Frequently Asked Questions – Part II

Medically reviewed by Karen Wolters, RN and Joanna Fearnley, LPN

Part II of our Frequently Asked Questions Series. Below are some of the most common questions we get about light therapy.

How does light therapy relieve muscles spasms, aches, and stiffness?

Red light therapy dramatically stimulates muscle trigger points and acupuncture points non-invasively providing musculoskeletal pain
relief.

After just 20 minutes of light therapy, patients experience relief from muscle spasms, aches, and stiffness.

Acute conditions will respond more quickly than chronic conditions.

For acute conditions: we get users starting to feel a difference in the first few treatments.
For chronic conditions: we find the level of maximum improvement is between 24-36 treatments. Ongoing maintenance
treatments will be needed.

Why do we use different wavelengths?

Depth of Penetration

• Different levels based upon wavelength

Different Biological Effects

• Anti-inflammation
• Anti-pain (Analgesic)
• Accelerated tissue repair and cell growth
• Immunoregulation
• Improved nerve function
• Improved vascular activity
• Increased metabolic activity
• Reduced fibrous tissue formation
• Trigger and acupuncture points stimulation

What does blue light do?

Researchers have conducted studies and found:

•  The blue wavelengths (between 400 and 470 nm) within the
  visible light spectrum are intrinisically antimicrobial:

1. Do not require additional exogenous photosensitizers to exert
   an antimicrobial effect.¹
2. Can photodynamically inactivate the cells of a wide spectrum
   of bacteria (Gram positive and negative) and fungi.¹

• Blue light leads to energy transfer and the production of highly
  cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), primarily singlet oxygen
  (O2)¹
• 470nm light was also effective on both P. aeruginosa and S.
  aureus., but not as effective on S. aureus.²

How can light therapy impact wounds & ulcers?

Researchers have conducted studies and found:

• In Hargate’s double-blind RCT, the major finding was the significantly reduced time to complete healing and accelerated
  crust formation.³
• In Natheret al.’s study, the major finding was complete wound closure in two cases and reducing the size of the wound in the third case, which enabled complete closure with standard dressing 3 weeks later.³
• In Houreld’s study, she indicates the fast growing field of NIR light-induced PBM will continue to offer painless, potential noninvasive, drugless biophysical therapeutic intervention for chronic nonhealing dermal wounds, especially when conventional therapies have failed or have unaccepted side effects.4

How can I explain light therapy to patients?

Use the infographic below to explain:

• Treatment is a virtuous circle
• Repeated treatments reinforce each other
• Photons of light help the body naturally heal itself