7 Surprising Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Arthritis (Natural Pain Relief?)

- Innovative dual chip, quad lens array design
- Lightweight and portable for easy use anywhere
- Switch between eleven wavelengths instead of being stuck with just red and infrared.
- Stronger light penetration reaches deeper tissues, helping with muscle and joint pain.
- No permanent setup require
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- FDA-cleared hair restoration program using red light therapy.
- Helps proliferate hair follicle size and prevents the end of the active growth phase of hair.
- Anti-aging program that enhances collagen and elastin production, reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
- Aches and pain relief program using red and near-infrared light therapy to alleviate chronic pain, arthritis pain, sprains, strains, and muscle pain.
- Increases circulation and decreases inflammation in muscles and joints.
- Medical-grade light therapy for at-home use, without prescriptions, medications, injections, lasers, or surgery.
- Safe and effective non-invasive treatment for a variety of conditions for the whole family, including pets.
- Unique shape-taking design allows the device to wrap around any body part for direct treatment.
- Features multifunctional programming for hair loss, facial rejuvenation, and pain relief.
- Includes an international adapter kit making it ideal for travel.
- Treats skin and muscle/joint conditions on the face, chest, arms, legs, and body.
- Addresses acne, wrinkles, and pain/aches with specialized settings.
- Allows for easy positioning and hands-free operation during treatment sessions.
- Provides optimal coverage area for face and body treatments with a large panel size.
- Offers durable construction and consistent light delivery for clinical and spa environments.
- Reduces wrinkles on the skin for anti-aging effects.
- Treats acne and helps prevent future blemishes.
- Treats joint and muscle pain anywhere on the body.
- Molds over body parts for close, consistent treatment due to its shape-taking design.
- Addresses chronic pain, reduces inflammation, and improves circulation for soothing relief.
- Reduces workout soreness and prevents stiffness of joints and muscles.
- Includes protective tinted eye goggles (optional), a power supply with global adapters, and a user manual.
- FDA-cleared LED light therapy for muscle and joint pain.
- Great for post-workout recovery.
- Reduces stiffness and pain associated with sports, workouts, or other vigorous activities.
- Helps with chronic pain conditions of the joints and muscles.
- Improves joint range of motion.
- Travel-friendly with power supply and global adapters.
- Reduces inflammation and increases microcirculation.
- Mobile, battery-powered convenience.
- Large treatment area.
- Flexible, contoured design for targeted treatment.
- Red and near-infrared wavelengths enhance the body’s ability to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
- Alleviates chronic pain, arthritis pain, sprains, strains, or healing of a specific injury.
- Increases circulation and decreases inflammation.
- Safe and effective non-invasive treatment for aging and pain conditions.
- Can be placed anywhere on the body.
- No prescriptions, medications, injections, lasers, or surgery needed.
- Includes an international adapter kit (110 to 240V powered).
- Large treatment area of 14” x 6”.
- Includes facial rests, power supply, and a 2-year manufacturer’s limited warranty.
- The wrinkle setting is perfect for relaxing or meditating.
- Blue light combined with red light helps prevent breakouts and reduces the appearance of acne .
- Red and near-infrared wavelengths diminish the appearance of wrinkles, promoting healthier, younger-looking skin .
- Red and near-infrared light therapy reduces pain in areas like the leg, back, neck, and arm .
- The Celluma LITE offers a built-in battery for cordless convenience and multiple treatments before recharging .
- It can be plugged into an outlet for use while charging .
- A built-in timer and treatment pause feature enhance usability .
- It can be used before and after workouts to reduce muscle pain and decrease recovery time .
- It reduces inflammation and increases circulation .
- The device is sized for full-face coverage, from eyebrows to chin .
- It's suitable for post-workout recovery, reducing muscle soreness and joint pain .
- Light therapy aids recovery from accidents or injuries to joints or muscles .
- It may serve as an alternative or supplement to pain medications .
