Deep Penetrating Light Therapy for Arthritis

Light therapy or phototherapy has a long history of use in the medical field. Patients are treated with light therapy using light-emitting diodes (LED's), florescent lamps, lasers, or full-spectrum lights for a number of conditions including seasonal affective disorder, acne, psoriasis, eczema, and jaundice in newborns. One of the newer applications of light therapy is for alleviating the pain of arthritis. Arthritis patients treated with deep penetrating light therapy experience improvement in pain and mobility.

Deep penetrating light (DPL) therapy devices are arrays of light-emitting diodes (LED's) that produce infrared light at several wavelengths. DPL therapy has several benefits that act to reduce the pain and inflammation suffered by arthritis patients. Infrared light increases the dilation of blood vessels allowing the delivery of more oxygen to cells which leads to improved healing and regeneration of damaged cells. Light therapy increases RNA and DNA synthesis speeding the production of new cellular growth that replaces damaged cells. The improved circulation and cellular growth as well as the warmth generated by the exposure to certain light wavelengths helps relieve pain and increases joint mobility. In some patients the infrared light of deep penetrating light therapy can also block the production of pain-transmitting chemicals and increase the production of endorphins. The increased endorphins inhibit nerve cells from releasing pain signals to the brain.

Deep penetrating light (DPL) therapy is based on cell regeneration research conducted by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The successful experiments conducted on using deep penetrating light to treat injuries and wounds in a microgravity environment were quickly adapted for use by doctors and physical therapists for a variety of medical problems. Although medical professionals in office or clinical settings conducted the first treatments, research quickly found that the technology could safely be used as an over-the-counter remedy for home treatment.

Current devices can be purchased in a variety of sizes and types. Smaller wand type units can be used to spot treat small problem areas like swollen and inflamed hands. These smaller units can sell for under $100. Larger units that can be strapped on can be used to treat larger joints or laid over an area like the back to treat a larger surface area. Larger units sell for about $300. Deep penetrating light (DPL) therapy devices can be found at online site like Amazon.com and Drugstore.com or from several companies that specialize in DPL devices. Units can be used daily and require only minutes a day for successful treatment.

Deep penetrating light (DPL) therapy can decrease pain and inflammation and increase mobility in arthritis sufferers. DPL devices are safe and effective for home use and can be purchased and used without a prescription. They are relatively inexpensive and treatment requires only a few minutes every day. Although they do not work for everyone, most arthritis sufferers report an improvement in mobility and a decrease in pain after only a few sessions of DPL therapy.

Sources:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-deep-penetrating-light-therapy.htm

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/129684.php