Red light therapy is one of the more talked-about tools in pain relief and recovery right now. Some of the claims you’ll see online are legitimate. Some are not. Both sides deserve a straight look.
We use it here as one part of a broader care plan. Not a cure. Not something that replaces the structural work. One piece of the picture.
Clinically, this is called photobiomodulation. Low-level LED light at specific wavelengths hits tissue, goes in a few millimeters, and gets absorbed by structures inside your cells called mitochondria.
Your mitochondria run cellular energy production. Absorbing that light appears to boost output, in the form of more ATP. More ATP means the cell has more fuel available: tissue repair, inflammation reduction, circulation support.
That is the mechanism. It is real. It is supported by research.
What the research hasn’t settled is how much those cellular changes show up in measurable clinical outcomes, especially across the wide range of conditions being marketed right now. Wound healing has fairly strong data. Peripheral circulation and certain skin conditions have reasonable support. Pain relief in general is more variable.
The American Academy of Dermatology calls it a complementary treatment, not a primary one. That framing matches how I use it.
Doesn’t damage skin. No UV, no ionizing radiation, no downtime. Those are the things the research consistently backs up.
The device we use is the NeuroglowLED boot, which fits over the feet and lower legs. First thing each session: thermal image of the hands and feet. Then we run the device. Then another thermal image after.
The thermal images show changes in circulation in real time. You can see the difference. Warmer tissue on the post-image typically means improved blood flow to that area. That is the kind of objective, documented response I want to see before talking about sending someone home with the device.
This is not a hands-off experience. We start in the office, document the response, and only then build a home plan around what we actually observe.
We also offer Class IV near-infrared laser therapy for deeper tissue inflammation and acute injury. It works through a different mechanism at a much higher power level. You can read more about it on our laser therapy page.
Red light LED therapy and Class IV laser therapy are not the same thing. Different wavelengths, different power output, different clinical goals. The boot is for circulation support and surface-level cellular response. The laser goes deeper.
The strongest evidence for photobiomodulation is in wound healing, surface tissue recovery, and peripheral circulation support. In our practice, that means we use it most often in these contexts.
Post-adjustment muscle support. Patients sometimes experience mild soreness after an adjustment while the body resets. Red light can be a useful addition in those early weeks of care.
Peripheral circulation. This is where the boot makes the most sense anatomically. Feet and lower legs are the territory. For patients managing peripheral neuropathy alongside their chiropractic care, red light is one of several tools we consider. It is not a replacement for neuropathy treatment. It is a supporting layer. We discuss the fuller picture of neuropathy care on our neuropathy page.
Recovery support. Tissue that has been injured or is under chronic stress responds better to care when circulation is supported.
Red light is one tool that supports that process.
To be direct: this is not a treatment for diagnosed disease. I don’t make claims about curing or reversing anything. It goes into a care plan where the evidence supports it and the case calls for it.
Generally safe. But not for everyone. We screen before recommending it.
Active cancer or known tumors in the treatment area: do not use it. Open wounds, active skin infections, fresh sunburns: same. Photosensitive epilepsy: avoid entirely. Hyperthyroidism or active thyroid disease: keep the device away from your neck and upper chest.
Certain antibiotics, some acne drugs like isotretinoin, and certain NSAIDs all increase light sensitivity. Tell me your medication list before we start.
Current guidance advises against placing red light devices over the abdomen during pregnancy.
Eye protection is always required when any red light device is directed toward the face or upper body. The NeuroglowLED boot is positioned at the feet and lower legs, so eye proximity is not typically a concern in our setup. But the rule stands as a general principle.
The first session is short. Here is how it goes.
You come in and I take a thermal image of your hands and feet. This is a baseline. It takes about a minute.
Then we position the NeuroglowLED boot on the target area. You sit. The session runs for a set duration based on the device protocol and your presentation. You may feel warmth. Some patients notice a mild tingling. Both are normal and reflect the circulation response we are looking for.
After the session, I take a second thermal image. We look at them together. A meaningful change in circulation on the post-image is a positive indicator that the session produced a response.
Some patients feel a little more tired after the first session. That is a common early response as cells ramp up their metabolic activity. It fades. If you experience anything sharper or more persistent than mild fatigue, tell me.
First visits at Glendale Chiropractic run approximately 30 minutes.
If your in-office sessions show a consistent positive thermal response, we discuss home continuation. The NeuroglowLED boot is a device patients can take home to maintain gains between visits.
Home use is not a substitute for in-office care. It is a continuation. Frequency and duration follow the device manufacturer’s guidelines, which we review with you before you leave.
A word on device quality in general. Research consistently shows that underpowered devices fail to deliver the wavelengths and energy output needed to produce any meaningful cellular effect. The NeuroglowLED is a clinical-grade device with known output specifications. That is why we chose it over the consumer options you see advertised online.
Red light therapy is cumulative. Results build over sessions, not after one.
For circulation support, some patients notice a change within a few weeks of consistent use. For tissue recovery applications, timelines vary more. Early changes can show up in two to four weeks. Others need eight to twelve weeks of consistent sessions before anything meaningful appears.
Surface effects show up before deeper tissue changes do.
I won’t give you a timeline I can’t back up. Too many variables: how your body responds, home consistency, what else is going on in your care. What I will tell you is that we track the response with thermal imaging. If it isn’t working, we change the approach. We don’t keep doing the same thing when results aren’t showing up.
Red light therapy here is part of a broader care plan. Curious whether it’s a fit? Start with an evaluation.
Glendale Chiropractic
425 S. Cherry St., Suite 307, Denver, CO 80246
720-889-1659
Open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Schedule an appointment.
The American Academy of Dermatology keeps a public overview of the research and safety considerations: https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/safety/red-light-therapy