- Chronic pain relief
- Muscle relief
- Handheld control
- Faster results
- Portability
- Extra strength
- May help reduce arthritic pain
- Good for tendon healing
- Provides relief to exercise more to improve healing of injuries
- Can be used to complete physical therapy with less pain
- Promotes faster healing by enhancing cellular repair and regeneration
- Helps reduce inflammation and pain
- Improves joints condition by stimulating collagen production
- Boosts overall well-being by improving circulation, enhancing mood, and increasing energy levels
- Easy to use
- Portable with a battery that lasts for one week of therapy
- Clinically proven to reach deep tissues
- Offers a 60-day risk-free trial
- Includes a 1-year warranty with the option to extend
- Activates cell regeneration
- Increases collagen production
- Penetrates deep to activate cell auto-repair
- Provides focused relief to specific body parts
- Lightweight and compact, making it perfect for travel
- Compliant with IEC 60601 safety and performance standards, ensuring quality and reliability
- Features TriChip™ technology with 1,215 LED chips for comprehensive coverage
- Offers precise and targeted light therapy with independently functioning LED chips
- Delivers four wavelengths: 630nm, 660nm, 810nm, and 850nm
- May provide temporary increase in local blood circulation
- May provide relief of stiffness
- May support cellular function
- May promote relaxation
- May support mitochondrial energy production
- Can be powered by a wall outlet or a power bank for freedom of movement
- Offers five intensity levels and the ability to use red or NIR light alone or together
- Designed for intuitive and safe interaction
- Safe and effective for use in homes
- Complies with standards for light-based medical equipment
- May be a great adjunct to diet and exercise as part of a comprehensive weight loss program
- Features more LED chips compared to lower quality belts
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- Provides temporary relief of minor pain and stiffness in the back, knees, and neck.
- Effectively alleviates mild pain and supports the relaxation of muscles.
- Offers a drug-free, non-invasive option for gentle relief of mild aches and pains.
- The Novaa Light Pad includes medical lights with 300 x Infrared 850 nm lights + 150 x 660 nm lights for a total of 450 light chips.
- Customers report fast pain relief and decreased inflammation.
- Deep healing is achieved with the device reaching 2.0".
- 94.8% of customers are satisfied with the product.
- It is easy to incorporate into a daily routine by wearing it 20 minutes a day, anytime, anywhere.
- Delivers medical-grade red and infrared light that promotes recovery and provides relief from minor aches and discomfort.
- The device revitalizes your body and promotes overall well-being.
- Helps temporarily reduce tension, relieve pain, and promote local circulation, enhancing your overall sense of comfort.
- Designed to the highest standards, Novaalab devices include a 1-year warranty with the option to extend for an additional 2 years.
- Try the products for 60 days with confidence, offering hassle-free returns if you're not satisfied.
- Lightweight, easy to use, and comfortable to wear compared to large, bulky panels.
- Uses medical-grade materials that are durable and non-toxic.
- Clinically tested and recognized as a medical device.
- Can help to relieve minor back pain and stiffness associated with inflammation.
- Can help to relieve minor neck pain and stiffness by promoting relaxation.
- Offers pain relief, ease of use, comfort, and effectiveness for joints and arthritis.
- Is safe to use at home.
- The MitoPRO+ series offers exceptional value, delivering high light energy for every dollar spent.
- Its multi-wavelength design targets peak bioactive spectra, enhancing Cytochrome C Oxidase (CCOX) activity.
- Users can select red light alone, near-infrared alone, or both combined for customized therapy.
- The digital control panel with a timer function makes session management simple.
- It comes in six different sizes with versatile mounting options, including floor, vertical, and horizontal stands.
- Mito Red Light devices may temporarily increase local blood circulation and relieve stiffness.
- They may also support cellular function, relaxation, and mitochondrial energy production.
- Mito Red Light ensures product durability through industry-leading aging testing and individual inspection.
- The automated patching technology for PCB boards ensures exceptional quality and longevity.
