Red Light Therapy: Does it actually work?

I had surgery on my shoulder a week ago,
so I’m wondering if infrared light therapy actually works. What kind of device should I look for,
and does anyone here have any real-world experience with it?

I'm curious, what's the connection you're seeing between an IC lamp and a shoulder surgery?...😕

Faster healing, improved circulation, less pain, and a quicker recovery overall.
That’s the standard pitch from the manufacturers of these medical IR lamps.
I haven't personally tested one, though, so I'm wondering if anyone here actually has.

Forget all that nonsense! Honestly, just run the other way as fast as you can... unless you’re looking to set your entire bank account on fire, which I know most of us aren't interested in doing. It doesn't actually speed up recovery or get things moving any better; it's just a bunch of empty marketing buzzwords designed to fleece people at the register...

That’s just standard heating, really. If you’re looking for something more immediate, even a basic hot water bottle would do the trick. 😕
But honestly, I’m not entirely sure if heating something like that up is actually a smart move.

It’s entirely possible that using IR light during the early stages of post-op recovery isn't recommended.
I was just hoping for an expert opinion here, since hitting the exact frequency is something a layman could never nail,
especially when you're messing around with amateur gear. IR light is actually a massive factor in how elite pro athletes bounce back after surgery.
But thanks anyway; maybe someone who actually knows this field will weigh in eventually.

Look, take it or leave it, but you can count on this being my professional take... in all my years working around surgeons of every single specialty in the American hospital system, I have never once heard a doctor even mention using an infrared lamp, let alone actually using one after surgery. Beyond just providing some warmth, there’s zero evidence that any kind of IR frequency has any impact on subcutaneous vibrations or helps skin heal any faster.
Sure, these lamps might have a slight antimicrobial effect, but even that is pretty shaky ground, and honestly, there is absolutely no practical use for them during that early post-op phase if you're looking to speed up recovery.

Peter Sullivan5 said:It’s entirely possible that using IR light isn't recommended during the early postoperative stage.
I was simply hoping for a technical breakdown here. We're talking about specific light frequencies that a layperson couldn't possibly identify,
let alone measure accurately with consumer-grade gear. Infrared therapy is a massive component in how elite athletes recover from surgery.
But fine, thanks anyway. Maybe someone with actual expertise in this field will weigh in eventually.

You aren't going to get a more "expert" answer than what Scott Allen10 just gave you... heat should only be applied to closed injuries or muscle inflammation, and even then, strictly for pain management... stay away from those American snake-oil salesmen trying to sell you a bridge.

Peter Sullivan5 said:Sure, it’s possible that using IR light isn't recommended during that early post-op phase.
I was just hoping for some actual expert insight here, because we're talking about specific light frequencies that a regular person isn't going to nail,
especially when you're messing around with consumer-grade gear. For elite athletes, getting that IR exposure right is a massive part of the recovery process after surgery.
But hey, thanks anyway. Maybe someone who actually knows their way around this stuff will chime in.

Look, a heated heating pad puts out the whole infrared spectrum. Same goes for that lamp. You can bet your life it isn't emitting monochromatic radiation. That much is certain.

http://www.healthline.com/nutrition/article/103/

Peter Sullivan5 said:http://www.medicalnews.com/article/103/

And honestly, what’s the actual difference between this and just sticking your foot in front of a space heater or a fireplace?
I mean, seriously, they're basically just rediscovering hot water here. Plus, those health magazines you see sitting on the shelves at CVS always seem to be peddling some kind of nonsense. Now, apparently, you have to drop a small fortune on a... INFRARED LAMP that supposedly emits... INFRARED LIGHT, when you could just get the standard thermal radiation from a Walmart heater for $33. 😁

placidjackal36 said:And what's actually the difference between that and just sticking your feet in front of a space heater or a fireplace?
Honestly, this whole "uncovering hot water" thing is ridiculous. And don't get me started on the "your health matters" crowd you see at every CVS or Walgreens; they’ll tell you just about anything to make a buck. Now, apparently, you have to drop serious cash on some INFRARED LAMP that supposedly emits INFRARED LIGHT, when you could just use the standard thermal radiation from a Pevecov heater for $33. 😁

Exactly... 😁

It's sad, but it's true how easily people fall for this stuff...

...hardly a fortune $56 http://www.ucid.us/hr/webshop/produc...na-svjetiljka/

I picked up an older Philip medical infrared lamp through a local classified ad for $33, since I heard it helps with pain management. I also grabbed a Philip home tanning bed—the mini version with six bulbs—from an online listing for $67. My mom is dealing with some pretty intense pain running from her tailbone all the way down her left leg, so I’m trying everything I can to help her out. I’ve been applying some warmth with the infrared lamp for short bursts, followed by a bit of light exposure from the home tanning unit, then rubbing on some Deep Relief cream. Before she goes to bed, I give her legs a quick massage, and she takes some medication—today she had a packet of Advil granules mixed with 11 drops of Tramadol, which actually seemed to take the edge off... it wasn't hurting quite as badly. Now, I'm a bit unsure about the infrared lamp; is it safe to apply the heat to her tailbone and leg two or three times a day, or should I stick to just once? Also, regarding that home tanning quartz lamp, can she use it multiple times a day, and if so, how much? I've heard you only need about 10 minutes of sunlight daily for Vitamin D, so I'm wondering if that applies here too. Lastly, regarding pain relief creams—would something like Voltaren be more effective, or is there another specific gel or cream that works best for this kind of pain? Thanks so much for any advice!😕

So how long are you guys actually running these things?

I’ve got this massage tool that features infrared tech, and the manual says you shouldn't use it for more than 20 minutes a day. I think the max you should go in one sitting is maybe 10 minutes or so.