#28 - Knotted Physio - Red Light Therapy

Hello Everyone and welcome back to the Knotted Physio Blog! I hope everyone is doing well and continuing to find ways to stay active and healthy. As always, I want to say a BIG thank you to everyone who continues to read these posts, share them with friends and give me feedback. I truly appreciate it!

Today, I wanted to talk about something that has become increasingly popular in the recovery and wellness world. Red light therapy.

Now, I know some of you may be thinking, "Red light? What in the world does that have to do with my knee, shoulder or back?"

Well, I had the same question!

There are a lot of different products and therapies out there, and sometimes it can be difficult to figure out what is actually worth trying and what is simply the latest health trend.

One product that caught my attention is the Kineon MOVE+.

The MOVE+ is a wearable light therapy device designed to target areas such as the knee, hip, ankle, shoulder, elbow and wrist. It combines red LED light with near-infrared laser light and is designed to sit directly against the area you are treating.

So, what is the idea behind all of this?

Red and near-infrared light therapy, sometimes called photobiomodulation, uses specific wavelengths of light that interact with cells in the body. The goal is to support cellular function and the body's natural recovery processes.

Now, I'm not going to pretend that shining a light on your knee is going to magically fix everything!

Wouldn't that be nice?

But there is some interesting research surrounding photobiomodulation, which is one reason this technology has become popular in physical therapy, sports recovery and wellness.

What I really find interesting about the MOVE+ is the portability.

A lot of red light therapy products are large panels that you have to sit in front of. The MOVE+ is designed to be worn directly on the area you want to treat. It is wireless and hands-free, so you can use it while sitting around the house or doing something else.

And let's be honest, convenience matters!

If something requires you to rearrange your entire day to use it, chances are you are not going to use it consistently.

I also like the idea of using something like this as part of a larger recovery routine.

Let's say your knee is bothering you after a long walk. You might use light therapy as one part of your recovery routine while also paying attention to your activity level, strengthening, mobility, sleep and nutrition.

That's an important distinction.

I don't look at something like the MOVE+ as a replacement for exercise or physical therapy. I look at it as another tool that may be useful for people who are trying to stay active and support their recovery.

The goal should always be to figure out WHY something hurts and address the underlying problem.

If your knee hurts because you suddenly increased your walking from one mile to five miles every day, putting a light on your knee doesn't mean you should continue doing five miles every day!

Your body still needs the right amount of movement, strength and recovery.

One thing I have learned over the years is that there usually isn't one magic solution. The best results tend to come from putting several good habits together.

Move your body.

Get stronger.

Get enough sleep.

Eat well.

Give your body time to recover.

And if there are tools that can complement those things, they may be worth exploring.

That's what makes the MOVE+ interesting to me. It is a portable, non-invasive option for people who are interested in incorporating light therapy into their recovery routine.

Of course, everyone's situation is different. If you have significant pain, swelling, weakness or an injury that isn't improving, don't just cover up the symptoms and hope for the best. Get the problem evaluated so you know what you are actually dealing with.

But if you're someone who is already taking care of your body and looking for additional ways to support your recovery, red light therapy is certainly an interesting area to learn more about.

And honestly, I think that's what wellness should be about.

Finding the things that help YOU stay active, feel better and continue doing the things you love.

If you are interested in learning more about the Kineon MOVE+, I've included it with the products available through our website so you can take a look at it for yourself.

Well guys, I hope this gave you a little introduction to red light therapy and why it has become such an interesting topic in the recovery and wellness world.

As always, do your research, listen to your body and find what works best for you!

Thanks for reading and Go enjoy the outdoors!