- Verified buyers report benefits such as improved skin, reduced inflammation, faster healing, and better sleep.
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Red light therapy for arthritis: Which device and specs work best?
I searched the literature for successful arthritis red light therapy studies to find the wavelengths that ease joint pain, reduce inflammation, and increase mobility.
The best results came from 808 nm and 1060 nm infrared light. But the evidence supports using other wavelengths as well.
Takeaways:
Evidence supports using the wavelengths below to ease the pain and inflammation of arthritis:
- 633 nm
- 670 nm
- 780 nm
- 808 nm
- 810 nm
- 820 nm
- 830 nm
- 904 nm
- 1060 nm
Red Light Therapy For Arthritis
The arthritis in my right knee started in 1978 when I fell knee-first onto the ice. The injury resulted in a loose bone chip floating around, causing more damage. I had that chip surgically removed.
In 2003, I discovered Bill Phillips’ Body for Life exercise program. I built up to doing deep squats while holding a barbell above my head. I was strong, but my knee was about to break.

I was about to let the dog out the back door one day when the phone rang. As I twisted around to answer it, my knee exploded with pain. I couldn’t believe how much it hurt. After the cortisone kicked in, I participated in months of physical therapy. After a year or two, I had a functional right knee that allowed me to walk, anyway. Stairs were another matter. Whether going up or down the stairs, my knee only pretended to help.
Then, in 2019, I discovered red light therapy. I used a light on my knee, maybe not expecting much. The results were phenomenal. Today, I can take two stairs at a time without any pain. My knee doesn’t buckle underneath me when going downstairs, either.
I don’t know if red light therapy could have achieved these gains, but physical therapy and red light therapy combined turned everything around. I no longer contemplate getting a knee replacement. I’m not in pain.
Admittedly, I don’t push my luck. I’m not doing deep squats or leaning excessively on my knee. But it’s good for standing, walking, and climbing the stairs, and I’m happy with that. Red light therapy for arthritis works if you use the correct device correctly. It reduces inflammation, improves blood flow, and stimulates cartilage repair. It also stops pain signaling through multiple neural pathways.
How Red Light Therapy For Arthritis Works
Red light therapy reduces the inflammation at the heart of arthritis pain and stiffness. Studies show it has an analgesic (aspirin-like) effect on pain perception. Red light therapy dislodges nitric oxide from the mitochondria to blood vessels, which triggers dilation.
The extra blood and nutrition give the body the materials it needs to heal. The photons absorbed in the mitochondria have the direct effect of bringing the biological energy factories back online.
This gives the body the energy to use the materials to heal itself.
Multiple red light therapy actions help with arthritis inflammation, repair, and mobility:
- Increased blood flow
- Reduced inflammation signalling
- Increased energy for repair
- Blocking of prostaglandins and cytokines
- COX-2 inhibition
- Increased autophagy
- Reduced pain signal generation
Red light therapy increases nitric oxide, which triggers improved blood flow. The blood carries nutrition and oxygen to joints in need of repair.
The therapy also energizes mitochondria, which are cells that make energy. The body uses the new power for tissue repair.
Red light therapy blocks cytokines and prostaglandins that cause excess inflammation.
It also inhibits the COX-2 enzyme that causes pain signaling. Ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are COX-2 inhibitors.
Red light therapy invokes the same pain-squelching activity as Ibuprofen but without the side effects.
The therapy helps remove waste products by causing autophagy, the cellular cleanup process. This brings toxins to the lymph system for disposal.
As inflammation goes down, the range of motion increases in the joints. Walking and bending becomes easier and do not cause pain.
Wavelengths For Arthritis Therapy

I pulled the studies on joint health from Dr. Vladimir Heiskanen’s Photobiomodulation (red light therapy) Database. Which wavelengths did researchers study the most, and which were the best at relieving pain and inflammation?
While this is not a statistically rigorous analysis, I am happy to report that my results are similar to those achieved by Drs. Gendron and Hamblin when they did use statistically rigorous methods to answer this question.
