Does Red Light Therapy Work For Back Pain? The Interesting Answer!

In this blog post I explore whether red ligtht therapy works for back pain. I'll give you a background on back and neck pain first, and then explain how red light therapy can help. I also give advice on devices and other strategies you can implement to help counter back pain!

If you're short on time, only read the summary below:

Back Pain Introduction, Risks, Causes, Standard Therapy

Back pain is an immensely complex phenomenon. Different types of back pain exist, such as lower back pain and neck and shoulder pain. And, lower back pain, for instance, doesn't have a single cause but multiple (1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8).

I know all too well from working with patients during my time as a physical therapist! Fixing the issue is also not easy because of different causes of lower back pain (3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8).

Nevertheless, almost 10% of the world's population is affected by lower back pain yearly (9). Women are more likely affected by lower back pain, and with age, your risk also increases.

There's also no universal fix for lower back pain (1). Muscle relaxants, painkillers, and surgery, have an overall poor track record in most cases (1; 4; 5). Physical therapy and acupuncture might help (1). Exercise has a good track record as a conservative treatment although opinions even disagree here (6; 7)! But if you are going to take medications, NSAID anti-inflammatory painkillers and muscle relaxants have the best benefit to risk ratio - not medication like opioids (8).

The causes of lower back pain are also unclear, ranging from psychological reasons, to gut dysbiosis, to problems with movement (1; 2). Contrary to popular belief, lower back pain is not always movement-related!

Nevertheless, pain leads to disability, which leads to a lower quality of life and often damage if the pain persists for very long (3). With chronic back pain, you may see nervous system changes over time, for instance (3). But, as stated earlier, different types of back pain exist, such as aspecific lower back pain (that doesn't have a clear cause), or a hernia, or discogenic lower back pain (pertaining to the disks in your back).

And then there's neck pain, which is very different from lower back pain (10; 11; 12; 13; 14). About 2.7-3.5% of the world's population is affected by neck pain at any given time (10; 11). Nevertheless, neck pain has other risk factors, such as anxiety, low social support, depression, and stress (10). Neck pain - just like lower back pain - isn't benign and causes significant disability (12).

Here too, the value of pharmaceuticals are limited, especially in the long run (12). Exercise and physical therapy may help with neck pain though (13). Most neck pain automatically resolves, but sometimes the pain becomes chronic (14).

So, we need a solution! And, it turns out that there may be a therapy that moves the needle for neck and back pain:

The Role Of Red Light Therapy In Pain Management

Right now, there are about 50 studies published on red light therapy for back pain, and 20 for neck pain (15). I'll focus mostly on reviews here, that summarize and integrate these studies.

But let's first take a step back and consider red light therapy for pain in general:

Red light therapy has a very good track record for pain in general (16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21). Whether it's musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain (from the nerves), dental pain, fibromyalgia, and others.

The situation is also complex, however, as you can't give a simple protocol that's valid for all pain across all domains. Different wavelengths of light, their intensities, and application methods are necessary for different types of pain. We're going to explore that dynamic in the next section:

How Red Light Therapy Works For Back Pain

I've split this section into lower back pain and neck pain:

Lower Back Pain

Here I'll consider the 6 most recently published reviews on red light therapy for lower back pain (22; 23; 24; 25; 26; 27). Generally these reviews are positive, although not all researchers agree.

The most recent review states that red light therapy does help for lower back disability (22). But, high-intensity lasers were used in that study, not the products that consumers generally use. Researchers also conclude that red light therapy can be a low-cost effective intervention (23). However, one problem that returns to these studies is how different they are in setup:

"This limited number of studies exhibited different treatment approaches, parameters, blinding procedures, symptom durations, irradiated areas and testing occasions. The studies assessing the efficacy of high-intensity laser therapy in treating low-back pain showed controversial findings, which may be due to diversity in treatment parameters, approaches, symptom duration, blinding and / or randomisation procedures and testing occasions." (24).

And, to make matters worse, one out of four reviews states that red light therapy for lower back pain has no effect for both pain and disability (25). Other reviews are more positive though (26; 27)!

The Best Red Light Therapy For Lower Back Pain Device

So what's the best red light therapy device for back pain?

