Red Light Therapy for Back Pain: Does It Really Help?

As a physical therapist, back pain was the most common ailment I treated by far. If you’ve never experienced an achy or twinging back, you’re one of the lucky few.

Back pain is so common due to our lifestyle habits. With a rise in obesity and sedentary lifestyles, the prevalence of back pain has shot up, too.

For this reason, new treatments for back pain are met with intrigue. Red light therapy is widely promoted as a treatment for back pain, but does it really work? In this article, we’ll break down what the science says about this novel treatment.

Understanding back pain

Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Research shows that low back pain affected around 619 million people worldwide in 2020, and that number is expected to rise to 843 million by 2050, mostly due to an aging and expanding population.

Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) describes lower back pain that isn’t caused by a specific, identifiable medical condition, like a herniated disc, fracture, infection, or tumor. According to the WHO, NSLBP accounts for 90% of low back pain cases.

This type of back pain is often linked to muscle strains, poor posture, stress, and a sedentary lifestyle. In my work as a physical therapist, I found that people were more likely to experience back pain if they:

• Spend long hours sitting at a desk
• Regularly feel stressed
• Are overweight or obese
• Work a manual job with repetitive lifting
• Are over 50 years old

Back pain can be split into two types: acute and chronic. Acute back pain lasts less than 12 weeks, while chronic pain lasts more than 12 weeks. Chronic back pain may be constant or come and go over time, and is often linked to physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors.

How might red light therapy help your aching back?

Red light therapy (RLT) uses low-level red or near-infrared light as a therapeutic treatment. There are many potential uses for it, including red light therapy for muscle recovery, skin health, and, potentially, back pain.

Red light therapy technically describes treatments that use only red light. However, many people describe red and near-infrared light treatments as red light therapy.

Currently, there is some promising early research into RLT as a treatment for persistent pain. In a 2023 review of 11 studies, most studies found that PBM helped to reduce chronic pain. However, a few studies found it was helpful only in the short term or didn’t help at all.

While the results are promising, more studies are needed to fully understand how effective RLT really is for pain management. Research on other uses of RLT suggests that it may have several effects on the body that may reduce back pain, such as reducing inflammation, increasing mitochondrial activity, and improving blood flow.

Reducing inflammation

Back pain is often linked to inflammation, which can damage nerves. The combination of inflamed joints and nerve damage can cause pain and limit normal movement in the back, such as bending, twisting, and lifting. Research suggests RLT may reduce inflammation, which may have a positive effect on back pain.

A 2023 review explored the effects of RLT on inflammation. Findings suggest that RLT reduces inflammation biomarker levels in the body, thus reducing inflammation. But there are limited high-quality studies on this topic. More research is needed to confirm these results.

Increasing blood circulation

A 2023 study shows positive effects of RLT on arterial pressure and blood circulation, such as moderating hypertension and modulating inflammatory processes. Increased blood circulation may result in more nutrients and oxygen being delivered to the target tissues. Moreover, increased mitochondrial activity may speed up the regeneration processes of the tissue. Altogether, these processes are hypothesised to reduce back pain. However, a limited number of studies have specifically investigated this.

Boosting collagen production

Research suggests that RLT promotes collagen production — this is one of the reasons it is widely used as a skincare treatment. However, collagen plays a key role in maintaining the health of spinal discs, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments — all of which are vital for back stability and managing pain.

How to use red light therapy for back pain

Although RLT is still an emerging treatment, it’s used in specialist clinics by some doctors. Dr. Dickran Altounian (DO, MS, Double Board-Certified, PM&R & Pain Management at DISC Sports & Spine Center) states: “I strive to provide patients with a comprehensive treatment plan that may consist of medications, therapies and other modalities such as red-light therapy and injections, once an accurate diagnosis is made.”

If you have lower back pain, it’s best to get it assessed by a healthcare professional before starting treatment with RLT. At-home RLT devices are available, but we recommend visiting a specialist RLT clinic or asking your doctor or physical therapist for advice before purchasing one of these devices to manage pain. Lower back pain can occasionally signify another underlying condition, so it’s important to rule this out before starting self-treatment.

When using an RLT device, always follow the manufacturer's guidelines for use. Research suggests you should use therapeutic RLT around three times per week, although guidance on how long to use it is less clear. A minimum time of several minutes on tissues is needed for therapeutic results, according to studies.

Are there any drawbacks to consider?

Red-light therapy is generally very safe. However, caution is advised in conditions where there is an active infection in the area treated, or in patients with active cancer or pregnancy.

Dr. Dickran Altounian

If you have any concerns or pre-existing medical conditions, speak to a doctor before starting treatment with RLT.

What really works for back pain?

While RLT shows promise as a treatment for back pain, it shouldn’t be the only part of your recovery plan. Physical therapy is a very important part of back pain treatment, which usually includes exercises and stretches to strengthen weak muscles and improve flexibility. Physical therapists also share advice on maintaining a healthy weight, practicing proper posture, and using good lifting techniques.

Dr Altounian adds, “From my experience, it is best that red light therapy is combined with other treatment modalities, as there is evidence to demonstrate better effectiveness when combined with exercise and/or physical therapy.”

Physical therapists are also well placed to refer you to a specialist doctor if they believe you need further treatment. For specific, rarer cases of back pain, surgery may be needed to relieve your symptoms.

Final thoughts

When choosing a treatment for back pain, you need to understand the root cause of your pain first. Rule out any serious conditions by seeing a doctor or physical therapist.

RLT may offer relief for back pain, but it’s not a magic wand. For lasting results, combine it with science-backed treatments like physical therapy, healthy weight management, and positive lifestyle changes.