The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy (2) - Flipbook - Page 20
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The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy
2.1.7 RLT and Fibromyalgia
One group of researchers investigated a red and nearinfrared light therapy approach for fibromyalgia (FM),
a
condition
fatigue.
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characterized
by
widespread
pain
and
They focused on full-body RLT to address all FM
symptoms rather than targeting isolated areas.
The
small-scale
trial
involved
21
FM
patients,
with
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completing 18 whole-body RLT sessions over six weeks.
Researchers
Revised
used
standardized
Fibromyalgia
Impact
tools,
including
Questionnaire
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the
(FIQR),
to
assess symptoms and patient experiences.
The results were promising. Patients experienced improvements across many
areas, including pain, fatigue, sleep, mood, thinking, and overall well-being.
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Notably, these benefits were first noticed at 6 weeks and lasted for at least
24 weeks after treatment. This initial study was small, but the results suggest
this light therapy approach may be helpful for FM. More research is needed,
but this is a promising non-invasive treatment option that warrants further
investigation.
A second well-designed study examined whole-body RLT treatment for fibromyalgia (FM).
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The researchers
compared real RLT treatment to a sham treatment (placebo) in 42 participants over 12 sessions. Those
receiving real RLT saw significant pain relief after just 4 weeks, with benefits lasting at least 2 weeks after
treatment stopped.
Their overall well-being also improved, with positive changes noticeable after only 6
sessions.
The study looked beyond pain too. RLT treatment helped
participants reduce their fear of movement due to pain
(kinesiophobia) and increased their belief in their ability to
manage FM 2 weeks after treatment ended.
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Overall, this study suggests whole-body RLT could be a
promising new way to manage fibromyalgia, targeting
both
physical
pain
and
some
emotional
aspects.
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However, more research is needed to confirm these findings
and fully understand this potential treatment option.