I'd probably use a tabletop panel here, from a 6-inch distance. And when that 6-inch distance is well tolerated, I'd try using the panel directly against the skin, on the lower or middle back (or wherever the pain is located), for 2-3 minutes. Check the videos below on different tabletop panels:

If you want a budget tabletop panel, check the panels here:

Neck Pain

In case of red light therapy for neck pain, most of the systematic reviews are positive as well (28; 29; 30). Here's what a recent review writes:

"[Red light therapy] may be considered as an adjunctive treatment modality for neck pain. There was moderate quality evidence that [red light therapy] may improve pain intensity and cervical [Range Of Motion] in individuals with neck pain, but there was low quality evidence that [red light therapy] was not effective in improving functional activity." (28)

The second review is also positive, while the third one is neutral (29; 30). The third review also makes a statement about the treatment protocol:

"Most studies used low infrared laser therapy to perform PBMT, with a wide range of parameters and energy density between 2 and 7 J/cm² and a total treatment time between 2 and 6 weeks" (30).

So, you'll have to start with a low dose overall.

The Best Red Light Therapy Device For Neck Pain

Fortunately, there is a laser product on the market, that can also be very specifically used for neck pain: the Kineon MOVE+. Alex Fergus has reviewed that Kineon MOVE+ below:

That Kineon is great for spot treatment, although it may be slightly uncomfortable around the neck. For optimal comfort, I'd probably recommend a tabletop panel that you then shine on your neck, for local treatment.

Once again, check Alex Fergus' videos about the budget tabletop panels or the more expensive premium tabletop panels. Both products can also be great for neck pain!

What Is The Best Wavelength For Sore Muscles And Pain?

The best wavelength for sore muscles and pain is likely a combination of wavelengths, in my opinion. The options I've given above give you a balanced mix of different wavelengths.

If you'd like to learn more, check my guide on the effects of different red light therapy wavelengths. I wouldn't overthink this topic until a lot more research comes out here. So, for now, I recommend a balanced mix of wavelengths, such as 630, 660, 810, 830, 850, and 1,060 and/or 1,070nm for the best results.

When To Expect Improvements

Many people already notice improvements after one session. Other people may take a few treatments to notice improvements. And, other people may need to treat for a few weeks to a month or so to notice anything.

What I recommend here is testing a protocol for a while and observing the results you're getting. If you're not getting results after a month, mix up your red light therapy dosing protocol. Unfortunately, I cannot give you a black and white algorithm or formula to determine the optimal dosing protocol for you.

Red light therapy is a bit like exercise - if you change one variable in your life, such as your sleep or nutrition - your exercise tolerance can vary widely. For instance, a person may only be able to train twice weekly on a poor diet with lots of insomnia. But once that person fixes their insomnia and diet, he or she may be able to train four times per week!

How you respond to red light therapy differs from person to person. The only way to know how you respond is to test. Without testing red light therapy treatments over, you don't know how you respond. But the good thing is that you've got almost nothing to lose. Let's explore that idea in more detail:

Comparing Red Light Therapy To Other Back Pain Treatments

The good is that you don't have to choose between red light therapy and other bak pain treatments!

Want to use painkillers?

You can! And you can still use red light therapy. Want to go to a physical therapist or chiropractor? In that case too, you can still use red light therapy. Also, it is my recommendation to use other treatments for lower back pain or neck pain in addition to red light therapy to maximize your results!

There's no need to rely on one strategy to get the job done. So let's explore your options:

Other Lower Back Pain Treatments

Here I've selected so-called "review" studies of the last five years. Review studies aggregate, analyze, and integrate all available high-quality research on a given topic.

Here's a great conclusion from a very high-quality review on the proper role of medication with lower back pain:

"We found no high- or moderate-certainty evidence that any investigated pharmacological intervention provided a large or medium effect on pain intensity for acute or chronic LBP compared to placebo. For acute LBP, we found moderate-certainty evidence that NSAIDs and muscle relaxants may provide a small effect on pain, and high-certainty evidence for no evidence of difference between paracetamol and placebo. For safety, we found very low- and high-certainty evidence for no evidence of difference with NSAIDs and paracetamol compared to placebo for the risk of adverse events, and moderate-certainty evidence that muscle relaxants may increase the risk of adverse events. For chronic LBP, we found low-certainty evidence that NSAIDs and very low- to high-certainty evidence that opioids may provide a small effect on pain. For safety, we found low-certainty evidence for no evidence of difference between NSAIDs and placebo for the risk of adverse events, and low-certainty evidence that opioids may increase the risk of adverse events." (31)

So, pharmaceuticals can help here but shouldn't be your only hope - especially long-term!

Another review investigates almost 250 previous studies on exercise therapy and lower back pain (32). There's a moderate level of evidence that exercise helps for lower back pain! So exercise should be in your regimen! Both pain and functional limitations improve - although I'm oversimplifying the complex conclusion a bit! Some forms of therapy, such as Mulligan Moblization (you can ask your physical therapist about this) may be more effective (33).

