Clinical Studies
Clinical studies of red light therapy on arthritis
There are many clinical studies showing the effectiveness of red light therapy for treating arthritis. In a review article on rheumatology, some 18 papers were considered. All studies involved double-blind trials with photobiomodulation in chronic rheumatoid arthritis patients and reported significant improvement in both acute small joint inflammation and chronic pain (80% success rate in relieving pain).
A different study of 170 patients with rheumatoid arthritis using photobiomodulation showed pain attenuation (pain reduction) of up to 90%. Red light therapy also accounted for increased cellular rejuvenation and blood flow, which play an important role in improving joint and tissue health in arthritic hands. Photobiomodulation also showed additional soft/connective tissue benefits like decreased oxidative damage—which degenerates joints—and decreased inflammation.
Below are quick links to some of the clinical studies that have been conducted and posted to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's National Center for Biotechnology Information:
- Improvement of pain and disability in elderly patients with degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee treated with narrow-band light therapy.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1727843/ - Can osteoarthritis be treated with light?
Michael R Hamblin1,2,3 - Radiological and biochemical effects (CTX-II, MMP-3, 8, and 13) of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in chronic osteoarthritis in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
Gopal Nambi S 1, Walid Kamal 2, Julie George 2, Elbagir Manssor 3
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27913970/ - Review of Literature on Low-level Laser Therapy Benefits for Nonpharmacological Pain Control in Chronic Pain and Osteoarthritis
Robert Dima, Vinicius Tieppo Francio, Chris Towery, Saied Davani
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28987080/ - Low level light therapy for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: a metaanalysis
- Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation
- Low level light effects on inflammatory cytokine production by rheumatoid arthritis synoviocytes
- Effect of low-level light therapy on the expression of inflammatory mediators and on neutrophils and macrophages in acute joint inflammation
- Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20011653/ - A systematic review of low level light therapy with location-specific doses for pain from chronic joint disorders
- The clinical efficacy of low-power light therapy on pain and function in cervical osteoarthritis
- Improvement of pain and disability in elderly patients with degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee treated with narrow-band light therapy
- Effects of Light Therapy on Osteoarthritis and Its Sequelae in Aging and Older Adults
- A Systematic Narrative Review
https://journals.lww.com/topicsingeriatricrehabilitation/Fulltext/2020/01000/Effects_of_Light_Therapy_on_Osteoarthritis_and_Its.3.aspx
Arthritis Specific Clinical Trials on Photobiomodulation
Can osteoarthritis be treated with light? - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3978432/
Low level laser therapy for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: a metaanalysis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10955339
Low-Level Light/Laser Therapy Versus Photobiomodulation Therapy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4390214/
Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5523874/
Low level light effects on inflammatory cytokine production by rheumatoid arthritis synoviocytes.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19347944
Effect of low-level laser therapy on the expression of inflammatory mediators and on neutrophils and macrophages in acute joint inflammation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3979014/
Biphasic Dose Response in Low Level Light Therapy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2790317/
A systematic review of low level laser therapy with location-specific doses for pain from chronic joint disorders.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12775206
Low-level laser therapy in acute pain: a systematic review of possible mechanisms of action and clinical effects in randomized placebo-controlled trials.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16706694
The clinical efficacy of low-power laser therapy on pain and function in cervical osteoarthritis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11434469
Improvement of pain and disability in elderly patients with degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee treated with narrow-band light therapy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/172784