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

60 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

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 data supports the effectiveness of light therapy for chronic pain?

Research shows that green light therapy can reduce chronic pain by increasing natural pain-relieving chemicals in the body and reducing inflammation. Additionally, bright light therapy has been found to help with chronic back pain, and low-level light therapy can significantly reduce pain and inflammation. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is LED light therapy safe for humans?

Research on light therapy, including bright light therapy and phototherapy, suggests it is generally safe for humans. Studies have not shown significant differences in side effects between different light treatments, and bright light therapy is noted for its relative safety. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

How does Green and White LED Light Therapy differ from other treatments for chronic pain?

Green and White LED Light Therapy is unique because it uses specific wavelengths of light to reduce pain by increasing natural opioid levels in the body and reducing inflammation, without the side effects associated with drugs. This non-invasive treatment can be easily implemented and offers a novel approach to pain management compared to traditional pharmacological methods. ^{1 3 5 10 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Chronic pain is a major problem in the USA and the rest of the world, currently, all available pharmacological interventions carry with them significant side effects. Pain clinics are specially equipped to perform intentional pain procedures to manage pain. However, there remain groups of patients what neither benefit from pharmacological nor from interventional pain procedures. Other methods have shown only minor benefits such as hypnosis or cognitive behavioral therapy. Therefore, other techniques need to be investigated. Light therapy has been shown to have significant biological effects on humans. For example, light therapy is used to manage depression. Several clinical trials have shown that certain wavelengths of light can improve wound healing, decrease temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) pain, and decrease fear of back pain. In these trials, light was directed at the site of pain. In an attempt to better understand the effect of different wavelengths of light, pre-clinical studies were conducted using rats. The investigators have shown green and blue Light emitting diode, (LED) light produced antinociception (analgesia) and reversed neuropathic pain associated with several models of chronic pain. The analgesic effect of light was completely blocked when rats had their eyes covered, this suggests that the analgesic effects seen are mainly due to systemic effect through the visual system. Preliminary experiments on rats suggest that this effect is mediated through the endogenous opioids and cannabinoid system. The investigators believe that LED light is a safe alternative to pharmacological intervention to manage pain by stimulating the endogenous endorphin and cannabinoid systems. The investigators initial target participants with history of HIV, chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy and fibromyalgia. Participants will be divided into 2 groups. The first group will be a control group exposed to white LED light. The second group will be exposed to green LED light, respectively. Participants will be asked to take LED light home and will be asked to set in a dark room for 2 hours daily for 3 months with their LED light on. At the end of the 3 months trial, the investigator will assess their pain intensity, analgesic use, and overall quality of life. The investigators hypothesis is that participants exposed to green and blue light will have less use of analgesics and will have better life quality.

Research Team

Mohab Ibrahim, PhD., MD

Principal Investigator

University of Arizona

Eligibility Criteria

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

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)

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

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 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]

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]

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]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Green Light Exposure Elicits Anti-inflammation, Endogenous Opioid Release and Dampens Synaptic Potentiation to Relieve Post-surgical Pain. [2023]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Short-term effects of bright light therapy in adults with chronic nonspecific back pain: a randomized controlled trial. [2015]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Open Trial of Morning Bright Light Treatment Among US Military Veterans with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pilot Study. [2020]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessing the Impact of High Photon Energy Wavelengths on the Treatment of Chronic Neck and Shoulder Pain. [2023]

5. Japan pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is light-emitting diode phototherapy (LED-LLLT) really effective? [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Short-term therapeutic effects of 890-nanometer light therapy for chronic low back pain: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. [2021]

7. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Side-effects of phototherapy in nonseasonal depressive disorder. [2004]

8. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Morning Bright Light Treatment for Chronic Low Back Pain: Potential Impact on the Volatility of Pain, Mood, Function, and Sleep. [2022]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mechanisms and Pathways of Pain Photobiomodulation: A Narrative Review. [2023]

11. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of phototherapy on muscle activity and pain in individuals with temporomandibular disorder: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. [2018]