Photobiomodulation Database Arthritis Studies
I researched the photobiomodulation (red light therapy) studies mentioning osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. I made a note of the wavelengths used in each study. Then, I removed studies with poor results. I used these color names for the wavelengths:
TABLE: Wavelength Ranges and Their Color Names
Wavelengths | near-infrared (NIR) |
---|---|
380-430 nm | violet |
430-500 nm | blue |
500-520 nm | cyan |
520-565 nm | green |
565-580 nm | yellow |
580-625 nm | orange |
625-740 nm | red |
740-1400 nm | near infrared (NIR) |
1400-10000 nm | far infrared (FIR) |
The Best Arthritis Red Light Therapy Colors
Infrared is the best wavelength range for arthritis relief, and the studies with the best results use infrared wavelengths. Only a handful of studies use non-infrared wavelengths, so we don’t know if infrared is the best or just the best-studied wavelength. The results for each color are in the table below.
TABLE: Wavelengths (Colors) Best at Relieving Arthritis Pain
Color | Successful Arthritis Studies |
---|---|
Violet | 0 |
Blue | 4 |
Green | 3 |
Yellow | 1 |
Orange | 1 |
Red | 25 |
Near Infrared | 104 |
Far Infrared | 3 |
Is Blue Light Good for Arthritis?
Three out of four studies using 405 nm blue helped relieve arthritis, and one study using 480 nm blue also worked. This is a small sample with promising results, but I don’t know if we can conclude anything from the data.
Blue Wavelengths | The Number of Studies of this Wavelength | Minus Less than Excellent Results | Leaving this Many Successful Studies | % Successful |
---|---|---|---|---|
405 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75% |
480 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
Is Green Light Good for Arthritis?
Three studies using 536 nm green did well, but one study using 560 nm did not do as well. Green is promising, but there’s not enough data to support this claim.
Green Wavelengths | The Number of Studies of this Wavelength | Minus Less than Excellent Results | Leaving this Many Successful Studies | % Successful |
---|---|---|---|---|
536 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 100% |
560 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Is Yellow Light Good for Arthritis?
Only one study used yellow. It was helpful for arthritis, but obviously, we cannot make conclusions with confirmation.
Yellow Wavelengths | The Number of Studies of this Wavelength | Minus Less than Excellent Results | Leaving this Many Successful Studies | % Successful |
---|---|---|---|---|
570 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |

Is Orange Light Good for Arthritis?
There is one successful 600 nm orange study, so orange is worth studying more.
Orange Wavelengths | The Number of Studies of this Wavelength | Minus Less than Excellent Results | Leaving this Many Successful Studies | % Successful |
---|---|---|---|---|
600 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
Is Red Light Good for Arthritis?
Twenty-four of 33 red light arthritis studies showed significant pain relief. Nine studies had less than optimal results. Researchers tested 633 nm red 13 times with 11 successes and two failures. They tested 660 nm 7 times with one success and six failures. Remember, this is not a scientifically rigorous report.
633 nm works well because it is a bioactive wavelength for wound healing, wrinkling, and acne relief. We probably see a protocol error repeated as the data is re-interpreted and dissected. Within the red wavelength range, we have the most evidence for using 633 nm and not 660 nm.
Red Wavelengths | The Number of Studies of this Wavelength | Minus Less than Excellent Results | Leaving this Many Successful Studies | % Successful |
---|---|---|---|---|
628 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
630 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 100% |
633 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 85% |
635 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
640 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
650 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
658 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50% |
660 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 85% |
670 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
685 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
Is Infrared Light Good for Arthritis?
Infrared heat is good for arthritis, but we are talking about sending light into the body rather than shaking the molecules to warm them up. Researchers conducted many studies using 808 nm, 830 nm, 940 nm, and 1060 nm.

1060 nm ranked first, with most studies using that wavelength, which resulted in significant arthritis pain reduction. Of 12 studies using 1060 nm, 12 had positive results. The 808 nm, 830 nm, and 904 nm were tested multiple times, confirming their efficacy against arthritis inflammation.
