Infrared light therapy is one of the best natural pain-relieving tools you can have at home – to use any time you need it.
In this post, you’ll discover the best ways to use infrared therapy for arthritis, including the infrared lamp, heat therapy gloves, infrared foot therapy, infrared heating pads, and the infrared sauna.
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Table of Contents
Is Infrared Therapy Good for Arthritis?
Infrared light is the heat you feel when you’re out in the sun. This powerful heat penetrates deep into your tissues – all the way through your muscles to your nerves and bones. Infrared waves go deep in your body and naturally raise your body’s temperature, which quickly speeds up your blood circulation. This results in fast pain relief via pain-reducing components in your blood.
In technical terms, infrared therapy uses light between 600 – 1000nm in wavelength, which is invisible to the human eye.
Your body experiences infrared energy as a gentle radiant heat that can penetrate up to 1.5 inches (almost 4 cm) beneath your skin!
Infrared light therapy is a 40-year science-backed method to relieve pain and reduce inflammation throughout the body, frequently used by doctors (the good ones), physical therapists, and professional athletes.
The light is emitted either through LED bulbs (in infrared lamps/handheld devices/panels) or through natural jade/Amethyst stones (infrared heating pad).
Is Infrared Therapy Scientifically Proven?
Many clinical human studies have proven that Infrared light therapy (also known as Low-Level Laser Therapy) is more effective than NSAIDs in relieving pain and healing inflammation.
Here are a few examples:
1. FIR therapy was proven to significantly reduce pain and inflammation of Osteoarthritis over a 24-hour period
2. In patients with RA, relative to a separate control group, LLLT reduced pain by 70% relative to placebo and reduced morning stiffness by 27.5 min (95% CI -52.0 to -2.9), and increased tip to palm flexibility by 1.3 cm (95% CI -1.7 to -0.8).
3. FIR treatment was demonstrated to provide greater movement in the joints, increased connective tissue flexibility, and increased endorphins level in the bloodstream, resulting in greater pain relief.
These are only some of the studies. There are many more (some are listed at the end of the post)
The 5 Best Infrared Therapy Devices for Arthritis
Luckily, these days you can own an infrared home device, and use it any time you need it, for as long as you need it.
All infrared devices for arthritis are easy to use. You just plug them in and relax for the next few minutes.
No traveling to a treatment center, no waiting until the morning or next week for a doctor’s appointment.
How Long is Treatment Time for Arthritis?
Treatment time ranges between 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the severity of your pain. The treatment is painless, and you can enjoy the gentle heat while reading a book, watching TV, or better yet – just closing your eyes and resting.
Here are the best options:
| Infrared Therapy Device | Best For | Treatment Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Infrared Heat Lamp | Medium-Size body parts Budget Pick | 10-15 minutes | ✅ Check Price on Amazon |
Infrared Therapy Gloves | Hand arthritis | 30 minutes - 2 hours | ✅ Check Price on Amazon |
Red Light Therapy Wrap | Small & curvy body parts | 20-40 minutes | ✅ $159 at Revive Light Therapy |
Infrared Heating Pad | Large & Curvy body parts | 30 minutes - 2 hours | ✅ Check Price on Amazon |
Infrared Knee Wraps | Knee arthritis | 30 minutes - 3 hours | ✅ Check Price on Amazon |
1. Infrared Lamp for Arthritis
An infrared lamp – is recommended if your inflammation areas are few and small (Hand arthritis/knee/elbows, etc.)
Most brands recommend 10-15 minute sessions – a few times a day. There is no proven benefit to doing it longer than that.
Set your infrared heat lamp about 12-24 inches from the joint or area you are targeting. Make sure to also pull your clothes away from the area, so the heat lamp can get to the skin easier.
👉 You can also make your own infrared lamp – click the link to see the instructions.
2. Infrared Heat Therapy Gloves
More than a few studies have proven that thermal treatments are helpful for Osteoarthritis in the hands and feet, including reducing pain (by 1.10 points on a scale of 1-10) and morning stiffness duration (by 28 minutes!).
IR therapy is also proven to improve range of motion, function, swelling, and grip strength – in the long term.
The best treatment would be simple FIR therapy gloves for arthritis, with temperature control, and to use them for at least 30 minutes a day.
👉 Here’s one of our top choices for 2022:
👉 See the 6 BEST Infrared Therapy Gloves – of 2022!
The Savior heated gloves are made with soft and comfortable cotton material and have 3-level temperature control.
The fully charged batteries will stay hot for 3 hours and 45 minutes on the medium setting and about 30 minutes on the high setting. They are also waterproof and work even in sub-zero temperatures!
3. Infrared Heating Pad
You can use an infrared heating pad – for larger pain areas (spinal arthritis, etc.), or use knee heating pads (braces) for arthritis knee pain.
Knee heating pads are also very helpful for knee arthritis, and an added benefit is that you can move around with them.
4. Red Light Therapy for Arthritis
Red light therapy is a shorter wavelength (600-890 nm) and thus penetrates less deeply than the infrared wavelength. However, it is not thermal therapy and does not heat up the tissues. It is usually applied through LED light therapy devices.
Red light at a lower power may be effective for arthritis of the hands and feet (smaller joints), but it may not be optimal for arthritis of the knees, shoulders, and bigger joints.
Studies usually utilize infrared wavelengths, but there are some studies that found that red light therapy at 810 nm (red/near-infrared) can reduce arthritis-related inflammation.
Most recommended LED light therapy devices combine both red light and near-infrared light to maximize the best wavelengths for arthritis treatment.
👉 We recommend red light therapy wraps, especially for joint pain relief, and they are especially suited for people with sensitivity to heat.
