There’s been an ongoing buzz about red light therapy in healthcare for years – both inside and outside of the chiropractic space.
Now, more doctors of chiropractic are leaning toward adding red light therapy to their practice offerings, encouraging their patients to expand their treatment plans by adding it into the mix.
But what are the benefits, is it safe, and, importantly, how does it even work? In this article, we’ll explore the most frequently asked questions related to red light therapy within the chiropractic space.
DCs who have been considering red light treatment in their own practice will likely find answers to the most common questions they have about red light treatment, adding the therapy to their treatment plans, and its effectiveness.
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy, often referred to as low-level laser therapy or cold therapy – is a specific treatment using red or near-infrared light to help skin, muscle tissues and other parts of the body heal.
Red light feels like heat, but the levels used are so low they don’t burn the skin. The thought behind red light is that it promotes better circulation and can help cells heal themselves faster and more efficiently.
How does it work?
Red light therapy is supposed to trigger what’s known as the “power plant” in the body’s cells – the mitochondria. The red light is supposed to act on this part of the cell, provide more energy and help cells repair, boost new cell growth and elevate the healing process. From a chiropractic standpoint, it’s said to help increase energy production to reduce inflammation, improve circulation and promote healing within the body.
What are the chiropractic benefits?
There’s a long list of benefits reported. From a chiropractic angle, red light treatment, when used in conjunction with your chiropractic care, can:
- Improve range of motion
- Increase circulation
- Reduce pain
- Offer noninvasive treatment for a variety of patients
- Reduce or minimize inflammation
- Stimulate the release of endorphins
- Encourage healing
- May increase energy levels
- Can boost the immune system
The benefits can go far beyond chiropractic care, too. Some studies show it can aid in the improvement of brain health, address skin and hair concerns, alleviate pain from injury, improve wound healing and even lessen the side effects of cancer treatment, in some cases.
What are the chiropractic practice-related benefits?
Red light therapy can add a myriad of health and healing benefits for your patients, which is likely your first priority. That being said, adding this therapy to your treatment plans can also provide practice benefits like:
- A new, broader audience for your practice to appeal to
- Diversifying your practice
- An additional stream of income
- Options for add-on treatments to sell higher-value packages
- Scaling your practice’s offerings
Adding this therapy to your patients’ treatment plans can increase the value of what they’re receiving as well as boost your income without requiring an overcommitment of time, effort and staff. For some practices, it can be minimally demanding for practitioners and provide maximum benefits for their patients, careers and practices.
Is it safe for patients?
Red light therapy is undergoing consistent testing, and new information is released regularly. That being said, when properly administered with FDA-approved devices in the appropriate setting, it is considered safe for patients. Occasionally, patients may experience side effects like swelling, temporary redness or mild itching or tingling throughout treatment.
Can you offer it in conjunction with chiropractic treatments?
Yes. When used in conjunction with regular adjustments and ongoing chiropractic treatments you offer, red light therapy’s benefits can increase. This combination can expedite healing, reduce pain and discomfort, and minimize inflammation and irritation. Red light therapy can be offered as a stand-alone service at your practice, too, for patients who aren’t currently seeking other chiropractic care from you.
Should red light therapy be an ongoing treatment?
Though it varies based on context, patient and case, red light treatment is often most effective when administered through a regular treatment plan, which often includes recurring treatments at or near the injury site.
When added in conjunction with ongoing chiropractic care, it can create a more seamless and painless healing process, stimulate faster healing and encourage circulation and cell repair.
Final thoughts
If you’re considering adding red light therapy to your practice, we hope this article has been a helpful resource. Subscribe to Chiropractic Economics’ newsletter for continuous updates on ongoing trends in the chiropractic field, secrets for boosting business in your practice, and helpful guidance to diversify revenue and expand your offerings.