Near Infrared Wavelengths | The Number of Studies of this Wavelength | Minus Less than Excellent Results | Leaving this Many Successful Studies | % Successful |
---|---|---|---|---|
780 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50% |
785 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50% |
790 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
807 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
808 | 26 | 5 | 21 | 81% |
809 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
810 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 80% |
811 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
820 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 83% |
830 | 23 | 5 | 18 | 78% |
840 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
850 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 100% |
860 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
870 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
875 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
The Arthritis Wavelengths With The Most Evidence
Wavelength | Successful Studies |
---|---|
630 | 4 |
633 | 11 |
808 | 21 |
810 | 8 |
820 | 5 |
830 | 18 |
904 | 12 |
1060 | 12 |
The Elusive Arthritis Red Light Therapy Protocol
Drs. Gendron and Hamblin published a review of the red light therapy research on arthritis pain in a 2019 edition of Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine & Laser Surgery. They declared in the study’s Background:
“Photobiomodulation (PBM) was discovered over 50 years ago but has still not attained widespread acceptance by the medical community. This is partly due to uncertainty about the precise molecular mechanisms of action and a bewildering array of different wavelengths and dosimetric parameters employed in reported studies.”
That red light therapy significantly relieved arthritis pain was not in doubt. Two hundred seventy studies across multiple wavelengths confirmed that red light therapy had better results than drug therapy, especially given that red light therapy has no side effects. However, we are missing a consensus on the proper wavelength and dosing.
The good news is that many wavelengths reduce arthritis pain. There is no one holy grail of red light therapy for arthritis prescription. You have many choices.
The researchers pulled arthritis red light therapy studies from pubmed.gov to find which wavelengths had the best results. They pointed out the explosion of studies on red light therapy to relieve Musculoskeletal Disorders caused by Osteoarthritis (MSD/OA).
The journals printed 270 arthritis studies between 2000 and 2016, focusing on the ankle, wrist, elbow, back, shoulder, and knee. Researchers have published successful red light therapy for arthritis studies with these wavelengths having the most success:
- 632.8 nm
- 635 nm
- 670 nm
- 780 nm
- 810 nm
- 830 nm
- 904 nm
- 1064 nm
Compare these results to my less rigorous research:
Best Arthritis Wavelengths | |
---|---|
My Cursory Wavelength Scan Best Wavelengths | Drs. Gendron and Hamblin’s Best Wavelengths |
630 | |
632.8 | |
633 | |
635 | |
670 | |
780 | |
808 | 808 |
810 | 810 |
820 | |
830 | 830 |
904 | 904 |
1060 |
Conclusion
Drs. Gendron and Hamblin’s meta-analysis results confirm what I found in Dr. Heiskanen’s Photobiomodulation Database. The 808 nm and 1060 nm wavelengths have the most evidence, and wavelengths in the 630s, 670s, 780s, and 820s, give or take 15 nm, are also effective. Red light therapy is a non-invasive, pain-free way of reducing arthritis pain and degeneration. It is available without a prescription.
The safest way to choose a red light therapy device for arthritis is to use my guide for pain relief and arthritis.
References
- Gendron DJ, Hamblin MR. Applications of Photobiomodulation Therapy to Musculoskeletal Disorders and Osteoarthritis with Particular Relevance to Canada. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019 Jul;37(7):408-420. doi: 10.1089/photob.2018.4597. PMID: 31265376; PMCID: PMC6648198.
- https://aswellyoushould.com/red-light-therapy-for-arthritis/
- https://viva-vitality.com/the-incredible-benefits-of-red-blue-light-therapy/
- https://submission-mtprehabjournal.com/revista/article/view/1271
- https://mitoredlight.com/blogs/mito-red-blog/arthritis-red-light-therapy
- https://microlightcorp.com/library/arthritis-and-osteoarthritis/