The Chiropractic Game-Changer: Why Light Therapy Is Winning Spines and Minds

Chiropractors Lead the Way

LED light therapy is not new to the medical industry, and it is certainly not new to doctors of chiropractic.

Studied for decades, low-level light therapy (LLLT) — both LED and laser — has been moving into the U.S. medical mainstream since the 1990s. Chiropractors have taken the lead in clinical use of LED light therapy and continue to explore new applications.

This makes sense to industry professionals: the technology aligns with the chiropractic focus on drug-free, non-invasive healing and pain management. Compared with many pharmaceuticals, LED light therapy may offer a lower-cost option with fewer side effects.

LED light therapy can increase blood flow and lymphatic circulation, reduce pain, and stimulate cellular processes that support healing. It is non-invasive, easy to apply, and has a high safety profile with no known negative side effects.

Because it may relieve pain, support wound healing, and ease neuropathy and other musculoskeletal issues, LED light therapy is now common in many clinics. Some patients also buy systems for home use between visits to manage chronic pain or neuropathy.

New practitioners often find the modality attractive because it can benefit patients while providing a rapid return on investment.

How it Works

LEDs deliver wavelengths of incoherent (diffused) light to the body. Unlike the focused beam of a laser, LED light spreads out, making treatment exceptionally safe.

This process is called photobiomodulation: light triggers cellular changes. Photons stimulate release of nitric oxide, a natural vasodilator that increases local circulation. Improved blood flow brings more oxygen to nerves and other tissues, and the effect can last several hours after a session.

Reported benefits of LED light therapy include:

• Increased circulation
• Reduced inflammation
• Higher ATP production
• Enhanced collagen synthesis
• Faster exercise recovery
• Greater relaxation
• Lower stress

LEDs operate efficiently at low power, produce little heat, and last up to 100,000 hours. Typical wavelengths used in devices are red (630–700 nm) and near-infrared (700–1100 nm).

Further reading:

• PubMed search for photobiomodulation studies
• Mayo Clinic patient resources
• PMC article collection

• Near-infrared: Many LED therapy devices use the 800 nanometre (nm) range; however, infrared spans a much wider spectrum and may penetrate up to 100 mm.
• Red: 630–700 nm, with penetration up to 10 mm.
• Blue: 405–470 nm, with penetration up to 3 mm and possible benefits for skin and wound healing.
• Pulsed or continuous-wave devices deliver timed on/off sequences; pulsing is thought to accelerate tissue changes.
• Continuous-wave devices remain on throughout treatment; no extra frequency is super-imposed.

Applications for Use

Light therapy is commonly applied to acute and chronic joint pain in the neck, back, leg, shoulder, wrist, knee, and ankle. It may ease arthritis pain, bruises, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other musculoskeletal complaints. It is also used for skin problems such as pressure ulcers, wound healing, and scar reduction.

A 2000 NASA news release reported that Navy Special Warfare Command clinics documented a 40 % improvement in musculoskeletal training injuries treated with light-emitting diodes.¹

LED systems allow patients to be left unattended during treatment, freeing staff. Large pads or panels cover broad areas, delivering photons safely, and most units are portable and user-friendly.

LED therapy may also serve niche markets such as peripheral neuropathy and brain injuries, areas where early data suggest it can complement or reduce reliance on pharmaceuticals.

Brain injuries

Small trials indicate that LED photobiomodulation may benefit neurologic conditions. Work by Michael Hamblin, Ph.D., and Margaret A. Naeser, Ph.D., at Boston University showed that 12 weeks of transcranial LED treatment in veterans was linked to improved function, sleep, mood, and fewer outbursts, with no reported adverse effects.²

Other pilot studies using SPECT imaging show increased cerebral blood flow after transcranial LED sessions. These findings may apply to traumatic brain injury, PTSD, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, concussion, stroke, and depression, all of which share reduced cerebral perfusion.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Over three million new cases of peripheral neuropathy are diagnosed annually in the United States. Several small studies report reduced pain and improved sensation after LED therapy, making it a potential adjunct to standard care.

This information is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice.

PubMed search for photobiomodulation Free full-text articles on LED therapy

FDA Clearances

LED light-therapy devices have received FDA clearance for temporarily increasing local circulation and for the temporary relief of pain, stiffness, and muscle spasms. Many practitioners hope additional indications will follow as research continues.

Further reading: PubMed database