With all the walking, running, hiking, exercising, dancing, stair climbing, and jumping that you may do throughout your life, is it any wonder that at some point you may experience foot pain? According to a 2014 survey conducted for the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), “…almost 8 in 10 Americans have experienced a foot problem, and half say it has impacted their quality of life.”[1] In fact, “Half of all adults say that foot pain has restricted their activities—like walking, exercising, working, or playing with grandchildren—in some way. For those with chronic foot pain, that number jumps to 83 percent.”[2]
Red Light Therapy Can Help
Foot pain should be addressed as soon as possible, as pain in one or both feet can potentially lead to impairment of foot function, which in turn may increase the risk of falling. But foot pain does not have to restrict daily life.
If you or a loved one suffers from any type of foot pain, or if your patients do, rather than treating foot pain with over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, or prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or corticosteroid injections for chronic foot pain, why not try Red Light Therapy?
Red Light Therapy is non-invasive, painless, effective, dependable, and very easy to administer. And unlike many pain medications and surgery, there are no potential risks. Red Light Therapy has been proven to have “…an almost complete lack of reported adverse effects…”[3]
Pain Relief PLUS Healing Support
Red Light Therapy can not only help relieve all types of foot pain quickly and effectively, but due to the beneficial chemical processes released within the cells during treatment, Red Light Therapy may also accelerate healing.
Scientific studies prove that “Radiation of tissue with light causes an increase in mitochondrial products such as ATP, NADH, protein, and RNA…”[4] And its release of nitric oxide increases circulation, so that blood high in oxygen and nutrients can flow more freely into the local area, reducing pain and supporting the body’s natural healing.
It may seem amazing but it is true that “…low doses of light have demonstrated the ability to heal skin, nerves, tendons, cartilage and bones.”[5] And over time, as nerves heal, numbness decreases and feeling in the foot returns. Studies show that pain in any part of the foot, from the toes to the Achilles tendon and up to the ankle, will respond well to Red Light Therapy.
Best Pads for the Feet
If you are looking to alleviate foot pain, why not give Red Light Therapy a try? Many manufacturers of Red Light Therapy systems, such as Energia Medical, make pads especially designed for treating the foot.
Here are four neoprene therapy pads made by Energia Medical that are excellent for treating foot issues. All four are medical grade:
- Energia Medical’s Foot and Ankle 122 Diode Pad:
This uniquely-shaped 3-section pad is flexible and versatile, allowing it to be used in two ways: extended or folded over.
1. When extended, the pad can cover the bottom of the foot from the toes to the back of the heel, continuing up over the calf area.
2. When folded over, this pad can cover the toes and foot like a boot, including the top of the foot, sole, heel, and both ankles.
The 122 Foot and Ankle Pad features 122 LED’s – 61 Infrared and 61 Red diodes. Its standard wavelengths are red (660nm) and infrared (850nm). The top section measures 8” wide x 5” long, the middle section is 12” long x 4” wide, and the bottom section is 7” long x 6” wide. This pad makes an excellent home unit, for its length and unique top and bottom also allow the pad to be wrapped around the hand with the forearm resting on the pad, down the spine or the thigh and leg, or over a shoulder. Hands can be placed on the top and bottom sections.
- Energia Medical’s Foot and Calf 131 Diode Pad:
- This uniquely-shaped 3-section pad is flexible and versatile, allowing it to be used in two ways: extended or folded over:
1. When extended, the diodes treat the bottom of the foot and calf.
2. When folded in half the pad will treat the top and bottom of the foot.
The 131 Foot and Calf features 131 LED’s – 83 Infrared and 48 Red diodes. Top Section is 7” X 10.75”. Mid to Bottom Section is 4.5” X 13.7”
- Energia Medical’s Long Painbuster 180 Diode Pad:
At 16”x 5”, the double length of this highly flexible long and narrow pad allows it to be used in several ways:
1. Place the pad over the top of the foot and wrap it under the sole.
2. Place the pad under the sole of the foot and let the rest of the pad travel up the heel and into the calf area.
3. Place the pad horizontally, putting both feet on top to allow the toes or the heels to be treated simultaneously.
This pad contains a total of 180 LEDs: 120 infrared (850nm) and 60 red (660nm) diodes. It can also be used to treat other areas: its length makes it easy to wrap around the elbow or knee, the jaw, and the forehead, or flat down the back or across the shoulders, calf, stomach, or hip.
- Energia Medical’s Small 90 Diode Pad:
The size and rectangular shape of this pad make it ideal for foot treatment. Just place the foot on top of the pad, or put the pad over the toes or strap across the ankle with Velcro. At 9.8” x 4.5”, this pad should easily cover the toes, sole, heel, or ankle area. This pad contains 90 total LEDs: 45 infrared and 45 red, with an output of 3,240 joules per 20 minute treatment. Its standard wavelengths are red (660nm) and infrared (850nm). The 90 pad can also be used on practically every other area of the body: the wrist, hand, neck, arm, elbow, shoulder, stomach, back, calf, thigh, or jaw, making this one pad the perfect therapy system for the entire family.
Summing Up – Kick Foot Pain Out!
Foot pain does not have to limit the quality of life for you or for your patients. Red Light Therapy can make a big difference in being able to maintain a comfortable, mobile, and active lifestyle. Contact Rob Berman at Energia Medical at 833-429-4040 or via email at info@energiamedical.com to learn more about how Red Light Therapy can help you or your patients.
Citations
[1] APMA. Public Opinion Research on Foot Health and Care: Findings from a Survey of 1000 US Adults. 2014 March, p. 3.
[2] Day, B. New Survey Reveals Majority of Americans Suffer from Foot Pain: Ailments widespread, yet few people address issues. American Podiatric Medical Association. PRNewswire-USNewswire. 2014 May 19, p. 1.
[3] Hamblin, Michael R. “Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation.” AIMS biophysics vol. 4,3 (2017): 337-361. doi:10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337, p. 14.
[4] Chung, Hoon, et al. The Nuts and Bolts of Low-level Laser (Light) Therapy. Ann Biomed Eng. 2012 February; 40(2): 516–533. doi:10.1007/s10439-011-0454-7, p. 5 of NIH Public Access version.
[5] Cotler, Howard B. et al. The Use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) For Musculoskeletal Pain. MOJ Orthop Rheumatol. 2015 ; 2(5): . doi:10.15406/mojor.2015.02.00068, p. 4.
