“Honey, remember as keiki how much we used to go out? Now, the only thing that goes out, are my joints!—"
Over 50 million Americans suffer from Arthritis, a broad term used to describe any disorder affecting the joints. Often accompanied by pain, stiffness, swelling, and disfiguration, arthritis is a common side effect of aging. Luckily, regular use of Red Light Therapy (RLT) will keep your joints moving with ease.
Most common, Osteoarthritis, comes from normal ‘wear and tear’ on the joints. Often found in the knees, hands, hips, neck and lower back, Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease in which the flexible ‘cushion’ tissue, within the joints, breaks down due to lack of blood supply. Pain and stiffness are typical, as the cartilage can deteriorate to the point of bone-on-bone contact, limiting mobility.
Rheumatoid Arthritis, is an autoimmune inflammatory disease, affecting the lining of the joints. It’s caused by the body’s immune system attacking the joint tissue. Overtime, the joint becomes disfigured from the swelling and cartilage damage, leading to the erosion of nearby bones. Super painful and unsightly, the related inflammation can spread, damaging the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels.
Like exercise, RLT makes the joints stronger by promoting the regeneration of cartilage. This is by stimulating the body to release a variety of compounds and keratin peptides, while removing dangerous free radicals and increasing mitochondrial activity in each cell. The cartilage that deteriorates in Osteoarthritis is made up mostly of collagen. RLT is proven to stimulate collagen production at nearly 200x its normal rate of mitosis.
Joint stiffness often results from a lack of blood flow in the damaged, inflamed tissue. RLT pierces the circulating haemoglobin molecules of the red blood cells, causing them to release nitric oxide into the nearby blood vessels. This causes an increase in circulation, as the blood vessel walls relax, allowing for more blood to flow through them. With an increase in nutrient-rich blood, the body creates new vessels to transport it to the weak areas in the joint. This process naturally decreases inflammation, while reducing any pressure on nearby nerves; relieving issues like Sciatica and Carpal Tunnel.
If the Rheumatoid Arthritis has spread to the extent of bone erosion, RLT increases osteoblast proliferation which is responsible for growing new bone cells. This is by increasing bone growth factors, enhancing the production of procollagen and collagen. In this way, RLT can even slow the effects of osteoporosis while it strengthens the vertebrae and maximum bone tolerance.
Debra Rego, an avid user of our McCully location, explains how RLT has significantly decreased her Osteorthritis over the past 6 months.
“I have extreme arthritis […] and I don’t have pain anymore,” she explains while looking at her fingers. “The swelling was gnarly and this [pointer finger] was like a sausage for years. […] The inflammation was so bad and my finger was so big, if even I touched it, I would scream.”
She goes on to explain, “my arthritis is hereditary. I remember my mom had it really bad, and back then, she didn’t know how to manage it.”
She details the progression of her arthritis over the past 40 years—“it started in my late 30’s, but got really bad in my 50’s and 60’s. It became very consistent [and being in my hands,] it would weaken my ability to do things.”
Debra details how RLT allows her to keep working, in stating, “I have used my hands cutting hair for over 50 years. [Before Red Light] I was thinking maybe I would have to step away or even slow down, but at this point, I will just keep going.”
She further emphasizes, “at my age, improvement doesn’t just happen, you have to work at it. I am committed to RLT because I see a huge difference.” She goes on to explain, “the most amazing thing is that I am not having pain. [My fingers are] so much more flexible now and can move better, as I have lost a lot of the inflammation.”
Though Debra uses RLT for more than just her fingers, “I’m 72—I still surf and I need this for my joints. I take a lot of tumbles and come [to Red Light Healing Center] right after, looking like a wet rag, but after the session, I’m ready to get back out there. It’s just so energizing!”
Aside from RLT and regular exercise, it’s important to eat a diet that promotes joint health. The best foods to fight inflammation are: cherries, berries, garlic, ginger, turmeric, leafy greens, avocados, bell peppers, citrus fruits, beets, beans, green tea, nuts, flax seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, salmon, tuna and sardines. It’s also recommended to avoid all processed foods, processed meats, sugary beverages, fried foods, white bread, margarine, saturated fats, refined grains, and things that stress the liver and kidneys such as excessive alcohol or sugar intake.
So, what are you waiting for? Schedule an appointment today, in our McCully Shopping Center or Kailua location, to strengthen your joints for tomorrow. Our Summer Session Sale is going throughout June, making it the most affordable time to get a shareable package for the whole family!
Sincerely,
Your Red Light ‘Ohana
