Many people all over America and the world as a whole suffer from deliberating arthritis pain daily. Arthritis pain comes with an intense pain that is no joke.
This pain can even prevent people from going about their business. There are many treatments available for Arthritis patients, and Light Therapy is one of the safest ways.
Light therapy is a natural way to treat arthritis, and that is why it is a popular option among Arthritis patients.
Light Therapy has many benefits and has been used to treat so many disorders, patients with Seasonal Affective Disorder being the highest users of Light therapy devices.
These days, Light Therapy has become an alternative treatment for Arthritis patients. Arthritis patients usually notice an increase in their pain levels during the winter season.
Light Therapy uses light devices as an alternative therapy to treat disorders.
Adding Light Therapy to your daily life will not be a hassle since you can do it at any time of the day.
Most users do Light Therapy in the morning, so you can do your light therapy while doing your morning routine.
Though no real medical problems are associated with using light therapy for arthritis, consulting your doctor before trying it is the way to go.
Light therapy does not come with many side effects. Sitting too close to a Light Therapy device can cause eye strain or headache, but that is about it.
If you want to avoid the side effects of the light therapy device, don’t sit close.
Arthritis occurs more in the winter, and lack of direct sunlight is seen as the reason. This fact is why light therapy was introduced to replace the sun with something that mimics it.
Most doctors recommend light therapy to patients with painful conditions such as arthritis, depression, and other mood disorders.
Light therapy, like all other alternative treatments, should be used in moderation. The brightness and strength of the light can give you headaches and affect your eyes.
Discuss the option of light therapy with your doctor. It may turn out that you do not need medications after all.
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Forms of Arthritis that Light Therapy Can Help
The two forms of Arthritis are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the bones are rubbing against each other, caused when the fluid-filled sack between the bones of the joint known as the bursa breaks down.
Rheumatoid Arthritis occurs when the body’s immune system starts attacking the joints as unknown invaders.
Both conditions though reversible, are painful. Some Arthritis patients are sometimes in too much pain caused by their condition. Luckily, there is a pain relief option available to Arthritis patients.
Infrared light therapy is a type of light therapy used by hospitals and patients for many years.
What is Infrared Light?
Infrared light is a type of energy invisible to the human eye but can be felt as heat. Infrared light is used in Infrared Therapy to treat pain and inflammation in different parts of the body.
Infrared light enhances cell regeneration. Infrared light is delivered to the location of inflammation or injury at specific wavelengths, providing pain relief and promoting cell repair.
Infrared light can penetrate deep layers of the skin. The key reason why it is highly recommended is that it is natural, safe, painless, and non-invasive. It provides a range of health benefits.
With Light Therapy, you sit in front of light devices that generate more light than ordinary lamps. Light therapy users stay in front of the light for thirty to forty minutes daily.
These light therapy devices help by mimicking the sun. You can use lightboxes and light glasses for Light Therapy.
You do not need a prescription to get a lightbox. You can purchase one at your local pharmacy or online. You can find a lightbox for 100 dollars or less on websites such as eBay.
Stores tend to increase the price so you may find one for 200 dollars in your local store. There are many light therapy devices in the market today.
You have to search for them online, and you are guaranteed to find many you can choose from. Places that sell medications or carry alternative treatment devices may have lightboxes that you can purchase.
How Does it Help With Arthritis?
Light Therapy works by penetrating the skin to reach the blood vessels, tissues, and nerves, gently heating the joint.
The blood vessels either expand or dilate, allowing more blood to flow to the joint without raising the patient’s blood pressure or increasing the heart rate.
Light Therapy also increases oxygen levels and acts as a stimulant to white blood cells, making them active. It also increases the oxygen levels and stimulates the white blood cells.
The light also aids in producing collagen, which is necessary for repairing damaged joints.
What Devices are Available?
There are three main types of light therapy devices available in the market today.
Red Light Therapy Devices, Light Therapy Boxes, and Light Therapy Glasses. Consult your doctor to find the right fit for you.
Does UV Light help Arthritis?
UV light treatment is a low-risk and effective treatment for arthritis. UV light therapy boxes are typically UVB light which helps in treating arthritis.
UV light causes changes within resident immune cells and skin cells. These changes are what reduces cytokines that cause psoriasis.
Exposure to UV light also aids in the production of vitamin D, which helps in psoriasis treatment.
Vitamin D is used to improve the immune system and the skin’s barrier function. It also slows the rapid growth of skin cells.
Unlike infrared lights, UV lights hit the outer layer of the skin.
What are the Side Effects of Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy is considered safe. It is a natural process that exposes the skin to un-harmful levels of light.
This type of therapy does not use harmful ultraviolet rays, so it is generally safe.
There is almost no risk of side effects from undergoing Red Light Therapy.
However, inexperienced users or people who expose themselves to too much of this treatment may cause cell and tissue damage.
Like all things, red light therapy should be done in moderation. It is natural does not mean that it will not negatively affect you in the long run.
What Therapy is Good for Arthritis?
There are many types of therapy available for the treatment of Arthritis. Some of these types of therapy include:
- Red light therapy: Red light therapy uses a narrow spectrum of visible light to stimulate cellular energy production. It also helps create positive Cell activity. Red light is a safe procedure that mimics the sun without the side effects of sun exposure.
Red light therapy usually leaves a feeling of soothing warmth. It stimulates positive biological processes that can help reduce inflammation and ultimately lead to restored joint function. - Infrared light therapy: Infrared light penetrates deep through the layers of skin to reach tissues, blood vessels, and nerves. Body cells become stimulated after absorbing the light.
This stimulation leads to increased blood flow to the affected area to support regeneration and cell regrowth. Infrared light penetrates deep into tissues and joints, increasing cellular reproduction and repair, oxygenation, and circulation.
Infrared light therapy uses infrared light to help cells repair or regenerate.
- Physical Therapy: Physical Therapy strengthens joints weakened by inflammation and damage. It can help reduce stiffness and joint pain and can improve motion.
Jogging or even just stretching your body can help reduce joint pain. - Occupational Therapy: Occupational Therapy is where an expert shows you the best way to protect your joints from damage and strain that can lead to more pain.
Occupational therapists teach patients how to manage and work around Arthritis pain. They also inform patients on the positions and activities to avoid while going about their daily activities. - TENS Therapy: This is a type of therapy where the Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve is stimulated by targeting areas of arthritis pain using low levels of electricity. This TENS Therapy is done by placing electrodes on the skin under the affected area and applying tiny electrical currents.
- Diathermy: This is a form of heat therapy that used radio, ultrasound, or electrical currents to heat the joints. The heat reduces your Arthritis symptoms by killing damaged cells that cause joint pain.
- Massage: A massage therapy can reduce arthritis pain by boosting blood circulation to painful areas.
Does Red Light Therapy Reduce Inflammation?
Inflammation is a complex issue that occurs in every living thing, and many things can cause it.
The symptoms are usually pain, swelling, heat, loss of function, redness, and swelling. Inflammation is said to be the first warning against cell damage.
Arthritis can cause inflammation of the affected area, and red light therapy can help reduce inflammation. Red light therapy has anti-inflammatory effects both where the light is applied and in other organs and tissues.
Red light therapy treatments help supply the light needed to make Adenosine Triphosphate, the energy that powers your body.
It also helps supply mitochondria in your cells. With red light therapy, concentrated wavelengths of red light supplements the natural sunlight you get.
Red light therapy boosts cellular energy and cuts down oxidative stress, thereby balancing the body’s inflammatory effects. ATP speeds healing, reduces inflammation, and increases function.
Red light therapy improves blood flow to damaged tissues, thereby supporting inflammation management.