Research
Independent research has shown that light of the right wavelength can provide the cells with the necessary energy to jump-start and rapidly stimulate the body's ability to heal itself, as well as increase circulation. The benefits of LED light therapy, also called LED-LLLT, Low Level Light Therapy LLLT, photobiolodulation (PBM), have been shown in scientific studies and in a series of clinical studies/cases by, among others, NASA and DARPA in the USA.
Photobiomodulation (PBM), also known as LED light therapy, has received much attention in recent years due to its broad therapeutic benefits for both humans and animals. With over 10,000 studies on this topic, the growing body of research shows how PBM effectively stimulates the body's natural healing processes and provides significant benefits in several areas of health, including pain relief, wound healing, inflammation and tissue regeneration.
To find more studies on PBM, you can search PubMed which contains thousands of publications on the subject.
Main conclusions from the studies
Pain Relief and Inflammation: Several studies confirm that PBM effectively reduces pain and inflammation, making it an effective treatment for chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). The treatment affects pain pathways and reduces inflammation markers, which provides relief without the side effects of traditional drugs.
Improved wound healing and tissue regeneration: PBM has been shown to accelerate wound healing, improve tissue regeneration and reduce scarring. This has been particularly beneficial in the treatment of chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers and burns, as well as post-operative recovery, where it accelerates tissue repair, reduces infection risks and improves cosmetic results.
Muscle recovery and sports performance: Several studies confirm the role of PBM in muscle recovery, reduction of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and improved athletic performance. Athletes who use PBM for muscle recovery after intense physical activity report faster healing, improved strength and reduced fatigue.
Neurological and cognitive benefits: PBM has been shown to have significant neuroprotective effects, particularly in stroke rehabilitation and nerve damage repair. Studies indicate that light therapy stimulates neurogenesis, reduces neuroinflammation and helps restore lost neurological function, improving cognitive and motor skills in affected individuals.
Skin health and aesthetic benefits: PBM has been shown to be effective in treating skin conditions, including acne, aging skin and other dermatological conditions. Studies show that it promotes collagen synthesis, increases skin elasticity and improves skin appearance by accelerating cell turnover and reducing signs of ageing.
Support for immune function and infections: Several studies indicate that PBM can strengthen immune function by stimulating immune cells, improving circulation and speeding recovery from infections. This has been shown to be particularly beneficial in wound care and post-operative recovery, where it improves the body's ability to fight infection and speed up healing.
Cross-species application: Research on PBM is not limited to human applications. A growing body of studies shows its effectiveness in veterinary medicine, especially for horses and dogs. PBM accelerates wound healing, reduces pain and improves recovery after injury or surgery, making it a valuable tool in animal care.
Safety and non-invasiveness: One of the most compelling aspects of PBM is its safety profile. Because the treatment is non-invasive and drug-free, it carries minimal risks of side effects, making it an excellent option for long-term use across various patient groups, including the elderly, athletes, pets and even individuals with impaired health.
Taken together, these results show that PBM is a versatile and effective treatment with widespread applications. Whether used to reduce pain and inflammation, speed recovery, or improve skin and muscle health, LED light therapy is proving to be a revolutionary treatment in health and wellness. The research underscores its potential as a powerful adjunct in various therapeutic contexts and provides a safe, non-invasive and science-based solution to improve health and well-being.
In recent years, a lot of research has been done in LED light therapy, also called photobiomodulation (PBM) - more than 10,000 studies.
Here is a new study that could pave the way for better well-being for patients admitted to intensive care in hospitals. In the triple-blind study, it was concluded that daily LED light therapy can reduce the time the patient is hospitalized and increase mobility and muscle strength in the patients.
Below are links and excerpts from a few more of the studies that exist in the field.
" In conclusion, based on the published data and the authors' own experience, LED phototherapy is proving to have more and more viable applications in many fields of medicine. However, it must always be remembered that not any old LED will do. In order to be effective, LED phototherapy must satisfy the following 3 criteria.
- The LED system being used must have first of all, and most importantly, the correct wavelength for the target cells or chromophores. At present, the published literature strongly suggests 830 nm for all aspects of wound healing, pain, anti-inflammatory treatment and skin rejuvenation, with a combination of 415 nm and 633 nm for light-only treatment of active inflammatory acne vulgaris. If the wavelength is incorrect, optimum absorption will not occur and as the first law of photobiology states, the Grotthus-Draper law, without absorption there can be no reaction.