5. Infrared Sauna for Arthritis
An infrared sauna for arthritis is our #1 recommendation for Arthritis pain relief and healing – the natural way.
(As always, this is backed by science)
You may be surprised to find that just one 40-minute session in a far infrared sauna can give significant muscle pain and stiffness relief – more than all the massages, acupuncture, physiotherapy, TENS, and ultrasound treatments together.
Sitting in a wooden box, sweating as you have never sweated before, can detox your body and loosen all your muscles in a way that feels like being born again – when you come out.
The only side effects (if you hydrate properly) are clearer skin and better sleep.
👉 See the top 4 infrared saunas, made with non-toxic materials.
If your budget won’t allow having your own FIR sauna, you can go for an infrared sauna blanket – for half the price (and lower) of an infrared sauna.
The home devices are just as effective as medical devices/beds/saunas.
The only difference is the treatment area size they can treat.
- If you suffer from Arthritis in most or all your joints/spine, you’ll need a full-body treatment via a large infrared heating pad or sauna.
- If your pain is local (elbows, knees, hands, feet) – all you need is a high-quality infrared home device to save a ton of money on doctor appointments, physical therapy, and NSAIDs.
Over time, the investment in the device will pay for itself. Both in the short and long term it is a wise investment.
How to Choose the Best Infrared Treatment for Arthritis
I’ve linked the best products in the above section, but here’s how to choose the best IR home device for your needs:
1. Treatment area
- For small treatment areas – choose an infrared heating lamp or an infrared knee wrap
- For large areas – Choose an infrared heating pad (you can choose a small/medium/large pad), or a good Red Light Therapy Wrap
2. FIR Heat Emitting System
Infrared heat is emitted either through LED bulbs or through jade/amethyst stones (which are heated electrically).
Infrared heating pads use natural stones to emit FIR rays, while hand-held/2-panel devices use LED bulbs.
Jade/amethyst stones are a great healing bonus since they alone are considered therapeutic.
The most famous (yet expensive) Amethyst infrared pad is the full-body Biomat
It’s my #1 recommendation, but we wouldn’t recommend starting out with it.
Try a relatively low-cost device first, to see how it works for you.
3. EMF radiation
Always look for devices with low/no EMF radiation. The best devices clearly state how much EMF (if at all) they radiate.
4. Timer
The high-quality devices have a built-in timer, so you won’t have to continuously time your treatment sessions.
Conclusion
Infrared light therapy for Arthritis is one of the most powerful, proven, and drug-free ways to relieve arthritis pain and heal joint inflammation in the long term.
It can replace your pills, it can save you money, and it can work fast.
Having your own infrared home device makes this natural Arthritis treatment available to you 24/7 and can be used to treat many skin problems you may have as well.
It’s non-invasive, safe, and easy to use.
What about you? Have you ever tried infrared therapy? What’s your experience? Share it with me in the comments below.
To your health and happiness,
Meital
Studies
Oosterveld, F.G.J., Rasker, J.J., Floors, M. et al. Infrared sauna in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Clin Rheumatol 28, 29 (2009).
Jean Stelian, MD, et al. Improvement of Pain and Disability in Elderly Patients with Degenerative Osteoarthritis of the Knee Treated with Narrow‐Band Light Therapy
Hamblin, M.R. Can osteoarthritis be treated with light?. Arthritis Res Ther 15, 120 (2013).
As someone who has osteoporosis & osteoarthritis & taking Alendronic Acid tablets for the bone disease. Is Infrared treatment advisable? The main site of the pain is in the feet & ankles
Yes, infrared light therapy is safe for you and can help with your pain in the feet and ankles.
I sprained my thumb really bad and nothing was working after I stopped NSAID’s. Did not want to use the prescribed NSAID’s very long, although they did take away the pain which was debilitating . Tried a small 880nm. LED unit with no luck at first. I got so frustrated I taped it to the palm of my hand where the pain was and left it there for four hours. I thought that had failed too but when I woke up the next day I was astonished to find the pain was reduced by 80 to 90%! Probably not the proper way to use the device, but it sure did the trick for me. Amazing.
Thanks for sharing your results with us. Sometimes we just need a little patience… :)
My husband has been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis for over a year now. We’re looking for alternatives so that he can reduce or wean off some drugs that have caused many negative side effects. We’re looking at LLLT therapy and very confused with the array of products that are available.
I’ve read your blogs and wonder what you think of products like Leanne Venier’s REDjuvenator, Joovv, BioFlex P120, RedLightMan? Panel vs. flexible band?
What’s the difference between NIR and FIR?
According to NASA studies, the best wavelength for pain relief and healing is 880nm. I believe the products you mentioned are 630nm – the red light wavelength and not the infrared wavelength – which is what you need.
NIR and FIR are both infrared, however, NIR is nearer to red light wavelength.
I would suggest that you start with a near infrared heat bulb. It’s a low-cost option, and it can be very effective.
My senior horse has arthritis … Is the pad safe to use to help her ? How often would I need to do it ? I have a FIR portable sauna at home and it works wonders, of course, I can’t put her in the sauna 😉 Thanks !
Yes, the pad should be helpful, IR therapy is often used with animals.
Can you use jade stone infrared pad after epidural spine injection.
To my knowledge you can, but I would wait a few days before starting, and use at a low heat setting. To be on the safe side, consult with your doctor.
Qi am looking for a heat lamp. I have arthritis. In the lower back area. As well as my hands can’t close them
Here’s my post about heat lamps and the best ones in the market: https://www.infrared-light-therapy.com/infrared-heat-lamp-therapy/