy for yourself, but perhaps are a little perplexed about which light therapy pads to purchase. This information will help you decide on the best red light therapy devices for your needs.

Red Light Therapy Pads That Give Effective Coverage

Using red light therapy for pain is one of the best ways to combat To be most effective, the red light therapy pad(s) in your system should cover the entire area that needs pain relief and increased circulation.

For example, a large red light pad would be best if you need therapy over a larger area — perhaps your back, hip, or shoulder. A long thin LED pad can be wrapped around a joint, hand, or thigh, or cover the upper or lower spine.

And if you are one of millions who suffer from pain in the lower extremities, pads in a boot-like shape would be your best option to relieve foot pain using red light therapy.

Shop Red Light Therapy Devices For Pain

Two Questions When Choosing The Best Light Therapy Pad for Pain

The primary question to ask yourself is: “Where do I need pain relief the most?” And the second question is: “Do I have pain anywhere else in my body?” It is important to take all areas of your body that need pain relief into

consideration when choosing pads. So, while a small, square pad would be fine for treating the back of your neck if this is your most painful area, it might not provide the best coverage for also treating your lower back. A medium or a long thin pad would be a better choice for providing enough coverage to treat both areas.

When using red light therapy for pain, ensure that you select pads that are not only comfortable but also flexible, for pad flexibility allows versatility — being able to use the same pad for therapy on many parts of your body, in case you ever experience a future issue or injury.

Table Of Using Red Light Therapy For Various Types of Pain

Although pad sizes and shapes vary with each manufacturer, here are the best light therapy devices for treating different body areas. HealthLight, a leading American manufacturer of medical-grade FDA-cleared LED Light Therapy devices, makes pads in all of these sizes and shapes:

* The pad number refers to the number of LED diodes present on the pad.
* *Some manufacturers offer single and dual boot systems.

Light Therapy for Pain Relief

Exposing your skin to a lamp, device or laser with red light is how you start using red light therapy for pain. A study written by Michael R. Hamblin and James Carroll (two pioneers in Phototherapy treatment and PBM research) with co-authors Roberta T. Chow and Howard B. Cotler, concluded that “…Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT) is beneficial for pain relief and can accelerate the body’s ability to heal itself. LLLT has a long history and strong basic science evidence, which supports its use in pain management.”[1] More specifically, they determined that Near Infrared Therapy, which includes phototherapy treatments using certain wavelengths of LED light can effectively treat all causes of musculoskeletal pain. “The overall positive short term clinical studies in addition to strong laboratory studies should give the clinical confidence that LLLT may be beneficial for many individuals suffering from musculoskeletal pain, regardless of the cause.”[2]

Like any effective chronic pain treatment program, using Light Therapy for pain relief can produce benefits that are short, medium, and long-term.  In the short-term, pain relief may occur within minutes of applying LED Light Therapy while in the medium-term there can be a decrease in inflammation and a reduction of pain within hours to days.  And results can last far longer.

“The long term effects of LLLT occur within a week or two and can last for months and sometimes years as a result of improved tissue healing.”[3]  For example, “A review of 16 randomized clinical trials including a total of 820 patients found that LLLT reduces acute neck pain immediately after treatment, and up to 22 weeks after completion of treatment in patients with chronic neck pain.”[4]  Dr. Shelley reports that the majority of his patients realize improvement within the first two weeks after using red light therapy for pain.

Shop Red Light Therapy Devices For Pain

Keys to using Red Light Therapy For Pain Relief Successfully

1. Tailor Your Program: When it comes to treating chronic pain, treatment should always be based on individual patient need.  “We tailor the therapy to what is most beneficial for the patient,” says Shelley. “We get a feel for what they are looking for and what they want.”
2. Create a Corresponding In-Home Program: McKay brought Light Therapy into his clinic specifically to give his patients a way at home to advance their healing progress between office visits. Patients self-administer Light Therapy daily using systems purchased from Dr. McKay for in-home use. They also have an exercise routine.  He has found that “homework” helps his patients take a vested interest in their own healing. In-clinic, he will explain how to use LED Light Therapy for pain relief and instruct patients on how to use it on themselves, but clinic visits are for adjustments and other therapies.  Dr. McKay feels that Light Therapy preps the body for chiropractic adjustment, explaining that “if the patient’s body is prepped, then I can do more for them during each clinic visit.”
3. Make  Therapy Systems Easily Available for Purchase: Both McKay and Dr. Shelley sell Light Therapy systems for chronic pain to their patients.  Although it is not standard procedure at Dr. Shelley’s clinic, “In a percentage of cases I will recommend in-home purchase of Light Therapy for pain relief when it looks like the patient needs more than just in-clinic treatment.”  Make it easy and convenient for patients to acquire their own systems. This will not only benefit your patients, but provide an extra source of revenue for your clinic, as most manufacturers allow chiropractors to purchase systems at wholesale to resell to patients at a profit.
4. Create a Streamlined Option for Lower or Fixed Income Patients: When a patient cannot go forward with the prescribed therapy plan due to financial reasons, offer them a partial package option. Allow them to buy their own Light Therapy system, as well as receive guidance on diet and exercise, at a lower price point, with in-clinic adjustments if covered under their insurance.

Studies on Red Light Therapy for Pain Relief

Although they recommended that further randomized controlled studies be completed to confirm their positive assessment, a German study done in November, on red light therapy for pain concluded that “Low Level Laser Therapy shows potential as an effective, noninvasive, safe and cost-efficient means to treat and prevent a variety of acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions.”[5]  An extensive list of chronic and acute conditions respond well to LLLT and LED Light Therapy, allowing your practice to extend into niche market areas, such as peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and plantar fasciitis:

Within this study of using light therapy for pain relief, it is concluded that “Acute orthopedic conditions such as sprains, strains, post-surgical pain, a whiplash injury, muscular back pain, cervical or lumbar radiculopathy, tendinitis, and chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, frozen shoulder, neck and back pain, epicondylitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinopathy, fibromyalgia, plantar fasciitis, post tibial fracture surgery and chronic regional pain syndrome are amenable to Low Level Laser Therapy…Neuropathic pain conditions can also be treated, such as post herpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, and diabetic neuropathy.”[6]

The Bottom Line

When it comes to using red light therapy for pain, our pads will help you restore function and help you to maintain a comfortable and active lifestyle.

You can be assured of fast-acting relief of pain, soreness, and stiffness, as well as a boost in circulation and the acceleration and support of your body’s own innate healing processes wherever you place your LED Light Therapy Pads.

Purchasing an LED Light Therapy system from HealthLight will give you and your family (or your patients) fast-acting, dependable pain relief now and for years to come.

[1] Cotler, Howard B. et al.  The Use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) For Musculoskeletal Pain. MOJ Orthop Rheumatol.

  ;  2(5): . doi:10./mojor..02., p. 7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC/

[2] Ibid., p. 6.

[3] Ibid., p. 5.

[4] Chung, Hoon, et al. The Nuts and Bolts of Low-level Laser (Light) Therapy. Ann Biomed Eng. February; 40(2): 516–533. doi:10./s-011--7, p. 9 of NIH Public Access version. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov//

[5] Baltzer, AWA., et al. Low level laser therapy : A narrative literature review on the efficacy in the treatment of rheumatic orthopaedic conditions. Z Rheumatol. Nov;76(9):806-812. doi: 10./s-017--1, p. 2. [PubMed: ]  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov//

[6]Cotler, Howard B. et al.  The Use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) For Musculoskeletal Pain. MOJ Orthop Rheumatol.

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