Neuropathy is a condition that causes pain and loss of feeling in the extremities. It is only caused by damage to nerves, which usually results in tingling, numbness, or weakness, and pain of the diseased area. Red light therapy is one of the many therapies that can be used to treat neuropathy. In this blog, we will unveil how red light therapy works and what benefits it has for neuropathy patients. We will also give you advice on the best devices to use for red light therapy before purchase. So read on to learn more about this type of therapy and how it can help you regain your health!
What is the neuropathy?
Neuropathy is a disease that affects the nerves and red light therapy is one of the treatments that is available. Neuropathy can be debilitating and frustrating, and red light therapy can help to improve nerve function by boosting the production of neuroprotective proteins in the body. It’s safe to use red light therapy on a regular basis – just make sure you consult your doctor first. In addition to red light therapy, other treatments like acupuncture or botanical extracts can also be used to help improve nerve function. So, if you’re looking for a treatment that is both effective and safe, red light therapy may be the perfect option for you.
Advantages of using red light therapy for neuropathy
Red and near-infrared lights penetrate through skin layer to reach the most fundamental units, i.e., cells, and improve the cellular respiration by directly stimulation on mitochondria and oxygenated blood circulation. Through such way, red light therapy can help relieve pain, accelerate healing in muscle, bone, skin and subcutaneous tissue. Besides, increased blood flow helps the metabolism of waste and energy, which is essentially to reduce inflammation and pain. Contrary to the conventional treatments, red light therapy not only reduces symptoms of neuropathy, but also benefits functional recovery and regeneration of peripheral nerves. The key chromophore in mitochondria absorbs red and near-infrared wavelengths to increase ATP production, to modulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) release, and to induce transcription factors which will furthermore cause protein synthesis to trigger a cascade of effect, such as increased cell proliferation and migration.
Red light therapy for inflammation reduction
Red light therapy can help inflammation and reduce pains from two main pathways. First, immune cells, seem particularly to react to red light therapy irradiance. Mast cells are very important in inflammation because they are essential for leukocyte migration and the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine such as TNF-α, is also introduced by mast cell degranulation, which can be induced by certain red light wavelengths. This fact is well documented by this study, which applied 820 nm near-infrared light therapy to observe a higher number of degranulated mast cells in all treated wounds.
Second, low-level light therapy can also cause vasodilation and increase blood circulation, which is important for transferring nutrients and moving out cellular wastes. This is another reason behind red light therapy for inflammation, which has been stated in this study.
Red light therapy for nerve regeneration
Red light therapy can also reduce nerve damages and promote nerve repair, which has several applications on traumatic brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury and degenerative central nervous system disease, which are covered in this study. In one transcranial experiment, several groups implied that low-level light therapy has an impact on promoting neurogenesis and neuron migration. It hypothesized that red light therapy actually helped with the formation of new neuron and neuron gathering at the damaged site. Another study investigated into phototherapy for nerve repair also confirmed this fact.
More clinical trials
Neuropathy is a condition that can cause pain and inflammation, two of the most common symptoms. The main cause of neuropathy is the damage to neuron, which is followed by the development of hypersensitivity. Red light therapy can help both to reduce the symptoms and neuro repair to provide a health of nervous system.
In this trial, using 670 nm LED red light therapy at 35 mW/cm^2 was observed useful for reducing signs of hypersensitivity and improving sensorimotor following spinal cord injury, which offer hope for a treatment-resistant pain condition. The result of the trial showed that a reduction in hypersensitivity after T10 hemicontusion spinal cord damage was observed and a reversion of dorsal column somatosensory functional abnormalities was present at 7 days of red light therapy, as illustrated in the following pictures.
One more trial using 632.5 nm, 660 nm, and 850 nm wavelengths for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy also demonstrated a significant reduction in pain. Both contribution to nerve regeneration and increase in microcirculation to the periphery are possible reason behind.
Bestqool’s tips before choosing a red light therapy device best for neuropathy
Red light therapy has been shown to be a helpful treatment for neuropathy. However, before choosing a red light therapy device, make sure to read the following tips for making a wise decision.
1) Double-check the safety standards and registered certificates. A true medical-grade red light therapy should have been reviewed and supervised by authoritative bodies before being used in commercial ways. All Bestqool products ensure your efficacy and safety of treatment by being abide by ETL and FDA standards, and all Bestqool products are registered as FDA Class Ⅱ medical devices.
2) Wavelengths and irradiance are main facts for determining efficacy. All Bestqool products are able to apply the recent advanced LED technology of industry to manufacture the products that focus on the most effective wavelengths and offer the highest potential of irradiance, reaching as high as 100 mW/cm^2, which can be effectively applied in various medical conditions.
3) Warranty makes you get rid of worries. All Bestqool products are provided along with a three-year warranty for better customer satisfaction and insurance of your success of treatment.