Green and White LED Light Therapy for Chronic Pain

Overseen By Virginia Ellis

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Arizona

Disqualifiers: Addictive behavior, Severe depression, Psychosis, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 10 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if LED light therapy (also known as Circadian Focused Light Therapy, Bright Light Therapy, or Phototherapy) can manage chronic pain without medication side effects. Participants will use either green or white LED light at home for two hours daily over three months. The study targets individuals with pain from conditions like HIV-induced peripheral neuropathy, chemotherapy, or fibromyalgia. Those experiencing frequent pain rated at 5 out of 10 or higher on average may be suitable candidates. Researchers hope to find that green light reduces pain and enhances life quality by stimulating the body's natural pain relief systems. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative pain management solutions without medication side effects.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems the study focuses on adding light therapy to your routine, so you may not need to stop your current meds, but it's best to confirm with the trial organizers.

What prior data suggests that this light therapy technique is safe for managing chronic pain?

Earlier studies have shown that green LED light therapy helps reduce pain in conditions like migraines, low back pain, and fibromyalgia. Research indicates that this light therapy is safe and noninvasive, requiring no surgery or needles. These studies have reported no adverse effects, suggesting participants tolerate it well. Additionally, early trials for chronic pain, including fibromyalgia, showed positive results without harmful side effects.

This evidence suggests that green LED light therapy could serve as a safe alternative to traditional pain treatments, which often have more significant side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about green and white LED light therapy for chronic pain because it offers a non-invasive and drug-free alternative to traditional pain management options like opioids or NSAIDs. Unlike medications that can have significant side effects or risk of addiction, this therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to potentially reduce pain by influencing the body's natural pain control pathways. The green LED light is particularly intriguing because it may promote pain relief by altering how pain signals are processed in the brain. This novel approach could provide a safer and more sustainable way to manage chronic pain.

What evidence suggests that this light therapy could be effective for chronic pain?

Research shows that green LED light therapy, which participants in this trial may receive, can help manage chronic pain. Studies have found that exposure to green light can lower pain levels in conditions such as fibromyalgia, migraines, and low back pain. Specifically, individuals who used green light therapy for 1-2 hours daily over 10 weeks reported reduced pain. This trial will also include a sham comparator arm, where participants will be exposed to white LED light. Research suggests that green light may help by boosting the body's natural pain-relief systems, such as endorphins and cannabinoids. Overall, green LED light therapy appears to be a promising and safer alternative to pain medications. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Mohab Ibrahim, PhD., MD

Principal Investigator

University of Arizona

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults aged 18-80 with chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia or peripheral neuropathy from HIV/chemotherapy, who have a pain score of at least 5/10. Participants must understand English and follow the study plan. It's not for those incarcerated, unable to read English, paid for their pain treatment, or with addiction issues or severe depression.

Inclusion Criteria

I have nerve pain or tingling from HIV or chemotherapy.

I have nerve pain or tingling from HIV or chemotherapy.

I experience headaches.

Exclusion Criteria

You are getting paid for your pain treatment.

Subjects that are incarcerated

Subjects unable to read English and complete assessments

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Initial Assessment

Initial data collection including demographic information, pain assessment, and questionnaires

1 visit

1 visit (in-person or virtual)

Treatment

Participants are exposed to LED light therapy for 10 weeks, with daily 2-hour sessions in a dark room

10 weeks

Weekly questionnaires and daily logs

Crossover Treatment (if applicable)

Participants may switch light groups after a 2-week washout period, followed by another 10 weeks of light exposure

12 weeks

Similar visits as initial treatment phase

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, including final data collection and return of materials

2 weeks

1 visit (in-person or virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Light Therapy

Trial Overview

The trial tests if green LED light therapy can reduce chronic pain better than white LED light (control). Participants will use their assigned LED lights in a dark room for two hours daily over three months. The study aims to see if this reduces the need for painkillers and improves life quality.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Exposure to green LED light Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Subjects will exposed to green light provided to them, in their homes in a dark room for approximately 2 hours for 10 weeks.

Group II: Cross over Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Subject will be exposed to white light (sham) for 10 weeks, then have a wash out period for 2 weeks, then exposed to green light (experimental) for 10 weeks.

