Red Light Therapy and Chiropractic Care: Does Combining Them Improve Recovery?

Yes, red light therapy and chiropractic care may complement each other because they support musculoskeletal health in different ways. Chiropractic care focuses on restoring joint movement and improving biomechanics, while red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, supports the body's natural repair processes at the cellular level. Since they target different aspects of recovery, many healthcare professionals use them as complementary therapies rather than alternatives.

Current evidence suggests that both treatments may help reduce pain and improve function for certain musculoskeletal conditions. However, there is limited research directly evaluating whether combining red light therapy with chiropractic care produces better outcomes than either therapy alone. While the science behind each therapy is encouraging, more high-quality clinical studies are needed to understand the potential benefits of using them together.

Chiropractic care and red light therapy are designed to achieve different goals, which is why they may be used together as part of a broader treatment plan. Rather than addressing the same problem in the same way, each therapy focuses on a different aspect of musculoskeletal health.

Chiropractic care aims to restore joint mobility and improve how the spine and other joints move. When movement is restricted, it can contribute to pain, muscle tension, and reduced function. A chiropractic adjustment helps improve joint mechanics, allowing the body to move more freely.

Red light therapy takes a different approach. Instead of targeting joints, it delivers specific wavelengths of light to the body's tissues, where they are absorbed by cells. This process, known as photobiomodulation, may support cellular energy production, tissue repair, and the body's natural response to inflammation.

Because these therapies work through different mechanisms, one does not replace the other. Instead, they may address different contributors to musculoskeletal discomfort. For some people, improving joint movement while also supporting soft tissue recovery may form part of a comprehensive approach to care, although research directly evaluating this combination is still limited.

Chiropractic care is a healthcare profession that focuses on diagnosing and managing conditions affecting the muscles, joints, and nervous system. While spinal adjustments are the most recognized treatment, chiropractors may also use soft tissue therapy, stretching, rehabilitation exercises, and lifestyle advice to help improve movement and reduce pain.

One of the primary goals of chiropractic care is to restore normal joint mobility. When a joint isn't moving as it should, it can contribute to pain, stiffness, muscle tension, and reduced range of motion. Manual adjustments are designed to improve joint function, helping patients move more comfortably and return to everyday activities.

Chiropractic care is commonly used to manage conditions such as:

• Lower back pain

• Neck pain

• Headaches, including some cervicogenic headaches

• Joint pain involving the shoulders, hips, or knees

• Muscle strains and sports-related injuries

• Reduced mobility or stiffness

Research suggests chiropractic care may be appropriate for certain musculoskeletal conditions, particularly when combined with other conservative treatments such as exercise, education, and physical rehabilitation. However, it is not suitable for every condition or every patient. People with severe trauma, suspected fractures, certain spinal disorders, or progressive neurological symptoms should seek medical evaluation before undergoing chiropractic treatment.

Every cell in your body needs energy to repair, regenerate, and function normally. Red light therapy supports this process by delivering specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light that are absorbed by the mitochondria, the structures responsible for producing cellular energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

With more energy available, cells may become more efficient at carrying out normal repair processes. Researchers believe this is one of the reasons photobiomodulation has been studied for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, from muscle strains to persistent joint pain.

Rather than forcing the body to heal faster, red light therapy is thought to create an environment that supports recovery by helping to:

• Promote tissue repair

• Support healthy circulation

• Modulate the body's inflammatory response

• Reduce temporary muscle and joint discomfort

• Aid recovery following physical activity or injury

Unlike a chiropractic adjustment, which aims to restore movement and joint function, red light therapy works beneath the surface by supporting the biological processes involved in recovery. Because they act on different parts of the healing process, the two therapies may complement one another without serving the same purpose.

Every cell in your body needs energy to repair, regenerate, and function normally. Red light therapy supports this process by delivering specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light that are absorbed by the mitochondria, the structures responsible for producing cellular energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

With more energy available, cells may become more efficient at carrying out normal repair processes. Researchers believe this is one of the reasons photobiomodulation has been studied for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, from muscle strains to persistent joint pain.

Rather than forcing the body to heal faster, red light therapy is thought to create an environment that supports recovery by helping to:

• Promote tissue repair

• Support healthy circulation

• Modulate the body's inflammatory response

• Reduce temporary muscle and joint discomfort

• Aid recovery following physical activity or injury

Unlike a chiropractic adjustment, which aims to restore movement and joint function, red light therapy works beneath the surface by supporting the biological processes involved in recovery. Because they act on different parts of the healing process, the two therapies may complement one another without serving the same purpose.

