Red light lamp for back pain - how you get relief

You certainly know about warming red light lamps. They are a popular home remedy for muscle tension and pain - in the back, for example. However, the days of heat lamps are over. They are increasingly taking a back seat next to modern LED red light lamps. But what is the difference between these two types of lamps? And do the modern red light lamps also help with back pain?

Back pain. Next to headaches, they are the most common pain problem in Germany. According to the RKI Burden of Disease Study BURDEN 2020, more than 61% of people in Germany were affected by back pain within one year. Almost half suffered from neck pain during this time.

So pain and tension in the back do not seem to be uncommon. But how do people cope with the pain?

A common and popular treatment option is the use of heat. For the treatment of acute back pain, for example, warming ointments and creams or heat patches are sold.

Another popular way to fight the pain in the back are heat lamps. They are available in almost any electronics store and provide instant heat to the irradiated area of the body.

But what you probably don't know is that the red light alone - without the heat - can have a positive effect on acute back pain. How does it work? You can find out now.

Red light against muscle tension and pain

Red light can actually help with back pain and tension in the back. This is due to the type of light. Because: Infrared light of a certain type penetrates up to six millimeters deep into the human skin. This allows the light to reach the areas of the skin that are supplied with blood - where it can stimulate the body's own processes.

Irradiation with an infrared lamp can cause blood vessels to dilate at the irradiated site and increase blood flow in the surrounding tissue. The logical consequence: more oxygen reaches the irradiated region. Stroff metabolites are removed more quickly. And this in turn can lead to a reduction in pain.

Physician Uta Petzold also confirms that this process relaxes the muscles and can have a slight anti-inflammatory effect.

No heat! Infrared is the secret

The modern red light lamp is currently replacing the classic heat lamp. The LED red light lamp does not need heat to achieve an effect. It uses only a special spectrum of infrared A radiation. And this penetrates deep into the skin, where it can trigger pain-relieving processes.

What makes the red light lamp of today so attractive are, among other things, its high safety standards. You can use it every day at home. Depending on the manufacturer, a distance from the lamp of 30 to 50 centimeters is recommended. The irradiation time should not exceed 15 minutes.

Distance and duration of use to Lichtblock Uno

	Use this area locally for 10 minutes for a specific area.
	Use this area for 10 minutes for a larger area.
	Use this area for about 20 minutes for the whole body.

What exactly is infrared light?

When you turn on a red light lamp, you perceive the rays in the form of red light. However, the lamp also emits rays that are not visible to you. These rays are infrared rays.

Attention, now it gets a little physical.

The wavelength range of infrared radiation extends from 780 nanometers to 1 millimeter. However, the human eye can only perceive wavelengths between 400 and 700 nanometers. Infrared rays are outside this range and are therefore not visible to you.

Visibility of radiation with different wavelengths

This is also the reason why you only see eight LEDs on our Lichtblock Uno when it is switched on. There are 16 LEDs in the outer ring of the light block, eight of which produce light that is invisible to the human eye. Nevertheless, they are active when you turn on the LED toggle switch.

Infrared radiators can be divided into different types of radiation. These include the C radiation between 3000 nanometers to 1 millimeter. The B radiation between 1400 to 3000 nanometers. And the A radiation with a wavelength range between 780 to 1400 nanometers.

Unlike the IR-B and IR-C rays, the IR-A radiation penetrates up to 6 mm into your subcutaneous tissue when applied. This enables the body to absorb the radiation. If this succeeds, the blood vessels dilate and the blood circulation is promoted in the irradiated area.

For comparison: The red light of our Lichtblock Uno uses light with the wavelengths 630, 660 and 850 nm. This also covers a part of IR-A radiation. And this can trigger the effects described above. Which in turn can lead to relief from back pain.

Important: If you suffer from acute pain or back pain for several days, you should definitely consult a doctor. Your persistent pain can be an indication of a serious illness. This should be medically clarified in any case.

FAQ red light lamp for back pain

For what types of back pain is the red light lamp used?

If people suffer from tension and pain in the back, some of them rely on red light therapy. This usually involves irradiating the neck, shoulders or back. Carl Christopher Büttner of the German Association for Physiotherapy confirms this.

Can a red light lamp help with lumbago?

With lumbago, the back muscles in the lumbar spine tense up - this is extremely painful for sufferers. One way to relieve the pain can be irradiation with a red light lamp. The IR-A radiation penetrates so deeply into the muscle tissue that it can dissolve cramps - such as those caused by lumbago. But as with medications, overdosing is not recommended. When irradiating, always follow the instructions of the manufacturer of your red light lamp.

How long should the irradiation with a red light lamp take place?

This depends entirely on the red light lamp used and its application. Ideally, you should follow the manufacturer's instructions.
With our Lichtblock Uno, we recommend an exposure time of 10 to 20 minutes - depending on the distance to the lamp. At a distance of 15 cm from the Lichtblock , we recommend a local application of 10 minutes. At a distance of 30 cm from the light source, you should also opt for a 10-minute irradiation. Here you also have the possibility to irradiate a larger part of the body due to the greater distance. A clear recommendation for the back area. With a distance of 30 cm or more, an irradiation of around 20 minutes is also possible.

How long should the break between two irradiations be?

Important: After irradiation with red light, you should initially refrain from further irradiation. If you use the power light mode of our Uno light block, for example, you should wait about 24 hours before irradiating the same area again.

Does a red light lamp provide warmth?

A red light lamp like the Lichtblock Uno is not a heat lamp. And yet the red light can trigger a feeling of warmth on the skin. The visible red light plays less of a role. But the infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye, does. It penetrates deep into the skin and can be perceived as warmth on the back.

Is red light good for a herniated disc?

If you suffer from a herniated disc, one of your primary goals is to be able to move again without pain. Painkillers in the form of analgesics are one possibility. As well as local anesthetic medications. Your doctor will be happy to advise you on this.
In addition to your therapy, you can rely on heat. It can stimulate the blood flow to your skin and relax the back muscles. One possible heat application is the use of a red light lamp. This does not necessarily have to be a heat lamp. A lamp that emits IR-A radiation is also an option. The targeted irradiation of the painful areas can relieve the tension and ease the discomfort.

Does red light relax the muscles?

Red light is used, among other things, for the treatment of tension, back pain, circulatory disorders or even joint pain. This relief can in turn lead to the loosening of tense muscles and muscle parts. Muscle pain and other complaints thus decrease in the ideal case.