A combination of different strategies probably works best here (34). So, you can visit a physical therapist. And you can ensure you're moving enough throughout the day, and you can include exercise therapy on your own.

Not everyone should receive medication, however, and rely on it - so just know that medication is a double-edged sword that can make you dependent and have a mindset where you lose an internal locus of control (34; 35). Even for athletes, exercise therapy seems to be the best option (36).

Next up, let's consider neck pain:

Other Neck Pain Treatments

Once again, I'm focusing on reviews here from the last five years to give you the latest scientific evidence. For neck pain, too, non-pharmacological interventions seem to offer the best long-term perspective (37).

What the cause of neck pain is matters a lot (38; 39). For instance, if you've got forward head posture, due to sitting a lot (like me, LOL!), corrective exercises is by far the best strategy (38).

Visiting a physical therapist, manual therapist, chiropractor, or similar, for spinal manipulation may be a great addon next to movement and exercise (39). It's best to focus not only on the neck here, with therapy, but the entire upper back region (40).

Simple education also helps (41). The key in that education is to understand that if pain becomes chronic, there's almost always no damage being done and people should move despite the pain. Many people with chronic neck pain avoid all movement, due to the pain, because they think tissue damage is being done–but by avoiding movement you're making things worse.

The same holds true for lower back pain as well! Often, people with chronic neck or lower back pain need retraining and relearning to use their joints properly, despite the pain, through a coach, to establish better habits.

Neck-specific exercises will also work (42). Most people rarely exercise these muscles, unless they're a wrestler or train in the gym. Of course, sports exercise these muscles, such as during tennis or soccer, because you have to turn your head all the time!

Then there's myofacial release such as with a foamroller (43). The benefit here is that you can carry this out at home. I'm very well aware of this option because I'm working at a chair all day and have very slight neck discomfort (just tightness, no pain). But I do myofacial release myself all the time at the tight parts of my neck and shoulder blade area.

Examples here are the levator scapula muscle originating at top of the shoulder blades, the muscles next to the lower cervical spine, and the area around the top of my cervical spine. If I were not a physical therapist myself and had experience treating these issues, I'd probably be hiring one once a week or more out of necessity!

There are a lot of unknowns, still, however (44). I wish I could give you an easy answer here. But my recommendation is to start with exercise therapy, red light therapy, and potentially hire a physical therapist or chiropractor or osteopath and work with them. Make sure that the person makes you feel comfortable and that you've got a good working relationship, and that the person helps you become more independent - not dependent on them for continual treatments!

Conclusion: The Red Light Therapy Benefits For Backpain Are An Amazing Tool In Your Toolbox!

So I hope you liked my red light therapy for lower back pain and neck pain! I know the topic can be complicated and answers aren't always easy. So if you have questions such as:

• "What is the best red light therapy device for back or hip pain"?
• "Can I use red light therapy for bulging disc problems?"
• "How about red light for SI joint problems, would my treatment be different?"
• "Do you know of any FDA-approved red light therapy devices for pain"?

Then you'll have to wait a while! I'll be creating a lot more content on pain shortly. I've already created a few guidelines on pain and movement, that you can view here:

• Red Light Therapy for Arthritis: The Complete Guide
• Red Light Therapy For Neuropathy: The Promising Science
• Red Light Therapy For Knee: Devices And Practical Tips

I'll be expanding these articles in the future, and I will create new content on different topics. And, likely, I'll create more detailed guides on lower back pain and neck pain individually - not taken together into one article like this!

But you've got every reason to be happy. Light therapy is another gerat tool in the toolbox to help you deal with pain much better, in many cases!

Items Mentioned In This Article:

• For a Kineon Move+ Pro from Kineon, use discount code AFERGUSMOVE+ for 10% off and the following link
• The best budget tabletop panels
• The best premium tabletop panels

This is a post by Bart Wolbers. Bart finished degrees in Physical Therapy (B), Philosophy (BA and MA), Philosophy of Science and Technology (MS - with distinction), and Clinical Health Science (MS), has had training in functional medicine, and is currently chief science writer at Lighttherapyinsiders.com

Found This Interesting? Then You Might Like:

• Start Here - Light Therapy 101 & Buyers Guide
• What Is Red Light Therapy?
• Discount Codes, Deals & Recommendations - Red Light Therapy
• Red Light Therapy for Arthritis: The Complete Guide
• Red Light Therapy For Neuropathy: The Promising Science
• Red Light Therapy For Knee: Devices And Practical Tips