This article may include affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I truly believe in and that I think will benefit you. Your support through these links helps me continue creating valuable content for you.
When most people think of osteopathy, they imagine hands-on treatment, dry needling, or rehab exercises. But in my clinic, I also use a surprising tool that’s quickly becoming a patient favourite: red light therapy.
If you’ve never heard of it, or you’ve only seen influencers waving LED masks around on Instagram, stick with me, because when used properly, especially alongside manual therapy, red light therapy can make a real difference in reducing pain, speeding up recovery, and improving outcomes.
Around a year and a half ago I had never given much thought to red light therapy, let alone to use it in my practice. But, after reading more into it and learning about the incredible benefits it can have towards pain and recovery I gave it a try.
So What Is Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy (RLT), or photobiomodulation, uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. It sounds futuristic, but it’s backed by a growing body of research.
Here’s what it does in plain English:
- Encourages blood flow and tissue repair.
- Helps reduce inflammation and swelling.
- Supports cellular energy production (mitochondria, if you like the technical terms)
- Can reduce pain, particularly in soft tissue injuries and arthritic joints
I use a medical-grade device called the Move+ by a company called Kineon, which is specifically designed for joints and soft tissue areas.
Why I Use Red Light Therapy in My Practice
Red light therapy isn’t some standalone miracle fix, it’s one tool I use to support and enhance treatment. Over the past few years, I’ve found it especially helpful in three key situations:
1. Before Treatment – Priming the Area for Movement
Sometimes I’ll apply the Kineon Move+ for a few minutes before we get into rehab or hands-on work, especially if we’re doing exercises. Increasing blood flow helps warm up the tissue and can reduce discomfort when starting movement.
2. During Treatment – Managing Pain & Treating Multiple Areas
If a specific area is too painful to treat manually, I’ll use red light instead to begin calming things down. It’s also useful if a patient has multiple issues going on, for example, while I work on the lower back, I’ll have red light on a sore shoulder.
It’s completely painless and can be used while the patient is lying comfortably on the table.
3. After Treatment – Reducing Inflammation and Supporting Recovery
This is when I tend to use the Move+ the most with my patients. After a session, I’ll often let patients sit in a quiet space and apply the Kineon Move+ to a key area. This helps bring down post-treatment soreness or inflammation and supports faster recovery between sessions.
4. An Alternative to Anti-Inflammatory Medications
One of the lesser-known benefits of red light therapy is that it can reduce the need for anti-inflammatory medications. That’s a big win, especially for patients who either prefer not to take painkillers or can’t take them due to health conditions like gut issues, kidney problems, or blood pressure concerns.
Instead of masking symptoms, red light therapy supports your body’s natural healing processes safely and without side effects.
Why I Use the Kineon Move+ (And Not Just Any Red Light Device)
There are hundreds of red light devices on the market, from cheap Amazon panels to pricey masks and full-body beds. But in clinic, I only use the Kineon Move+. Here’s why.
Purpose-Built for Joints and Injury Recovery
The Move+ is a compact, wearable device designed specifically for joint pain, inflammation, and soft tissue recovery. Unlike large panels that are better suited for general skin treatment or wellness, the Move+ targets problem areas with precision.
What It Does
The device uses red and near-infrared light to stimulate blood flow, reduce inflammation, and promote healing; all without heat, pain, or side effects.
Each of the three modules contains:
- 2 x 808nm near-infrared LEDs – for deep tissue penetration
- 1 x 650nm red light LED – for surface-level tissue support
These wavelengths are among the most researched and effective for photobiomodulation.
Smart Design Means Better Results
- 3 modular heads let me position light exactly where it’s needed; ideal for knees, shoulders, elbows, and more
- Hands-free and wireless – you can move or relax during treatment
- Rechargeable battery and easy-to-use controls – no messy wires or big setups
Why It’s Better Than Cheaper Devices
Let’s be honest: there are a lot of red light gadgets online and most of them are underpowered, poorly made, or use the wrong wavelengths.
The Kineon Move+ is different:
- Uses clinically supported wavelengths (650nm and 808nm)
- Has strong irradiance for deeper light penetration (not just a red glow)
- Designed for medical-grade use (not just for skincare)
- FDA registered and CE certified (for safety and peace of mind)
- Trusted by physios, osteopaths, and rehab specialists around the world
When it comes to injury recovery, I’d rather use a tool that’s been built for the job, not something that is a cheap knock-off.
More Benefits From Home
For patients who want to continue their recovery between sessions or manage pain relief at home, I offer Move+ rental options. This allows them to experience the benefits of red light therapy more consistently which is especially useful for chronic issues, injury recovery, or high training loads.
The best part is that you don’t need any special training or a medical license to use the Move+. It’s easy to operate, completely safe, and portable which means that my patients can use it daily from the comfort of their own home.
Also if my patients find it helpful (which many do), they also have the option to purchase their own device to keep long-term.
Does It Actually Work?
The research is growing, and while red light therapy won’t regrow your ACL, it can definitely enhance recovery and reduce pain more quickly when used properly.
I’ve seen good results with:
- Tendinopathies (e.g. Achilles, patellar, rotator cuff)
- Osteoarthritis
- Post-surgical rehab (e.g. ACL, rotator cuff repairs)
- Acute muscle or joint pain where inflammation is a key driver
Some patients report feeling benefits of using red light therapy within the first day of using it. I myself use the Move+ on my eczema and often feel the itching reduce within an hour of using red light therapy on the area. However in most cases for my patients they can expect to see results for pain within a week to a few months but this depends on how acute or chronic the problem is.
Common Questions I Get Asked
“Does it hurt?”
Not at all, most patients say it feels pleasantly warm, but not hot.
“Is it safe?”
Completely. The Kineon Move+ is FDA registered and CE certified. There’s no UV and no risk of burning or tissue damage.
“Can I just buy a cheap one online?”
Consumer-grade red light panels are often underpowered or poorly designed. The Kineon Move+ uses specific wavelengths backed by research and is targeted to where it matters.
Final Thoughts
Red light therapy isn’t a silver bullet, but when used in the right context, it can speed things up, reduce pain, and improve the quality of your recovery.
I really believe in the power of Red Light Therapy and I will continue to use it on myself and my patients. I would also encourage you to investigate it further and give it a try.