Interest in holistic wellness therapies continues to grow as more people look to deal with the root causes of their musculoskeletal complaints. As our scientific understanding of red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, develops, it continues to be widely adopted for several musculoskeletal conditions. Unlike traditional treatments, it addresses the root causes of the condition without using invasive procedures or harmful pharmaceuticals.
With the prevalence of wrist pain increasing due to widespread gadget use and repetitive manual labor, RLT may provide a better way to deal with this issue and stop the worrying increase.
As a science-based researcher and writer, I’ve analyzed the latest research studies to give you a scientific update on using RLT for wrist pain relief. By the end of this comprehensive guide, you should have everything you need to make an informed decision when deciding if RLT is suitable for you.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, utilizes wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to stimulate natural cellular healing processes in painful or injured areas. The red light (620–750nm) works on surface-level healing, while the near-infrared light (770–1200nm) deals with deeper-level healing around the muscles, joints, and ligaments.
When light wavelengths penetrate the skin, they’re absorbed by the cell’s mitochondria, also known as the energy powerhouse of the cell. This leads to an increase in adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the cell’s energy currency.
The boost in cellular ATP improves the body's natural healing processes, enhancing tissue repair, increasing local blood flow, and relieving discomfort. Combined, these benefits help reduce subsequent recovery time while supporting better function and exercise performance.
Understanding Wrist Pain
Musculoskeletal pain remains a concerning and costly global health issue, with traditional treatment methods providing temporary relief without dealing with the root causes. Over the past decade, 2.6 million hand and wrist injuries were reported in America alone. This is especially prevalent among healthcare practitioners and manual workers performing repetitive daily tasks.
As the wrists and hands play leading roles in daily function and quality of life, these concerning statistics have led to growing interest in alternative, innovative recovery therapies, such as red light therapy, as a way to address the underlying issues and gradually improve treatment outcomes.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a major cause of wrist pain, especially in older adults. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the two most common forms.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks your joint tissue by accident. Osteoarthritis is caused by cartilage damage that results from repeated wear and tear, hence why it's more prevalent in older populations. Both forms of arthritis cause discomfort and swelling, which reduces wrist mobility and quality of life.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis results when the wrist tendons, connecting the muscles to the bones, become inflamed, causing wrist discomfort, swelling, and tenderness. This is often a result of repetitive or forceful hand movements, with an increased risk in musicians, manual workers, and athletes. Without proper care, symptoms may develop into chronic pain, drastically limiting wrist strength and mobility.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, a nerve that runs through a narrow passage in your wrist known as the carpal tunnel, is put under pressure or becomes compressed. Symptoms include general discomfort, numbness, and tingling in the thumb, index, and middle fingers, which often get worse at night with no movement.
It’s one of the most widely recognized causes of wrist pain, resulting from repetitive hand motions, wrist fractures, or underlying health conditions such as diabetes and hypothyroidism..
Repetitive Strain Injuries
Repetitive strain injuries are caused by small movements that are frequently repeated, placing excessive stress on your wrist muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Common risk factors include long periods of gaming, typing, phone use, and manual labor involving gripping motions.
Over time, the repetitive movements strain the working tissues, leading to discomfort and reduced function. Mild symptoms often develop into chronic pain, negatively affecting daily activity and quality of life.
General Trauma
The wrists are a major impact point when placing the hands on the floor, pushing objects, or moving weight around. We instinctively bring our hands out when falling, leading to ligament tears and sprains when the impact isn’t properly absorbed. The general trauma may range from mild strains to complete ligament tears, with symptoms including swelling, tenderness, and reduced function.
Severe trauma, such as wrist dislocations and fractures, is another common cause of wrist pain. For example, sports injuries and direct impact from a crash or heavy fall can fracture the small wrist bones or cause wrist joint dislocations, leading to chronic discomfort and immobility.
How Can Red Light Therapy Help With Wrist Pain?
Red light therapy can help with wrist pain through several mechanisms. In most cases, these work together to deal with the root cause of the wrist pain.
Reduced Swelling and Discomfort
Swelling is a common symptom following the wrist injuries discussed above. It’s an immune response designed to heal the injury by increasing fluid and blood flow to the injured area. However, this buildup causes warmth, tenderness, and general discomfort, making it the root cause of wrist pain.
