Infrared Therapy for Management of Lower Back Pain

Introduction

Lower back pain is a common problem that can be challenging to treat. Infrared light therapy is a safe and effective treatment for lower back pain, but finding an experienced practitioner who understands how to use it properly can take time and effort. This article provides an overview of infrared light therapy and how it works, including instructions on performing at-home treatments.

Infrared light therapy uses high-intensity pulsed waveform infrared (PWIR) waves with wavelengths around 10 micrometers (10 μm) to penetrate deep into tissue structures in the body.

Studies have proven that infrared wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1,000 nanometers are used for healing purposes. The energy released from infrared devices causes changes inside the cell because it penetrates the skin and blood vessels due to its extended wavelength.

What Is Back Pain?

The lower back comprises five vertebrae in the lower part of the spine between the ribs and the pelvis. Lower back pain is an uncomfortable sensation caused by several factors. It is not uncommon for people to experience this type of pain, but some may need to see their doctor if they have persistent symptoms or are experiencing increased pain.

What Are the Causes of Lower Back Pain?

Back pain is a common condition. It occurs in nearly half of adults and can be caused by injury or disease. Middle-aged adults are more likely to have back pain than younger people, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Lower back pain is most common among women after menopause, but anyone can get it at any age. In addition, all ages are vulnerable to osteoarthritis (degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone most commonly seen in middle age) and other cartilage disorders, mainly chronic inflammation of the joints that support the spine. Some of the common causes of lower back pain are as follows:

• Disc herniations (when one or more discs in the lower back degenerate).

• Stenosis (restricted movement).

• Spondylolisthesis (slipping of one vertebra on top of another).

• Scoliosis (curved spine).

• Strain, medical conditions, and poor posture also lead to back pain.

Causes Related to Strain:

• Muscles or ligaments strain.

• Disk damaged.

• Muscle spasm.

• Muscle tension.

• Injuries, fractures, or falls.

Some activities lead to strains or spasms.

• Lifting heavy objects.

• Improper lifting of an object.

• Doing abrupt movement.

Causes Related to Structural Problems

Some structural problems may lead to back pain.

• Ruptured disk (pressure on the nerve due to ruptured disk resulting in back pain).

• Bulging disks (bulging disk causes more pressure on a nerve that may lead to pain).

• Sciatica (pain radiating along the sciatic nerve, which runs down one or both legs from the lower back).

• Arthritis (inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness that can worsen with age).

• Abnormal curvature of spin.

• Osteoporosis (a condition in which bones become weak and brittle).

• Kidney problems.

• Poor posture and some daily activities can lead to back pain.

• Standing or sitting for long periods.

• Muscle tension.

• Twisting.

• Coughing or sneezing.

• Overstretching.

• Long drive without a break.

What Are the Risk Factors for Back Pain?

There are some risk factors associated with back pain.

• Pregnancy.

• Older age.

• Poor physical fitness.

• Occupational activities.

• Smoking.

• Sedentary lifestyle.

• Genetic factors.

• Some medical conditions, such as cancer and arthritis.

What Are the Symptoms of Lower Back Pain?

Injuries to the spine, such as a sprain or fracture and, at times, inflammation of the muscle tissue of the spinal region, can cause back pain. Back pain is also called “shooting” or “pinpoint” pain. Symptoms of low back pain are

• Lower-back discomfort that starts and stops suddenly.

• Pain radiating down one leg or into both legs during sitting for extended periods (like driving).

• Pain when walking upstairs.

• Numbness along shoulder blades or neck area.

What Are the Benefits of Infrared Light Therapy for Lower Back Pain?

• Infrared light therapy to the lower back relieves chronic muscle and joint tension.

• It also decreases inflammation, boosts tissue repair, and breaks down scar tissue that may have formed from previous injuries or overuse.

• Helpful for patients suffering from chronic tension headaches or other chronic pain caused by poor postures, like sciatica (nerve pain of the lower back).

What Is Infrared Light Therapy?

According to their wavelength,light is scattered in many colors. The human eye can only see the wavelength ranging from 400 nm to 700 nm. Red light and infrared light are types of non-ionizing radiation. Infrared radiation has longerwaves than red light, which means it has a shorter frequency and less energy. Infrared therapy uses infrared heat to treat muscle pain, arthritis, and other conditions. At the same time, red light is visible to the human eye and is an emerging treatment for skin issues, frequently used in beauty and anti-aging treatments.

How Does Infrared Therapy Treat the Pain?

Infrared light is a form of heat. It penetrates through the multiple layers of the skin and warms the muscles, ligaments, and tendons to help increase blood flow and support cell growth and regeneration in that area. As a result, it increases muscle flexibility, relieves pain, reduces inflammation, and repairs wounds or injuries.

Infrared is commonly used tungsten material in the lamps to produce luminous light.The patient and devices are seperated by 45 to 60 cm. The wavelenght is 800 nm (nenometer) and is perpandicular to the pain area.The therapy process takes between 10 minutes to 15 minutes and can be repeated depending on the case.

Infrared light treatments are safer than ionizing radiation because they do not damage DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) or cause cancer: they simply heat the tissues they target (which can be either tissue inside the body or on the skin). This negates any risk when using this type of treatment compared with standard laser therapy machines that emit high-energy beams at low-frequency waves and can cause burns if not used correctly.

• Infrared therapy improves blood circulation and increases the flow of oxygenated blood to muscles and joints, helping reduce pain and inflammation.

• It reduces inflammation by targeting damaged tissue, such as scar tissue or nerve fibers.

• Infrared light therapy also stimulates growth hormone release from the pituitary gland (a substance that helps regulate metabolism). It helps new cell growth, reduces inflammation, and improves muscle recovery after injury or surgery.

What Types of Pain Does Infrared Light Treat?

Infrared light therapy devices are used to treat the following conditions or symptoms.

• Neck aches and stiffness.

• Shoulder soreness, like those arising due to sitting at a computer.

• Knee pain and stiffness.

• Ankle ache due to running.

• Feet soreness.

• Arthritis.

• Acute and chronic lower back pain.

Who Should Not Use Infrared Light Therapy for Lower Back Pain?

• People who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

• People with open wounds.

• People with skin conditions, such as eczema(inflammation of the skin), psoriasis(a situation in which skin cells build up and form scales and itchy, dry patches), and acne rosacea (facial skin inflammation).

• People with heart diseases.

Conclusion

Infrared light therapy is a safe, natural way to reduce pain and improve health. It is easy and affordable for anyone to try on their own or as part of a treatment. Infrared light therapy can help one feel better faster than any other treatment for lower back pain. But one must exercise caution while using it; for example, to avoid overheating the treated area, only use 15 minutes of infrared light therapy per session. Also, avoid using it if one is pregnant or has other medical conditions such as pacemakers, etc.