Does light relief really work?
On One Hand: Infrared Light Therapy Can Relieve PainLight Relief is a product that employs infrared LEDs to relieve stiffness and pain in muscles and joints. It was approved for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007. Light therapy is effective in up to 91 percent of patients for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis as well as joint pain, back pain and neck pain.On the Other: Inexpensive Devices May Not Be as EffectiveDr. Raymond Lanzafame, a surgeon and editor-in-chief of the journal Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, says that “cheaper LEDs tend to have a very broad bandwidth” and that Light Relief may not fall within the very specific wavelength of 600 to 1000 nanometers (nm) required for tissue repair and pain relief. As of early 2010, no studies had been conducted regarding Light Relief’s effectiveness in managing pain.Bottom LineIn 2002, the FDA approved infrared light therapy for the treatment of head and neck pain, as well as pain associated with Carpal
