I have been playing golf for almost half my life without any negative physical side effects. Recently, however, I started experiencing some pain in my left shoulder. Even though I am very proactive about my health, including joint health, as a boomer I really should not have been all that surprised. After the age of 60, it would be news if I didn’t have some aches and pains.

So, I checked with my doctor about it and after an MRI, she confirmed that I have mild osteoarthritis – which is often called “wear and tear.” Reportedly, more than 54 million adults in the United States have some kind of arthritis and for almost half of this group, the pain is so bad that is makes daily life a challenge. It appears that, as we age, friction develops in our joints. It is also true that as we age our cartilage becomes thinner.

Getting Red Light Therapy

The first thing I checked after my diagnosis was my nutrient balance to make sure my body was still getting the nutrients it needs and in the right amounts. I also added red light therapy (RLT) to my treatment program. In case you’re not familiar with this therapy, it is a form of low-level laser light therapy. I like to think of it as a healthy tanning bed. It is described as a type of photomedicine, since it uses light to treat a variety of health conditions.

Most treatments consist of a series of sessions over a certain period, which is determined by your treatment goals. During a session, the light delivers wavelengths of natural red and near infrared light. It’s like the wavelengths you get from sunlight without the harmful UV rays. The procedure was totally painless, and I didn’t even feel any heat, which I was expecting. I felt more relaxed after the RLT than I did before, which was a bonus.

What Is Red Light Therapy Used For?

I found it interesting to learn that light therapy has been around since the 1960s. As with many things in science, its benefits were almost discovered by accident when researchers found during experiments with red lasers on lab animals that this form of light aided in wound healing and hair growth.

It also was reassuring to learn that NASA used RLT to help keep astronauts healthy while in space. And learning that RLT neither causes damage to the skin nor has been associated with any side effects gave me more confidence to try it.

RLT improves targeted health conditions by creating a biochemical effect that strengthens a cell’s mitochondria. If you think back to your high school biology classes, the mitochondria were described as the “powerhouses” of the cell. Without going too much into the biochemistry, the energy it creates is carried by a molecule called adenosine triphosphate or ATP (is this sounding familiar?).

The theory is that by enhancing the function of the mitochondria with RLT, the cell makes more ATP which, in turn, helps the cell be more efficient and repair cell damage. Others believe that RLT may improve our bodies’ natural response to stressors.

In my case, I can tell you I have noticed both an increase in my shoulder’s mobility and a decrease in discomfort since adding red light therapy to my treatment regimen. There also is a notable decrease in inflammation. There is also some evidence that RLT may also stimulate collagen production and blood flow, both of which contribute to joint health.

RLT Benefits

While research continues into the benefits of RLT, for boomers some of the more promising and relevant potential for this therapy include:

Bone Health

Given our risk for osteoporosis and related conditions, bone health is priority. RLT is associated with accelerating the healing of breaks and defects in the bones themselves as well as increased bone mineral density, bone strength, and general bone health.

Inflammation

RLT has been associated with reduced inflammation and swelling caused by arthritis, burns and other injuries. This, in turn, can help promote tissue healing.

Pain

RLT may also have a positive effect on acute and chronic pain. The theory is that RLT acts on the neurons that transmit pain.

Skin

RLT may also help improve the appearance of your skin as well as its complexion. It is reported to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and help heal sun damage. It is thought to do this by increasing circulation, decreasing inflammation, and triggering collagen production.

Hair Loss

There is some evidence RLT may improve hair growth in people who have androgenic alopecia, a common form of hair loss (also known as female/male pattern baldness).

Wound Healing

Credible research suggests that the anti-inflammatory properties of RLT may improve your body’s ability to heal. The theory is that it activates a growth factor that promotes healing and regeneration.

Sleep

If you’re having trouble falling or staying asleep, recent studies suggest that RLT may help by increasing the amount of melatonin in your body.

Cancer Treatment Side Effects

RLT may help reduce some of the side effects of cancer treatments. Additional research is needed in this area, but it is promising.

Keep in mind that RLT is usually meant to enhance or complement other steps you may be taking to manage joint pain or other medical conditions. As I did with my doctor, I highly recommend that you first make sure you are nutritionally balanced so that you can address any needs your body may have to keep itself as healthy as possible.

Finally, please consult with a competent health practitioner before starting RLT or any other new therapy. This is especially true if you have any existing health issues such as diabetes.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you or anyone you know used red light therapy to help treat arthritis or another help condition? If so, how was the experience? Would you use it again or recommend it to someone? If you have not used it, would you consider it? Why or why not? Please join the conversation.