Red light therapy can help reduce wrist swelling and discomfort by regulating the inflammatory process following the injury. It can reduce levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines while increasing anti-inflammatory factors. This may improve the effectiveness of other recovery methods, such as physical therapy, when used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Improved Blood Flow
Red and near-infrared light penetrates at the surface and deeper-level tissues to promote vasodilation, or the widening of blood vessels. The light energy stimulates nitric oxide production, which helps relax the smooth muscle in the blood vessel walls.
The increased blood flow helps deliver more oxygen and nutrients to the affected wrist tissues while speeding up the removal of harmful waste products. This helps to improve general joint health and prevent stiffness and mobility issues following injury.
Enhanced Natural Tissue Repair and Healing
Red light therapy stimulates the cells’ mitochondria to produce more ATP, which is a key energy currency required for tissue repair and healing processes. This increased ATP production helps speed up these natural healing responses following injury, making RLT particularly useful for reducing post-injury recovery times.
The Current State of Scientific Research
Anecdotal evidence is certainly useful. However, we need scientific analyses to investigate the mechanisms behind theories and prove their validity and effectiveness. Over the last decade, thousands of studies have examined the influence of RLT on musculoskeletal pain conditions. Here’s a breakdown of the main scientific studies looking at some of the wrist pain conditions mentioned above.
Arthritis
Smaller randomized control trials suggest that RLT is an effective way to reduce wrist discomfort and improve function by reducing swelling and providing wrist support. A recent meta-analysis by Salajegheh et al (2024) examined 22 randomized controlled trials looking at the use of RLT for rheumatoid arthritis. Outcome measures included wrist discomfort, mobility, and general function. While no differences were found in discomfort, RLT improved grip strength and wrist mobility.
Most studies have short follow-up periods, making results hard to generalize over a longer term. While initial results seem promising, future trials should use longer trial periods to find out whether RLT offers lasting symptom relief.
Tendinitis
Studies examining the use of RLT for tendinitis have used it as a stand-alone treatment and alongside other recovery methods such as physical therapy. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis by Tripodi et al (2021) analysed 17 randomized controlled trials. Initial results showed minimal reductions in pain and modest improvements in function as a stand-alone treatment. However, when combined with physical therapy, RLT showed significant reductions in pain while drastically improving function.
With meta-analyses generally reporting positive outcomes, the use of RLT for tendinitis seems promising. While the authors focused on tendinitis in the knees, ankles, and elbows, these results could be expected in the wrists. Future studies should focus on specific wrist conditions before definitive conclusions can be drawn.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is where RLT currently has the strongest evidence base. Fusakul et al (2014) carried out a randomized controlled trial on 66 patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome. Researchers combined RLT with a wrist split and compared it to a placebo condition. Results showed significant improvements in grip strength and wrist nerve function following RLT.
Most scientific studies show improvements in discomfort and nerve function following RLT, making it a promising alternative to traditional medication.
How to use Red Light Therapy for Wrist Pain
Understanding the science behind red light therapy forms only one part of the equation when dealing with wrist pain. While relatively straightforward, knowing how to apply it is equally important if you want to optimize its benefits. Use the points below as a general guide.
- Choose the Right RLT Device — Several RLT devices exist, including handheld devices, LED panels, and lasers. A handheld device like the MOVE+ is perfect for dealing with wrist pain as it can be securely strapped around the target treatment area. This allows focused treatment as part of your daily wellness routine at a fraction of the cost of most traditional laser therapies.
- Implement the Correct Treatment Protocol — RLT should be used daily for the best results, with each session lasting 10–20 minutes. Ensure the device is positioned close to the skin and not against clothing. Ensure the target wrist is kept relatively still during each session.
- Follow the Safety Guidelines — Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully, taking note of the safety precautions. While minimal, RLT can have side effects when used incorrectly.
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Combine With Other Recovery Therapies — RLT works best when combined with other recovery methods, such as physical therapy and medical interventions when appropriate.
Remember, RLT is not an immediate fix for wrist pain. It requires consistent daily use as part of your health and wellness routine. Furthermore, it should not replace the advice of a qualified medical doctor, including any necessary treatment when suffering from chronic conditions.
Final Thoughts
As we continue to innovate and develop better ways of optimizing our health and wellness, red light therapy remains firmly in the picture as a promising recovery tool to improve a range of musculoskeletal conditions, including different types of wrist pain.
With consistent daily use, RLT offers a promising, non-invasive method to successfully manage wrist pain and improve quality of life. Remember, though, it's a supportive therapy rather than a cure for everything. Integrate it into your daily wellness routine alongside your normal physical therapy and necessary treatments, and you’ll be back to your best in no time at all.
