How Red Light Therapy Relieves Foot Pain

Medically reviewed by Karen Wolters, RN

From the tips of your toes to the metatarsals, Achilles tendon, and ankle, most people have experienced foot pain at some point. Foot pain can be caused by sprains, strains, or chronic conditions such as arthritis and diabetes. Fortunately, red light therapy for feet offers a safe, non-invasive way to relieve pain and support foot health. Learn how red light therapy for foot pain can help relieve discomfort and improve circulation in your feet.

Why Red Light Therapy Works for Feet

Red light therapy “is a fast-growing technology used to treat a multitude of conditions that require stimulation of healing, relief of pain and inflammation, and restoration of function.”^[1]  For those suffering from foot problems, pain relief, healing, and the restoration of mobility are all critically important.  Studies prove infrared light therapy for feet is an incredibly effective way to relieve your body from pain.

Infrared light therapy systems are considered to be Class II Medical Devices, and have been granted FDA clearance for increasing circulation, relieving pain, relaxing muscles, relieving muscle spasms, and relieving the aches and stiffness caused by arthritis. Infrared light therapy for feet is an incredible important part of recovery, why?

Foot Pain and Circulation

Scientific studies confirm that red light therapy foot pads “…are beneficial for relieving foot pain and can accelerate the body’s ability to heal itself.”[2]  And the key to reducing foot pain and accelerating healing is increasing circulation, a process where LED Light Therapy excels. By increasing circulation, infrared light therapy for feet relieves pain plus provides the support that the body needs to repair itself, particularly nerves and tissues —allowing more flow of blood rich in nutrients and oxygen to eventually restore sensation in the foot, leading to better balance and mobility!

Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Foot Pain

Infrared light therapy for feet is a non-invasive method to treat pain, and uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to produce light waves in the visible and infrared spectrum that painlessly penetrate the skin and are absorbed by the body. Infrared (IR) light waves have a beneficial effect on nerves.  Science has discovered that, “Nerve cells respond particularly well to IR….”[3] and that IR “…can induce neural stimulation effects as well as promoting a wide range of therapeutic benefits in cells or tissues.”[4]  This is exactly what those who suffer from poor sensation in the foot are searching for!

Recommended HealthLight Pads for Foot Pain

HealthLight offers FDA-cleared red and infrared therapy pads specifically designed for foot treatment:

HealthLight’s Foot & Calf 131 Diode Pad:

This is one of the easiest ways to administer red light therapy for feet. Attached Velcro straps wrap over the top of the foot and around the calf securely hold the pad in place, treating the sole and the back of the calf simultaneously. It features 131 LEDs: 83 infrared (850 nm) and 48 red (630 nm). The top section measures 7”x 9” while the middle to bottom section is 4.5”x 15.5”.  This pad can be used in two ways:

1. Extended up the back of the calf to cover the calf and the bottom of the foot.
2. Reversed 180 degrees and folded in half to treat both the top and bottom of the foot.

The Foot & Calf 131 Infrared Light Pad can be purchased in a double pad package, allowing you to save time by treating both feet simultaneously.

HealthLight’s Foot & Ankle 122 Diode Pad:

This uniquely-shaped 3-section pad features 122 LEDs: 70 infrared (850 nm) and 52 red (630 nm). The top section measures 8” wide x 5” long, the middle measures 12” long x 4” wide, and the bottom measures 7” long x 6” wide.  This pad can be used in two ways — extended or folded over:

1. When extended, it covers the bottom of the foot from the toes to the back of the heel, continuing up the calf.
2. When folded over, it covers the toes and foot like a boot, covering the top of the foot, the sole, the heel, and both ankles.

The Foot & Ankle 122 Infrared Light Pad can be purchased in a double pad package, allowing you to save time by treating both feet simultaneously.

HealthLight’s Long 180 Diode Pad:

This pad features 180 LEDs: 80 red (630 nm) and 100 infrared (850 nm).  At 16”x 5”, this highly flexible long and narrow pad can be used in three ways:

1. Over the top of the foot and under the sole;
2. Under the sole, up the heel, and into the calf;
3. Place horizontally and put both feet on top to treat the toes or heels.

The Long 180 infrared light pad is also available with blue, red, and infrared LEDs for the same price.

HealthLight’s Small 90 Diode Pad:

The size and rectangular shape of the small 90 infrared light pad make it perfect for foot treatment. Just place the foot on top, or put the pad over the toes, or strap across the ankle with Velcro.  At 9.8” x 4.5”, this pad should cover the toes, sole, heel, or ankle area.  It features 90 LEDs: 50 infrared (950 nm) and 40 red (630 nm).

Take Control of Foot Pain

Foot pain does not have to limit your mobility or daily life. With red light therapy for feet, you can experience fast, dependable relief while supporting natural healing. HealthLight makes some of the most durable and powerful clinical-strength therapy pads available, perfect for home use or professional settings.

Try red light therapy for foot pain today and restore comfort, circulation, and function in your feet.

References

[1] Avci P, Gupta A, Sadasivam M, Vecchio D, Pam Z, Pam N, Hamblin MR. Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2013 Mar;32(1):41-52. PMID: 24049929; PMCID: PMC4126803, p. 1.

[2] Cotler, Howard B. et al.  The Use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) For Musculoskeletal Pain. MOJ Orthop Rheumatol. 2015  ;  2(5): . doi:10.15406/mojor.2015.02.00068, p. 7.

[3] Tsai SR, Hamblin MR. Biological effects and medical applications of infrared radiation. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2017 May;170:197-207. doi: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2017.04.014. Epub 2017 Apr 13. PMID: 28441605; PMCID: PMC5505738, p. 1.

[4] Ibd., p. 15.