Is infrared red light therapy effective for arthritic pain?

Infrared Red Light Therapy for Arthritic Pain

Infrared red light therapy is not recommended as a primary treatment for arthritic pain due to insufficient high-quality evidence supporting its effectiveness. 1

Current Evidence for Thermal Modalities in Arthritis

The 2023 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines make conditional recommendations for certain thermal modalities in rheumatoid arthritis management:

• Thermal modalities such as cryotherapy, heat, and therapeutic ultrasound are conditionally recommended based on very low certainty evidence showing improvements in pain and physical function 1
• These recommendations are primarily for conventional thermal applications (hot/cold packs), not specifically for infrared light therapy
• The guidelines explicitly state that no studies on infrared light therapy met their eligibility criteria 1

Evidence for Infrared Light Therapy

While some research studies suggest potential benefits:

• A 2010 study showed pain reduction and mobility improvements in patients with osteoarthritis, low back pain, and rheumatoid arthritis after infrared-A irradiation 2
• A small 1999 study (n=4) reported pain relief in rheumatoid arthritis-affected temporomandibular joints after linear polarized near-infrared radiation 3
• A 2009 pilot study found infrared sauna treatments were well-tolerated by rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis patients with short-term improvements in pain and stiffness 4

However, these studies have significant limitations:

• Small sample sizes
• Short follow-up periods
• Lack of standardized protocols
• Inconsistent methodology

Comparison to Other Treatment Modalities

The 2014 study comparing Monochromatic Infrared Photo Energy (MIPE) with Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) found:

• Both modalities reduced pain and improved function in knee osteoarthritis
• No significant differences were observed between the two treatments 5

Clinical Guidance on Red Light Therapy

According to Praxis Medical Insights (2025):

• Red light therapy has limited proven benefits in clinical medicine
• Its most established use is in photodynamic therapy for treating skin conditions when used with photosensitizing agents, not as a standalone treatment
• Evidence for deep infrared red light therapy is limited by poor study design, small sample sizes, and lack of standardized protocols 6

Recommended Approach for Arthritic Pain Management

Based on current guidelines, the following approaches are recommended for arthritic pain:

1. First-line conventional thermal modalities:

   • Heat therapy (heating pads, warm baths)
   • Cold therapy (ice packs) for acute inflammation
   • These can be self-administered at home 1

2. Professionally guided therapies:

   • Massage therapy (conditionally recommended by ACR) 1
   • Physical and occupational therapy for functional improvement

3. Avoid unproven therapies:

   • Electrotherapy modalities (including TENS) are conditionally recommended against by the ACR 1
   • Chiropractic therapy is conditionally recommended against for rheumatoid arthritis 1

Important Considerations

• Thermal modalities should be used as adjuncts to, not replacements for, standard medical care
• Patient preferences may vary regarding thermal therapy options
• Some thermal modalities can be self-administered at home, making them accessible options 1
• For osteoarthritis specifically, imaging features do not predict non-surgical treatment response 1

Conclusion

While some small studies suggest potential benefits of infrared light therapy for arthritic pain, the current evidence is insufficient to recommend it as a primary treatment. Conventional thermal modalities (heat/cold therapy) have better supporting evidence and are conditionally recommended by the ACR for managing arthritic pain.