Thread: Using light to fix injury

Photobiomodulation is the use of near and far infrared light as a means of therapy. It's noninvasive and is free of harmful UV rays, so there are no dangerous side-effects. Thousands of scientific papers have shown that infrared light can be clinically effective in treating a myriad of health conditions ranging from lower back pain (1) to glaucoma (6).

Near and far infrared light are widely known to stimulate mitochondrial production. Surely you remember hearing about how mitochondria is the "powerhouse of the cell" from high school biology class. Our bodies are constantly repairing damaged cells and creating new ones, but this process slows down as we age or as our health declines.

Infrared light helps to expedite these chemical reactions throughout the body. If you have stubborn injuries that won't seem to go away, this could be the perfect solution to nipping them in the bud once and for all.

Tissue that has less blood flow such as bone, ligaments, and tendons can benefit significantly from infrared therapy. A study done on patients who had osteoarthritis in the knee saw massive improvements from combining exercise and HILT (high-intensity laser therapy) when compared with those who simply did exercises (8).

Another study tested the combination of medicinal herbs and laser therapy for healing of the medial cruciate ligament (MCL). The researchers found that fibril diameter of the ligament was significantly thicker in the groups that received laser treatments (10). ACL and MCL tears are rampant among athletes of all sports, and this procedure could help them return to play much faster.

Collagen production is accelerated in exposure to infrared light, which can help expedite the recovery of scars after surgery. Collagen is a protein found in the skin, hair, nails, and joints. You produce less of it after age 25, so using infrared light can help mitigate this decline.

Whether you have a scar from an ACL tear or a C-section, you may see a reduction in scar tissue after a few sessions with laser therapy. In a 2013 study, 17 participants received either laser therapy or a placebo treatment over the course of 15 sessions. Those who received laser therapy saw improvements in scar appearance and in scar thickness (4).

You may also experience huge decreases in inflammation with infrared therapy. Oftentimes from rigorous training, athletes will experience aches and inflammation in their joints. While this is common, it can negatively impact your progress in the gym.

One study done on patients who suffer from TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) saw statistically significant improvements in their levels of chronic pain (3). While this study was done on the jaw, the mechanisms of reducing inflammation can apply to any other joint in the body.

You can even use infrared light to reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) or blood lactate levels post-exercise. DOMS is a form of inflammation that can cause tremendous discomfort for days on end and thus hinder subsequent training sessions.

A male volleyball team reported dramatic decreases in C-reactive proteins, blood lactate, and creatine kinase levels after intense exercise sessions in players who received laser therapy (9). If you want to recover faster from your workouts, this could be the added advantage your routine is missing.

References
Bjordal, J. M., Couppé, C., Chow, R. T., Turner, J., & Ljunggren, E. A. (2003). A systematic review of low level laser therapy with location-specific doses for pain from chronic joint disorders. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, 49(2), 107-122.
Burkow, L. (2014). The use of near infrared light emitting diodes in treating sports-related injuries: a review. Research.
Fikácková, H., Dostálová, T., Navrátil, L., & Klaschka, J. (2007). Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in temporomandibular joint disorders: a placebo-controlled study. Photomedicine and laser surgery, 25( 4), 297-303.
Freitas, C. P., Melo, C., Alexandrino, A. M., & Noites, A. (2013). Efficacy of low-level laser therapy on scar tissue. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 15( 3), 171-176.
Holanda, V. M., Chavantes, M. C., Wu, X., & Anders, J. J. (2018). The mechanistic basis for photobiomodulation therapy of neuropathic pain by near infrared laser light. Arquivos Brasileiros de Neurocirurgia: Brazilian Neurosurgery, 37(04), 317-325.
Ivandic, B. T., & Ivandic, T. (2015). Effects of Photobiomodulation Therapy on Patients with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: A Pilot Study. Photomedicine and laser surgery.
Kahn, F. (2006, February). Low intensity laser therapy: The clinical approach. In Mechanisms for Low-Light Therapy (Vol. 6140, p. 61400F). International Society for Optics and Photonics.
Kheshie, A. R., Alayat, M. S. M., & Ali, M. M. E. (2014). High-intensity versus low-level laser therapy in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Lasers in medical science, 29(4), 1371-1376.
Leal, E. C. P., Lopes-Martins, R. Á. B., Frigo, L., De Marchi, T., Rossi, R. P., De Godoi, V., ... & de Valls Corsetti, F. (2010). Effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the development of exercise-induced skeletal muscle fatigue and changes in biochemical markers related to postexercise recovery. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 40( 8), 524-532.
Ng, G. Y., & Fung, D. T. (2008). Combining therapeutic laser and herbal remedy for treating ligament injury: an ultrastructural morphological study. Photomedicine and laser surgery, 26(5), 425-432.