Introduction to Infrared Light Therapy

There are many types of infrared therapy devices, all claiming similar effects of increased circulation, decreased pain, etc. In theory, these devices work under the same principles and laws of physics. However, they are very different in terms of their methods (wavelength, pulse rate, intensity, etc.), design (total surface area) and their application (handheld or attachable).

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) vs Lasers

- Lasers deliver collimated, coherent light. This simply means that the infrared light is focused in a column and does not disperse as much over the treatment area. Lasers are monochromatic by definition, which means they emit infrared light at one wavelength.

- A light emitting diode (LED) is a semi-conductor device that emits incoherent narrow-spectrum light. Some LED devices are also monochromatic, such as Anodyne Therapy.

- Infrared Light from both lasers and LEDs disperse once the light contacts body tissue. The depth to which they penetrate has nothing to do with whether the light is lased, but rather has to do with the wavelength and energy density.

- Infrared Light output from LEDs possesses all the attributes of laser radiation except coherence. Findings at the cellular level would imply that the property of coherence is largely unnecessary for the clinical effects of these devices. In summary, at a particular wavelength, light that is emitted out of a LED or a Laser will have similar clinical effects on body tissue. Effects can be further enhanced by increasing the surface area of treatment device, and by increasing the energy density.

- Lasers are usually enclosed behind glass and recessed a few centimeters, where as the LEDs of Anodyne Therapy Systems are in direct skin contact. Direct contact minimizes the amount of light refracting off of the skin, thus increasing the amount of light absorbed by the blood vessels. The diodes give off a slight warmth while on, thus patients will report a soothing warm sensation while receiving Anodyne Therapy treatments.

Wavelength

Over the years, some wavelengths of infrared light have been proven to be more effective than other wavelengths in terms of increasing circulation. The wavelength of 890 nm that is used with Anodyne®Therapy Infrared Products has been validated through our published clinical data, and also through independent testing. Visible red, blue or green light has not been proven in any clinical evaluations to be effective in increasing circulation or decreasing pain. Devices that have both infrared and visible coloured lights can not be as effective as those with all infrared diodes.

The video below is that of a human hand with an Anodyne® Infrared Therapy Pad placed on the palmar aspect. You can see the light passing through the cracks of the fingers, as well as through the skin. However, you can see that the blood vessels are very dark, which means that the light is not passing through and thus is being absorbed within the blood vessels.

Anodyne® Therapy Infrared Therapy Products are effective because of their temporary effects on increasing local circulation and decreasing pain. Below is a comparison between Anodyne Therapy’s 45 mw diodes, and a competitor that states they use 100 mw diodes. The graphs represent changes in blood flow, and the taller the bars on the graph, the greater the increase in local blood flow. It is easy to see that when compared to the blood flow increases that Anodyne Therapy Products stimulate, that this competitor is significantly less. The 45 mw light-emitting diodes (LEDs) used by Anodyne Therapy have been tested in millions of patient treatments and our proven clinical outcomes extend to over 6,000 local Anodyne® Therapy Care Providers.

Patient #1 Prescan

Patient #2 scan

Patient #1 Prescan

Patient #2 Prescan