Group III: Exposure to white LED light. Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Subjects will exposed to white light provided to them, in their homes in a dark room for approximately 2 hours for 10 weeks

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Arizona

Lead Sponsor

Trials

545

Recruited

161,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Green light therapy has been shown to effectively reduce postsurgical pain in rats, suggesting its potential as a non-pharmacological pain management option that could minimize opioid use.

The therapy enhances the pain-relieving effects of morphine and ibuprofen, particularly increasing endogenous opioid levels and reducing neuroinflammation, which could lead to improved pain control in clinical settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Green Light Exposure Elicits Anti-inflammation, Endogenous Opioid Release and Dampens Synaptic Potentiation to Relieve Post-surgical Pain. Martin, LF., Cheng, K., Washington, SM., et al.[2023]

Bright light therapy is effective for treating seasonal affective disorder and may also benefit various circadian rhythm sleep disorders, such as delayed and advanced sleep phase syndromes, based on a review of existing literature.

This therapy is relatively safe and its success relies on timing, suggesting that personalized approaches to treatment could enhance its effectiveness in managing sleep-wake rhythm misalignments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Photoperiod phototherapy and wakefulness-sleep rhythm disorders]. Poirrier, R.[2006]

Low level light therapy (LLLT) using specific wavelengths of LED light (633 nm and 830 nm) has been shown to effectively enhance wound healing and reduce pain and inflammation, supported by both animal and human studies.

LED-LLLT can significantly improve outcomes for non-healing wounds and accelerate healing in normal wounds, making it a promising adjunct treatment alongside traditional surgical and nonsurgical methods.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is light-emitting diode phototherapy (LED-LLLT) really effective? Kim, WS., Calderhead, RG.[2022]

In a clinical trial involving 43 participants, low-level laser therapy using green and violet wavelengths significantly reduced chronic musculoskeletal pain, with visual analog pain scores dropping from 71.79 to 34.02 just three minutes after treatment (p < 0.0001).

A remarkable 81.4% of participants experienced a reduction of 30% or more in their pain scores, supporting the efficacy of this therapy and leading to the first FDA clearance for the combined use of these laser wavelengths.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessing the Impact of High Photon Energy Wavelengths on the Treatment of Chronic Neck and Shoulder Pain. Sammons, T., Gair, K., Silverman, RG., et al.[2023]

Phototherapy, particularly using red light (660 nm), can effectively reduce pain in conditions like neuropathies and complex regional pain syndrome-I, but visual exposure to the same wavelength may worsen migraines.

Green light exposure has been shown to alleviate pain in various conditions, including migraines and fibromyalgia, highlighting the importance of light color and exposure method in pain management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mechanisms and Pathways of Pain Photobiomodulation: A Narrative Review. Cheng, K., Martin, LF., Slepian, MJ., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 42 patients with major depressive disorder, both bright white-light therapy (2,500 lux) and dim red-light therapy (50 lux) were administered daily for seven days without any significant differences in side effects between the two treatments.

This suggests that light therapy, regardless of intensity, may be a safe option for treating depression without increasing the risk of adverse effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Side-effects of phototherapy in nonseasonal depressive disorder. Volz, HP., Mackert, A., Stieglitz, RD.[2004]

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7861466/

Green Light Exposure Improves Pain and Quality of Life in ...

We demonstrated that exposure to green light-emitting diodes (GLED) for 8 hours/day for 5 days resulted in antinociception and reversal of thermal and ...

2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10953534/

Looking for a Beam of Light to Heal Chronic Pain - PMC

Exposure to light of specific wavelengths and intensities has shown to be effective in the management of various health conditions, such as ...

3.

journals.lww.com

journals.lww.com/pain/fulltext/2025/06000/visual_exposure_to_green_light_therapy_reduces.8.aspx

Visual exposure to green light therapy reduces knee joint...

Visual exposure to dim, green, light has been found to reduce pain levels in patients living with migraine, low back pain, and fibromyalgia.

4.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1526590022004370

Green Light Exposure Elicits Anti-inflammation ...

Green light therapy has been shown to be effective in reducing chronic pain in humans and rodents. However, its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely ...

5.

healthsciences.arizona.edu

healthsciences.arizona.edu/news/stories/casting-green-light-fibromyalgia-invisible-disease

Casting a green light on fibromyalgia, the invisible disease

Clinical trial participants used the lights for 1-2 hours per day for 10 weeks, after which many reported a reduction in pain intensity, ...