Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that affects millions of people around the world, causing widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and tenderness. In fact, it’s so prevalent that recent estimates suggest that around 1 in 20 people suffer from this debilitating condition.
If you or someone you know is one of them, you’ll know how challenging it can be to manage the condition and improve your quality of life.
While traditional treatments like medication and physical therapy can be helpful, many people are looking for alternative ways to manage their fibromyalgia pain… And that's where red light therapy comes in!
This innovative treatment uses low-level red light to stimulate the body's natural healing processes and reduce the pain and inflammation that are so common with this condition.
In this blog post, we'll dive into the science behind red light therapy and how it can help people with fibromyalgia.
We'll also explore the benefits of red light therapy compared to traditional treatments and how it can improve the quality of life for people with fibromyalgia. So, let's get started!
How Red Light Therapy Helps Fibromyalgia
Now that we've covered the basics of fibromyalgia and its impact on millions of people worldwide, let's dive into how red light therapy (RLT) can help manage the symptoms of this condition.
What Is Fibromyalgia?
First, let's take a closer look at fibromyalgia itself. Fibromyalgia is a complex disorder that affects the way the brain processes pain signals, amplifying them and making them feel more intense.
This leads to widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and tenderness. The good news is, red light therapy is a great way to reduce muscle pain and tenderness associated with fibromyalgia! We'll dive into it a bit deeper in a later section.
But for now, why do people develop fibromyalgia, and what causes it? We’ll take a closer look in the next section…
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
While the exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, experts believe that it may be related to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Some of the factors that may contribute to fibromyalgia include:
Genetics: Fibromyalgia tends to run in families, suggesting that there may be a genetic component to the condition.
Abnormal pain processing: People with fibromyalgia may have a heightened sensitivity to pain due to changes in the way their brain processes pain signals.
Infections or illnesses: Certain infections or illnesses may trigger the onset of fibromyalgia in some people.
Trauma: Physical or emotional trauma may increase the risk of developing fibromyalgia.
Sleep disturbances: People with fibromyalgia often experience sleep disturbances, which may contribute to the development of the condition.
As you can see, there is no single cause of fibromyalgia, but rather a combination of factors that may contribute to its development.
Some people can even develop the condition without any known risk factors, so it's important to see a healthcare professional if you suspect that you may have fibromyalgia.
Can Red Light Therapy Help Fibromyalgia?
If you're living with fibromyalgia, you've likely tried a variety of treatments to manage your pain and improve your quality of life. From medications to physical therapy, there are many options available...
But can red light therapy really help alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia?
Let's take a closer look.
In a 2019 study from Taiwan, researchers found that red light therapy demonstrated “significantly greater improvement in their pain severity, number of tender points, fatigue, stiffness, depression, and anxiety compared to those receiving the placebo laser”. [1]
So, what's the science behind these results?
As we mentioned earlier, red light therapy works by stimulating the body's natural healing processes, increasing cellular energy, and improving blood flow while reducing inflammation.
All of these effects can be beneficial in alleviating the symptoms of fibromyalgia and improving the overall quality of life for people living with this condition.
Of course, it's important to note that red light therapy should be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for fibromyalgia, and you should always talk to your doctor before starting any new treatment.
But for many people with fibromyalgia, red light therapy can be a safe, effective, and non-invasive way to manage pain and improve mobility without relying on medication or other more invasive treatments.
In the next section, we'll take a closer look at some of the specific ways that red light therapy can help people with fibromyalgia.
How Red Light Therapy Improves The Lives Of People With Fibromyalgia
Now that we've explored the science behind red light therapy and its potential benefits for people with fibromyalgia, let's take a closer look at how RLT can improve your quality of life if you're living with this condition.
Increased Cellular Energy
One of the key benefits of red light therapy for fibromyalgia is its ability to increase cellular energy production. By stimulating the production of ATP, the body's energy currency, red light therapy can help improve overall cellular function and promote healing. This can help alleviate pain and stiffness associated with fibromyalgia, and improve overall energy levels.
