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Those who’ve torn their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are aware of how life-changing the injury can be. For athletes, it often means months off the field, court, or track, coupled with intense rehabilitation and uncertain outcomes. Even for non-athletes, an ACL tear can significantly make everyday activities, or even standing for long periods of time, challenging.
Traditional ACL treatment methods include surgery, physical therapy, and medications. Beyond those, advancements in therapeutic technology have also resulted in effective alternative treatments like red light therapy. Using light energy, this treatment stimulates various cellular processes that support accelerated healing, reduced pain, and improved mobility for those with ACL injuries.
Learn more about how red light therapy for the body can benefit ACL injuries with our team at ROJO Light Therapy AUS below.
The ACL is one of the four key ligaments connecting your thigh bone to your shinbone, and it’s particularly vulnerable during high-impact sports or activities involving sudden direction changes. Most - if not all athletes - in these sports are particularly wary of this because an ACL injury can put them back at square one if they ever get to play again.
When the ACL tears, it compromises knee stability, often requiring surgical repair and a lengthy rehabilitation process. The recovery time for this often takes six to twelve months, depending on several factors including the severity of the tear, individual healing capacity, and rehabilitation consistency.
Red light therapy delivers wavelengths of red or near-infrared light between 630 - 880 nm which are able to reach the body’s tissues and muscles. Once absorbed by the mitochondria, this light triggers a cascade of cellular processes that accelerate healing. Dive deeper into these processes here.
When an ACL tear occurs, it disrupts the normal energy-producing functions of cells in the ligament and surrounding tissues. This depletes the energy reserves of that area, which are needed for repair and recovery. Fortunately, red light therapy can fill this gap through its ability to stimulate the increase of production of the cells’ main fuel, adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
This surge in cellular energy is necessary for tissue repair, cell proliferation, and the growth of new blood vessels in the affected area.
Inflammation is important at the beginning of the recovery process to clear damaged cells and initiate healing; however, prolonged or excessive inflammation can counteract recovery. Red light therapy helps prevent this by regulating the body’s inflammatory response. It reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-alpha and IL-6 while upregulating anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10. This creates a good balance for recovery.
Collagen isn’t only crucial for building strong and supple skin. It’s also responsible for the strength and elasticity of ligaments like the ACL. After surgery, increased collagen levels are important to help rebuild the damaged ligament.
In this regard, red light therapy is a highly valuable tool to have for its ability to stimulate fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing collagen. More efficient collagen production shortens rehabilitation timelines.
Red light therapy promotes the production of antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), which helps fight oxidative stress, a significant contributor to recovery delays. Reducing oxidative stress in the recovery process also minimises the risk of chronic inflammation or scar tissue formation.
Cells working for the recovery of injuries heavily rely on the delivery of oxygen and nutrients from the bloodstream. Red light therapy ensures cells in the affected area get exactly what they need by stimulating the release of nitric oxide (NO), which promotes the dilation of blood vessels. This effect increases blood flow to the injured area, providing the cells there with the critical resources they need for healing.
For those recovering from an ACL tear, red light therapy is a powerful tool to have in their recovery kit. It addresses the main challenges of ligament repair, inflammation, and pain management, helping the body heal faster and more effectively.
At ROJO Light Therapy, we’re dedicated to helping you achieve your recovery goals with cutting-edge red light therapy devices tailored to your needs. Discover our premium range of products or contact us today for more questions or inquiries.
