5 Best Red Light Therapy for Sciatica Pain Devices in 2024 (for Nerve & Muscle)
Sciatica is a nasty pain down the leg that worsens sitting and moving around. Red light therapy absorbs in the cells, reducing the pain signals the sciatic nerve sends to the brain. I use red light therapy to relieve my back pain. Here are my favorite red light therapies for back pain and sciatica that reduce inflammation and signal pain relief chemicals.
- Best Belt: Visum Long Skinny FlexPad
- Best Athletic Belt: Jazz Band Live
- Best Budget Belt: NovaaLab Light Pad
- Best Handheld: Visum Light
- Best Budget Handheld: NovaaLab Extra Strength Laser
Visum Light Long Skinny FlexPad
- Fast pain relief
- Medical quality
- Extensive field testing
- $599
NovaaLab Light Pad
- Hands-free
- Add a cell phone battery for portability.
- $299
Jazz Band Live
- Hands-free
- Get the Regenerlight Power Package for battery-powered portability.
- $328.95
Visum Light
- Fastest pain relief
- Deepest penetration
- $1999
NovaaLab Extra Strength Laser
- Fast pain relief
- Deep penetration
- $299
Best Red Light Therapy for Sciatica and Back Pain
Best Belt
Product | Visum Long Skinny FlexPad |
Excellent for | Sciatica, Arthritis, Muscle Aches, Neuropathy, Tendonitis |
Price | $599 |
Sale Price | $499 |
Visum Long Skinny FlexPad Overview
For sciatica and pain relief, you can choose a wrap or a handheld. Most wraps are weaker than handhelds. It’s just the nature of neoprene and cloth that pads are less powerful. The Visum FlexPad is an exception. It offers 5.1 joules/cm2 per minute irradiance, making it the strongest pain relief wrap I’ve ever found.
Here are the important features and benefits of the Visum Light FlexPads:
- Cordless and flexible design for easy use and portability
- Seven pre-programmed patterns for specific needs, including nerve pain, lymph release, pain, anxiety, skin, energy, and brain
- Seven Nogier frequencies for targeted therapy. Owner and engineer Sharon Katzke teaches you how to use these frequencies during your welcome call.
- Continuous operation and frequency mode options (no-pulse and pulse modes)
- Multiple sizes and configurations are available, including curved and flat pads and a poll pad (these pads are for humans and animals)
- Spare batteries and controllers are available for convenience
- Long and short velcro straps secure the pads in place
- The storage/carry bag packs and protects your FlexPad
- Discounts available for bulk purchases (10-25% off)
- This product was third-party tested and validated by LightLab International Allentown, LLC
- There is advanced training and resources available, including directions for use, basic protocols, and charts
- A financing option with Klarna is available for convenient payment plans.
Visum FlexPad Pros and Cons
My Take
Product | Visum Long Skinny FlexPad |
Excellent for | Sciatica, Arthritis, Muscle Aches, Neuropathy, Tendonitis |
Price | $599 |
Sale Price | $499 |
Best Athletic Belt
Product | DNA Vibe Jazz Band Live ((Regenerlight)) |
Excellent for | Arthritis, Muscle Aches, Neuropathy, Tendonitis |
Price | $328.95 |
Jazz Band Live Overview
The Jazz Band Live has several neat innovations that no other back pain red light therapy wrap has.
- Red and infrared light therapy
- 7.83 Hz magnetic field therapy that matches the Schumann Resonance — it’s the reason you feel good at the beach or walking barefoot in the grace
- light vibration therapy that gently nudges the cells into repair mode
Jazz Band Live soothes pain with magnetic fields, vibration, and red light therapy. The wavelengths are perfect for pain and inflammation reduction. The combination stimulates mitochondrial energy and reduces inflammation. This bundle is ideal for chronic pain, arthritis, or sports injuries. It can also be used as a preventative measure to maintain overall health and wellness.