In a 2015 study by the University College London, ATP concentrations were 80% greater in subjects exposed to red light therapy, compared with the unexposed subjects! [2]
Improves Blood Flow
Red light therapy has been shown to improve blood flow to the affected areas, providing oxygen and nutrients to help promote healing. [3]
This can help alleviate pain and inflammation associated with fibromyalgia, and improve overall mobility and range of motion.
Reduces Inflammation
Inflammation is a key factor in the development and progression of fibromyalgia. Red light therapy has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, helping to alleviate pain, stiffness, and other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. [4]
Improves Mobility
By reducing pain and inflammation and increasing cellular energy production, red light therapy can help improve overall mobility and range of motion for people with fibromyalgia. [5]
As we say here at Kineon, “motion is lotion”, so staying active and engaged in the activities you enjoy, goes a long way to improving your overall quality of life!
Benefits Gut Health
Research suggests that red light therapy may also benefit gut health, which is often weakened in people with fibromyalgia. A fairly recent study found that “red light therapy delivered to the abdomen can alter the gut microbiome in a potentially beneficial way” [6]
By promoting healthy gut function, RLT can help reduce symptoms like bloating, constipation, and diarrhea, improving overall digestive health and well-being.
Overall, red light therapy is a safe, effective, and non-invasive way to manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia and improve your quality of life.
Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Fibromyalgia vs Traditional Treatments
While traditional treatments like medication and physical therapy can be helpful for managing fibromyalgia symptoms, they often come with their own set of drawbacks.
Physical therapy can be time-consuming and difficult to attend if you’re in the middle of a big fibromyalgia flare-up, and pain medications can often be expensive and have a range of unpleasant side effects, as we spoke about in our blog post: NSAIDs vs Red Light Therapy.
That's where red light therapy comes in!
Here are just a few of the benefits of RLT for fibromyalgia compared to traditional treatments:
Affordable
One of the biggest advantages of red light therapy for fibromyalgia is its affordability. While traditional treatments like medication and physical therapy can be expensive, red light therapy devices like our Move+ are relatively affordable and offer a one-time investment in your health.
No Side Effects
As we touched upon before, unlike medications, which can have unwanted side effects like drowsiness, nausea, and dizziness, red light therapy has no known side effects when used as directed.
This makes it a safe and effective way to manage fibromyalgia symptoms without relying on medication or other more invasive treatments.
You Can Do It At Home
Another advantage of RLT is its convenience. With an at-home red light therapy device like our Move+, you can enjoy the benefits of RLT from the comfort of your own home, without the need to travel to a physical therapy appointment or doctor's office.
All Natural
Finally, red light therapy is an all-natural way to manage fibromyalgia symptoms without relying on medication or other interventions.
By stimulating the body's natural healing processes, RLT improves cellular function and energy production while reducing pain and inflammation, which are all important factors to reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Overall, red light therapy is a safe, effective, and affordable way to manage fibromyalgia symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Living with fibromyalgia can be challenging, but with the right tools and treatments, it's possible to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life!
With red light therapy, fibromyalgia pain and mobility issues can be relieved without relying on medication or other more expensive interventions.
With benefits like these, it's no wonder that more and more people are turning to red light therapy as a way to manage fibromyalgia symptoms and improve their overall quality of life!
If you're interested in trying RLT for yourself, why not check out our Move+ red light therapy device?
With its powerful LEDs and medical-grade lasers, the Move+ is a great way to experience the benefits of RLT from the comfort of your own home.
Plus we’re so confident that red light therapy can help with your fibromyalgia symptoms, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee!
So either you get relief from your fibromyalgia symptoms within 30 days of using the Move+, or we’ll give you your money back… No ifs, buts, or maybes!
So what are you waiting for? Take the first step towards a pain-free, more active life today, and give our Move+ device a try!
⇒ Click Here To Try The Move+ Risk-Free! ⇐
2 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387504/
3 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5699925/
4 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5523874/
5 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-019-02898-y
6 - https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/photob.2019.4628
