Light Therapy and Sciatica

We tend to think the most common conditions come with remedies and cures. However, that’s not always the case. Sciatica is a very common condition, affecting between 10-40% of the population. Despite the many people suffering from sciatica, there are so many myths and misconceptions about the condition that makes it harder for people with sciatica to heal. But before we talk about treatment, let’s understand what sciatica is. 

So what is sciatica? Sciatica is a pain that runs along the sciatic nerve, which starts from the lower back and travels through the hips and buttocks down each leg. The nerve pain is caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. This usually occurs from a herniated disk, narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis), or bone spur that compresses an area of the nerve. As a result, there are painful and uncomfortable symptoms. 

Symptoms of sciatica are the following:

• Numbness: sciatica pain can be accompanied by numbness in the back of the leg. There's also tingling and weakness. 
• Pain: a consistent burning sensation or a pain that shoots down the leg, starting from the lower back going towards the thigh. 
• One-sided symptoms: sciatica can also affect one side of the body. This results in the affected area feeling heavy. 
• Posture-based symptoms: symptoms may worsen while sitting, trying to stand up, twisting the spine, or lying down.
  

Naturally, there are some factors that increase the likelihood of sciatica, including obesity, age, occupation, diabetes, and prolonged sitting. These factors can not only trigger sciatica but prolong the pain. Typically, the treatment for sciatica is fairly limited and highly invasive. The mildest form of treatment is applying ice or heat to the area, but some people with severe sciatica opt for spinal injections or even surgery. 

While sciatica doesn’t sound like a pleasant condition, most of the time, the pain goes away on its own time. However, if you’d like to reduce the symptoms quickly, there is a way to do so, and it’s not through invasive treatments like surgery or spinal injections. With the help of red light therapy, you can eliminate the painful symptoms of sciatica and start to live a normal life. 

Light therapy definition: LED light therapy includes a therapeutic device that uses near-infrared and/or red light to treat various conditions by stimulating the body’s healing system. Various studies have proven that near-infrared light therapy can accelerate wound healing and promote tissue growth. Red light therapy stimulates the ATP cells within the mitochondria, resulting in a quicker turnover in damaged cells and new cell production. In addition, the body’s natural autoimmune system is stimulated which increases healing and recovery. In other words, red light therapy helps heal the body from the inside out. 

Red light therapy sciatica treatment has done wonders for those suffering from this condition. Research continues to show the effects of red light therapy in reducing symptoms of sciatica.  One study found that red light therapy reduces pain hypersensitivity and improves bodily function after treatment. The beauty of red light therapy is that it can be used either for clinical or at-home use, giving the user more control over their health.

At Kaiyan, we see the benefits of red light therapy clearly, and are focused on helping people heal from within. We’ve worked hard to develop a series of MDA-certified and FDA-approved red light therapy products and devices that cater to various needs. Whether you’re looking to private label your own light therapy products or for home use, contact our team, as we would love to help you through your light therapy journey.