Although red light therapy and chiropractic care are often used together in clinical practice, there is very little research that has evaluated the combination directly. Most of what we know comes from studies investigating each therapy on its own.

For chiropractic care, clinical practice guidelines and systematic reviews support its use for certain musculoskeletal conditions, particularly lower back pain and neck pain. Evidence suggests spinal manipulation may help reduce pain and improve function, especially when combined with other conservative treatments such as exercise and patient education.

The evidence for red light therapy is also growing. A 2019 review examining photobiomodulation for musculoskeletal disorders found that it may help reduce pain and support tissue healing across a range of conditions, although treatment protocols varied considerably between studies. Earlier research has also helped explain how photobiomodulation influences cellular processes involved in tissue repair, inflammation, and recovery, providing a biological basis for its clinical use.

What remains uncertain is whether combining these therapies produces better outcomes than using either treatment alone. While it's reasonable to hypothesize that improving joint mechanics through chiropractic care and supporting tissue recovery with photobiomodulation could have complementary effects, there are currently too few high-quality clinical trials to confirm this.

Both can be appropriate. Red light therapy can be used either before or after a chiropractic adjustment, depending on the goal of treatment. Some chiropractors use it beforehand to help relax muscles before manual therapy, while others prefer using it afterward to support recovery. At this stage, there isn't enough research to show that one approach is consistently more effective than the other.

Tight or protective muscles can sometimes make an adjustment less comfortable or restrict normal movement. For this reason, some practitioners apply red light therapy before treatment with the goal of helping surrounding tissues relax.

While this approach is used in practice, there are few studies comparing treatment outcomes based on timing alone. Current recommendations are largely based on clinical experience rather than direct evidence.

Following an adjustment, it's common to experience mild soreness similar to what you might feel after starting a new exercise program. Because photobiomodulation has been studied for its role in supporting tissue repair and recovery, some chiropractors include red light therapy as part of post-treatment care.

The research supporting this approach comes primarily from studies on photobiomodulation itself, not from trials specifically evaluating patients after chiropractic adjustments.

Lower back pain and neck pain have the strongest evidence supporting both chiropractic care and red light therapy individually. Sports injuries, muscle strains, shoulder pain, and osteoarthritis-related stiffness may also benefit from one or both therapies, although research evaluating their combined use remains limited.

Red light therapy and chiropractic care are generally used for musculoskeletal conditions, but some symptoms require a medical evaluation before beginning or continuing treatment. Seek medical advice if you have any of the following:

• Severe trauma, such as a fall or motor vehicle accident

• A suspected fracture or sudden inability to bear weight

• Progressive neurological symptoms, including increasing weakness, numbness, or loss of coordination

• Signs of infection, such as fever, chills, unexplained swelling, or redness near the painful area

• A history of cancer with new or worsening spinal pain, especially if the cause is unclear

• Persistent pain without an obvious cause, particularly if it continues to worsen or doesn't improve with conservative care

These symptoms may indicate an underlying condition that requires medical assessment before chiropractic treatment, red light therapy, or other conservative approaches are considered.

Not all red light therapy devices are the same. When comparing options, focus less on marketing claims and more on whether the device is appropriate for your needs and practical enough to use consistently.

Key features to consider include:

• Wavelength: Many of the clinical studies on photobiomodulation use red and near-infrared wavelengths, which interact with tissue at different depths.

• Irradiance: The amount of light delivered to the treatment area influences how long each session may need to be.

• Treatment area: A larger device may be more suitable for broad regions such as the back, while smaller devices are often better for targeted areas like the neck, shoulder, or knee.

• Ease of use: A comfortable, portable device is more likely to become part of your regular routine.

• Consistency: Regular use over time is generally more important than occasional long sessions.

• Safety: Choose a device that provides clear instructions for use and follow the manufacturer's recommendations, including any guidance on eye protection.

An at-home device can be a practical way to continue red light therapy between chiropractic appointments, particularly when treatment is part of an ongoing recovery plan. Lumaflex is designed for home use and can complement professional chiropractic care by making it easier to maintain a consistent treatment routine. It is intended to support, not replace, the assessment and care provided by a qualified healthcare professional.

Chou, R., Qaseem, A., Owens, D. K., & Shekelle, P. (2017). Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: A clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 166(7), 514-530. https://doi.org/10.7326/M16-2367

Hamblin, M. R. (2017). Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophysics, 4(3), 337-361. https://doi.org/10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337

Hamblin, M. R. (2019). Photobiomodulation for the management of pain and inflammation in musculoskeletal disorders. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 95(3), 551-563. https://doi.org/10.1111/php.13034