- Secondly, the photon intensity, ie, spectral irradiance or power density (W/cm2), must be adequate, or once again absorption of the photons will not be sufficient to achieve the desired result. If the intensity is too high, however, the photon energy will be transformed to excessive heat in the target tissue, and that is undesirable.
- Finally, the dose or fluence must also be adequate (J/cm2), but if the power density is too low, then prolonging the irradiation time to achieve the ideal energy density or dose will most likely not give an adequate final result, because the Bunsen-Roscoe law of reciprocity, the 2nd law of photobiology, does not hold true for low incident power densities.
Provided these three criteria are met, LED phototherapy does indeed work, and has many useful aspects in clinical practice for practitioners in many surgical specialties. As an exciting extension of the monotherapy approach with LED-LLLT, and even more importantly, the combination of appropriate LED phototherapy as an adjunct to many other surgical or nonsurgical approaches where the architecture of the patient's skin has been altered will almost certainly provide the clinician with even better results with less patient down-time, in a shorter healing period, and with excellent prophylaxis against obtrusive scar formation".
IS LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE PHOTOTHERAPY (LED-LLLT) REALLY EFFECTIVE?
Mechanisms of ATP release in pain: role of pannexin and connexin channels
Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase is not the primary acceptor for near infrared light—it is mitochondrial bound water: the principles of low-level light therapy
Low-Level Light Therapy Potentiates NPe6-mediated Photodynamic Therapy in a Human Osteosarcoma Cell Line via Increased ATP
Below are also clinical studies performed with instruments from Quantum Devices in the USA, the supplier of LED technology to NASA. For questions, please contact Marcus Odell, marcus.odell@pharmalight.se +4670 455 48 22.
Facial Rejuvenation
Effects of Low-Level Light Therapy on Hepatic Antioxidant Defense in Acute and Chronic Diabetic Rats
Near infrared light protects cardiomyocytes from hypoxia and reoxygenation injury by a nitric oxide dependent mechanism
Pretreatment with near-infrared light via light-emitting diode provides added benefit against rotenone- and MPP+-induced neurotoxicity
Modulation of rat pituitary growth hormone by 670 nm light
NEAR-INFRARED LIGHT VIA LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE TREATMENT IS THERAPEUTIC AGAINST ROTENONE- AND 1-METHYL-4- PHENYLPYRIDINIUM ION-INDUCED NEUROTOXICITY
Photobiomodulation for the Treatment of Retinal Injury and Retinal Degenerative Diseases
PHOTOMODULATION OF CYTOCHROME OXIDASE
Embryonic Growth and Hatching Implications of Developmental 670-nm Phototherapy and Dioxin Co-exposure
Stressed Cells Survive Better with Light
Nature Inspired Hay Fever Therapy
From Microtornadoes to Facial Rejuvenation: Implication of Interfacial Water Layers
Effects of Continuous-Wave (670-nm) Red Light on Wound Healing
Biostimulatory Windows in Low-Intensity Laser Activation: Lasers, Scanners, and NASA's Light-Emitting Diode Array System
Clinical and Experimental Applications of NIR-LED Photobiomodulation
DARPA Soldier Self Care: Rapid Healing of Laser Eye Injuries with Light Emitting Diode Technology
Effect of NASA Light-Emitting Diode Irradiation on Molecular Changes for Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice
Effects of 670-nm Phototherapy on Development
Evaluation of photodynamic therapy near functional brain tissue in patients with recurrent brain tumors
Innate immunity for biodefense: A strategy whose time has come
Light emitting diode treatment reverses the effect of TTX on cytochrome oxidase in neurons
Light Emitting Diodes as a Light Source for Intraoperative Photodynamic Therapy
Medical Applications of Space Light-Emitting Diode Technology - Space Station and Beyond
Mitochondrial signal transduction in accelerated wound and retinal healing by near-infrared light therapy
NASA Light Emitting Diode Medical Applications From Deep Space to Deep Sea
The NASA Light-Emitting Diode Medical Program - Progress in Space Flight and Terrestrial Applications
NASA Light-Emitting Diodes for the Prevention of Oral Mucositis in Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Patients
Photobiomodulation Directly Benefits Primary Neurons Functionally Inactivated by Toxins
PHOTOBIOMODULATION PARTIALLY RESCUES VISUAL CORTICAL NEURONS FROM CYANIDE-INDUCED APOPTOSIS
A Preliminary Investigation into Light-Modulated Replication of Nanobacteria and Heart Disease
Therapeutic photobiomodulation for methanol-induced retinal toxicity