Red Light Therapy for Osteoporosis: Benefits and Side Effects

Red light therapy is sometimes used as a complementary treatment for certain skin disorders, chronic pain, and hair loss. Research suggests it may help treat osteoporosis, but more studies are needed to confirm this.

Osteoporosis develops when your bone mass weakens or decreases, increasing your risk of fractures and further reducing your bone mineral density (BMD).

There are currently a variety of preventive measures and treatment options for osteoporosis. These may include a combination of dietary changes, medications, and an exercise program.

On top of this, researchers are also looking at complementary therapies that might help. One example is red light therapy (RLT), or photobiomodulation. Proponents of RLT claim the treatment may help osteoporosis by restoring bone mass while reducing inflammation.

While RLT may be a possible treatment for osteoporosis, it isn’t considered a primary therapy. Here’s what to know about RLT for osteoporosis, including current evidence, possible benefits, and side effects.

RLT is a type of treatment that uses infrared lighting. While RLT is primarily used in medical or spa settings, it’s also available with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in certain home devices for skin and hair concerns.

A 2020 review suggests that red light may help treat bone diseases by improving bone tissue regeneration without damaging healthy cells nearby.

More recently, a 2023 systematic review noted that while laser therapies could help promote bone regeneration, there is no consensus on intensity or treatment duration just yet.

When you have osteoporosis, your bones change in size or strength, increasing your risk of fractures due to falls or everyday movements, such as bending over.

RLT may help strengthen bones to help prevent serious fractures. Additionally, it’s possible the treatment may help reduce inflammation and pain as in other conditions, which might help promote your body’s natural regeneration process.

However, there currently isn’t enough definitive research to consider RLT as a primary osteoporosis treatment.

RLT is considered safe for most people. However, it’s possible to experience mild side effects, such as:

If you haven’t talked with a doctor about RLT, don’t attempt to use this treatment on your own at home.

People with darker skin tones should exercise caution when using this treatment. RLT may increase the risk of hyperpigmentation and long-lasting dark spots on your skin.

RLT is also typically used by dermatologists for skin and hair disorders on a complementary basis. This means that if a doctor recommends RLT, they will likely use it with other standard treatments for your condition.

Don’t use RLT in place of other osteoporosis treatments recommended by a doctor. If you have osteoporosis and are concerned about your treatment progress, consider discussing the next steps, including possible RLT, with a healthcare professional.

The primary treatment methods used to help prevent further bone loss in osteoporosis include:

Red light therapy may help with bone density. However, further research is still needed to confirm its effectiveness.

Avoid using red light therapy if you haven’t spoken with a doctor first. People with darker skin tones should use caution when trying red light therapy due to the increased risk of hyperpigmentation.

Red light therapy has been shown to help with poor circulation by stimulating blood vessels.

RLT is continuously being studied for treating a variety of conditions, including osteoporosis.

While more research is needed to confirm the potential benefits of RLT for this bone disease, talk about it with a doctor to see if it might fit into your osteoporosis treatment plan.

In the meantime, it’s important to take any prescribed medications as directed and to support your bone health with lifestyle modifications, including doing weight-bearing exercises, limiting alcohol use, and following a well-balanced, nutritious diet.