Jazz Band Live Pros and Cons
My Take
DNA Vibe adds magnetic fields and vibration therapy to the Jazz Band Live’s red and infrared light therapy Magnetic fields in the 8-10 Hz range are believed to synchronize the body to the Schumann Resonance natural frequency. I am not an expert on magnetic fields, but I did research PEMF, which is essentially the same therapy, and there is good evidence that this type of therapy is healing. The Schumann Resonance is the frequency between the ionosphere and the earth and is created by the natural lightning energy that always occurs there.
The vibration feature is similar to a massage on a micro level that you don’t feel, but your muscles respond to it nonetheless. The other advantage of Jazz Band Live is its ability to contour to the ankles, shoulders, wrists, and knees. This feature is nice because it holds the healing LEDs close to the skin for maximum coverage.
Product | DNA Vibe Jazz Band Live (Regenerlight) |
Excellent for | Sciatica, Neuropathy, Arthritis, Muscle Aches, Tendonitis |
Price | $328.95 |
Best Budget Belt
Product | NovaaLab Light Pad |
Excellent for | Sciatica, Neuropathy, Arthritis, Muscle Aches, Tendonitis |
Price | $299 |
Light Pad Overview
The NovaaLab Light Pad is a quality budget pad for back and knee pain. It’s also the most popular red light therapy device on this website.
- fairly priced
- add your cell phone battery to make it portable
- very popular choice
- good for back and knee pain
Light Pad Key Benefits
- Conforms to the body
- Portable
- Infrared and red wavelengths of light
NovaaLab Light Pad Pros and Cons
My Take
The Light Pad is an effective, portable, affordable red light therapy pad for pain relief. Therapy is hands-free, so you can do other things with your hands while using the Light pad. To make the light pad portable, get a cell phone USB battery. You can try it without risk as NovaaLab has a generous 60-day return policy.
Product | NovaaLab Light Pad |
Excellent for | Sciatica, Neuropathy, Arthritis, Muscle Aches, Tendonitis |
Price | $299 |
Best Handheld
Product | Visum Light |
Excellent for | Sciatica, Neuropathy, Arthritis, Muscle Aches, Tendonitis |
Price | $1,999 |
Visum Light Overview
The Visum Light is considered the best-targeted, medical-grade red light therapy. It is specifically designed to precisely and effectively deliver red light therapy to the targeted area. Visum is more than red and infrared light therapy. It includes seven preset settings—one specifically for pain relief—seven Nogier Frequencies, a specialized pulsation feature, and pulsation in the 10 Hz and 40 Hz frequencies.
The Nogier frequencies strengthen the pain relief functions. The 10 and 40 Hz pulsation allows you to use the Visum Light for dementia and brain injury therapy, as these are the exact wavelengths and pulsation settings used in successful red light therapy studies.
The Visum’s power is unparalleled. Although this is an LED light therapy device, it has the power of a laser, giving you a complete treatment in one to two minutes. Visum’s advanced technology ensures that the light is delivered evenly and consistently, providing maximum results in a shorter period.
Pros and Cons
My Take
The Visum Light is a powerful, medical-grade red light therapy device with four wavelengths and nine pulsation frequencies. The pulsation is designed (and is scientifically proven) to improve results. The red, infrared, and green wavelengths reduce pain (the fourth wavelength of yellow is helpful for skin care). The Visum Light is easy to use. After turning it on, press the P button until the “Pain” program comes on. You should expect results within 1-5 sessions. Visum Light has a generous 45-day return policy for you to try it out.
Product | Visum Light |
Excellent for | Sciatica, Neuropathy, Arthritis, Muscle Aches, Tendonitis |
Price | $1,999 |
Best Budget Handheld
Product | NovaaLab Extra Strength Laser |
Excellent for | Sciatica, Arthritis, Muscle Aches, Neuropathy, Tendonitis |
Price | $399 |
Sale Price | $299 |
Extra Strength Laser Overview
When asked for a fast pain relief device that isn’t as pricey as the Visum, I recommend the NovaaLab Extra Strength Laser. I love using the Extra’s targeted light to penetrate my hip and leg nerves. Because you press the light directly onto the skin, you don’t lose any healing photons (light energy packets) in the room. Compare this to a red light therapy panel 6-24 inches from you. While you get significant light from a panel, much travels right by you instead of into your body!
