Red Light therapy (RLT) is increasingly popular as a safe, noninvasive, drug-free, cost-effective, and simple at-home treatment. It provides solutions for many conditions, including pain relief, wound healing, and brain health. In this article, we discuss the benefits of red light therapy for stroke patients. Read on to learn more! Does Red Light Therapy Show Promise for Stroke Patients? An increasing number of medical professionals who treat stroke patients are starting to use red light therapy to accelerate recovery from stroke, traumatic brain injury, other neurological or neurodegenerative conditions. There is a strong correlation between the use of red light therapy and holistic bodily healing. How Red Light Therapy Supports Brain Healing Dr. Michael Hamblin, one of the premier researchers into the effects and applications for red light therapy, wrote that red light therapy stimulates healing by reducing inflammation. This is a major contributing factor for neurological disorders including strokes, Alzheimer’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, TBI, ADHD, PTSD, autism, and more. Red light increases neurogenesis. It also increases cerebral blood flow to improve cognitive function, memory, moods, executive functioning, and sleep. Red light therapy also increases cerebral blood flow through vasodilation and creation of new blood vessels from existing blood vessels. It is known for reversing mitochondrial dysfunction. This condition, whether caused by a stroke or other factors, is directly implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases. When the mitochondria malfunction, neurons don’t produce enough energy. This accelerates or causes cell death which also affects the performance of nearby neurons. Red light therapy provides treatment by stimulating and healing the mitochondria. How Red Light Therapy Can Reach the Brain Longer near infrared wavelengths are most effective at treating brain health, because they can penetrate the skull and treat the brain directly. NIR wavelengths pass through the skull and absorb into the mitochondria of cortical neurons. The treatment can be done at home by using a powerful LED light therapy device to shine NIR light at the skull, most commonly the forehead. In-clinic, red light therapy for the brain can be administered intracranially by inserting a catheter into an artery, or intranasally, which involves shining light through the nasal cavity. However, red light therapy anywhere on the body also has systemic benefits, including on the brain. Using red light therapy on the gut has also been demonstrated to have neuroprotective benefits. Restoring normal function after a stroke can be a lengthy process that can be accelerated by adding red light therapy to a medical professional’s treatment protocol. Treatment Guidelines Patients may want to wear light-blocking goggles during treatment. We recommend being 6 to 12 inches from the LED diodes and to typically engage in treatment for 5 to 20 minutes, four or five times per week. Every stroke is different, and so are the healing times. Some effects will be visible quickly, while others will take time to manifest. The most important thing is consistency, so that the neurons are nourished and supported throughout their life stages. Red Light Therapy for Stroke Prevention Having a stroke increases the chances of having another one. Red light therapy may be beneficial in supporting overall health to help prevent strokes in the future. For example, patients may be prescribed medicines to lower blood pressure. Red light therapy lowers blood pressure naturally without medication. It is recommended that patients prioritize the advice of their doctor. One study observed that red light therapy lowered hypertension, and thus also blood pressure, which can reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer’s Disease. Maintaining healthy blood flow and supporting the brain with red light therapy could potentially lower the risk of both strokes and Alzheimer’s Disease through its neuroprotective effects. Red Light Therapy for Gut Health It is also recommended that NIR light be used on the bare skin of the abdomen to stimulate gut health. Poor gut health has been linked to strokes as well as all major diseases. Boosting gut health through a combination of diet and of using red light therapy for gut health can potentially have a ripple effect of helping with healing from strokes, and potentially preventing further ones as well. Red Light Therapy and Stroke Symptoms When a brain is injured by a stroke, the effects can be severe, widespread, and long-lasting. Combined with a standard post-stroke treatment protocol, red light therapy may support patients who are recovering from psychological, cognitive, and physical problems in the aftermath of a stroke. Psychological Damage The psychological effects of a stroke can include anxiety, depression, confusion, frustration, anger, and personality changes that can drastically change the individual’s quality of life. In one case, red light therapy was effective in reducing anxiety in stroke patients. The patients received four 4-minute applications of near infrared (NIR) light to the forehead. Two weeks after the treatment, six out of ten patients experienced significant reductions in anxiety. Cognitive Damage Brain function is often affected by a stroke. Patients may exhibit difficulty communicating, memory problems, lack of focus and concentration, poor spatial awareness, reduced executive function. This also includes praxis, which results in difficulty carrying out normal skilled activities such as cooking, brushing teeth, or getting dressed. A condition called vascular dementia is a potential effect of stroke. This can occur immediately or develop later. Because red light therapy increases blood flow, it could be used to prevent vascular dementia and support healing of areas of the brain affected by stroke. In 2021, patients with mild to moderate dementia received transcranial NIR therapy. They were treated for 6 minutes twice a day for 8 weeks. The results included significantly increased cognitive functioning as well as improved sleep after 7 days as well as less anxiety, better moods, and more energy after 14-21 days of treatment. Physical Damage Weakness, extreme fatigue, paralysis, loss of coordination, loss of balance, and insomnia are common effects of having a stroke. Improving muscle strength is one way to help with physical rehabilitation. Both pre-and post-workout red light therapy sessions can help build muscle mass and strength, reduce fatigue, help prevent delayed onset muscle soreness, and accelerate muscle recovery. In 2007, researchers discovered that NIR treatment was useful for improving physical recovery in ischemic stroke patients. Researchers found that if the patients were treated within 24 hours of the stroke, their 90-day outcomes improved. 70% of the treated patients had better outcomes than the control group which received a sham treatment. These improvements were still noticeable 90 days after the stroke. Cortical ATP production increased 157% within three hours following treatment with 808nm NIR wavelengths. Treated patients with mild to moderate strokes improved their shoulder and knee range of motion and reduced spasticity, and researchers observed significant improvements in moderate to moderate/severe stroke cases with mild paralysis. Extreme fatigue is a common symptom of stroke. The brain is a highly energy-intensive organ that needs even more energy during the healing process. Blue light (which affects and stimulates the brain through the eyes) can be used to boost energy. NIR light (which is absorbed through the skin) can also increase physical energy. Red light therapy can also be used if there is nerve damage due to stroke (including partial paralysis). The treatment can reduce neuropathic pain and promotes neuroregeneration and functional recovery after spinal cord injury, Vision Damage A stroke can damage eyesight, causing partial loss of the field of vision, or double vision. Red light therapy is a safe treatment for the eyes. It boosts cellular energy production in the eyes and reduces inflammation. Unlike far infrared light, red and NIR light does not cause heating of the tissues, making it safe for eyes. The study’s authors stated that NIR light may boost blood flow in the brain and improve cognitive functions, and support the use of NIR treatment for eye diseases. BIOMAX Series for Optimal Results The PlatinumLED BIOMAX light therapy panels feature the highest light energy output in their power class. The BIOMAX Series features a proven combination of two red and three near-infrared wavelengths as well as trace amounts of blue and infrared wavelengths to treat the surface of the skin to tissues deep within the body. The BIOMAX series are ideally suited for both targeted and whole-body treatments. As we mentioned, treating the gut can be an important way to improve overall health. Patients can treat both your brain (via the forehead) and the gut at the same time with a larger BIOMAX device such as the BIOMAX 600 or the BIOMAX 900. Check out these red light therapy panels to learn more about how to supercharge your health!