The Extra Strength Laser shoots pain-relieving light directly into the sciatica problem. It is small and battery-operated, making it portable and easy to pack in a suitcase or purse. This device uses red light therapy to provide a natural and noninvasive to relieve sciatica, nerve pain (including neuropathy), joint pain, muscle tension, and other types of discomfort. The rechargeable battery lasts a week on one charge.
The red and infrared laser light penetrates sciatica inflammation to alleviate the stiffness and discomfort. You should expect relief within the first few sessions.
Light therapy works over time. I look forward to more complete relief in a few weeks of daily use. I use the Extra Strength Laser on my hip, sacroiliac crest (the bony area above the hip in the back), and the front and back of my leg. I also stretch my hamstrings and quads, a daily activity that I believe is essential for complete relief. I use the Extra Laser for sciatica, arthritic joint pain and tendonitis.
Extra Strength Laser Pros and Cons
My Take
If you’re dreaming of getting the Visum Light but want a much cheaper option, the Extra Strength Laser is perfect for sciatica pain relief and back pain. The treatment times are fast, and you can expect results anywhere from right away to within a week of daily use.
The Extra Strength Laser is comfortable and easy to use. The treatment time is only 5 minutes. The drawback of a handheld is that it’s not hands-free. If that’s important to you, see the Novaa Light Pad below.
NovaaLab has a generous return policy of 60 days. This is the exact device I use for my sciatica pain caused by my spondylolisthesis spine issues.
Product | NovaaLab Extra Strength Laser |
Excellent for | Sciatica, Arthritis, Muscle Aches, Neuropathy, Tendonitis |
Price | $399.90 |
Sale Price | $299.90 |
How I Used Red Light Therapy for Sciatica
I grew up with sciatica in the 1970s, when “physical therapy” was just a guy moving your legs around for a half hour. My pain was from spondylolisthesis, a spinal defect in my lower back. My vertebrae were threatening to jump ship.
I had lower back pain, hip pain, and pain down my right leg. I wore a brace and, on doctor’s orders, stopped moving. 50 years later, things have changed for the better. Physical therapy helps me get stronger, and I have red light therapy at home for pain.
But for the first 30 years of my life, I got weaker and weaker from the prescribed lack of movement. Physical therapists are much smarter now. They make sure you move and strengthen your muscles.
sciaticaLast winter, I hurt my lower back, which flared up my sciatica. My physical therapist was awesome. I’m not in pain now. He gave me exercises, stretches, and red light therapy.
Why red light therapy? Because it reduces pain, lowers inflammation, and is scientifically proven to help relieve sciatica and back pain. You can do this therapy at home if you have the right device.
I relieve my back pain with several devices and interventions. I use ice, stretching, exercise, massage, and red light therapy. If any of these could 100% remove the pain, you would already know about it and own one. I throw everything at my sciatica that has a chance of making things better.
I use the Novaalab Light Pad and the Extra Strength Laser for red light therapy.
How does it provide relief?
- It stops the production of prostaglandins that cause chronic inflammation.
- It blunts the nerves’ ability to send pain signals.
- It increases cellular energy used to accelerate healing.
Together, these relieve pain and discomfort caused by sciatic nerve inflammation. The best type of device is a handheld because it allows you to press the light directly into the injured area. Handhelds press light into the skin and do not allow light to escape (the way panels do).
My second choice after handhelds is the belt (a pad or wrap). These are comfortable to wear, easy to use, and hands-free. They also press on the skin so that light cannot escape. Handhelds tend to be stronger and, therefore, faster than wraps. Wraps are hands-free, so they are more convenient.