In the midst of an activity that brings you immense joy, such as skiing, rollerblading, hiking, playing tennis, or climbing a tree, it happens, and ‘it’ means that sound that reverberates through your being and is followed by a shooting pain that means only one thing: A precious bone has been broken or fractured. Or perhaps in the midst of something more mundane such as vacuuming, walking the dog, or just stepping out of a restaurant and landing ‘the wrong way’, whatever the cause may be few humans escape the experience of a fractured bone.
Fractured bones can range in intensity from a slither across the outside of the hand of a professional fighter, to a full blown break in the femur bone. Either way, the moment the bone is broken the body begins its natural method of healing. Alongside proper medical care most bones will heal when given enough time to do so. Despite this, researchers in the field of biomedicine continue to search for ways to hasten the recovery from fractured bones, not only for convenience, but also to ensure that the same bone does not get reinjured in the future.
Bone marrow is interesting because there is often a sense of stagnancy about bone since they feel so rigid by comparison to other body parts. In reality, this vast system of bones that make up the human skeletal structure are ever-changing, and highly malleable, as well as a place for enormous production of a variety of minerals, cells, and proteins for the body.
So, just because you may have been flattened by a broken bone, rest assured that your body is working very hard behind the scenes to repair the injury. Help from orthopedic surgeons, and orthopedists in general is very important. Additionally, there are several protocols that can be engaged to hasten the healing of your broken bone, including purposeful exposure to specific light frequency.
While all cases of bone fracture vary significantly, it is certainly worth considering the power of light as a viable healing modality to use in conjunction with your orthopedic care. This is particularly true when the research on this subject has been well studied and published by some of the world’s most reputable peer reviewed journals.
What kind of light you may wonder? Infrared light, of course! This particular frequency of light has gained an incredible reputation over the past few years as it has a unique relationship to the human form. Well researched and ample data from reputable institutions have provided a myriad of peer reviewed journals on how infrared light can positively improve human health. Included in this plethora of research are well documented cases where bone fractures were healed at a faster rate because of the inclusion of near infrared light. (1, 2)
Journey on to explore the details of the research that clearly demonstrates how exposure to near infrared light can speed up the recovery process from a bone fracture, and how you may implement this protocol from home if you are currently living with a fractured or broken bone.
The Fight Against Bone Fractures Remains an Ongoing Health Care Crisis: Do Not Compromise Your Healing Path
The reality is that bone fractures remain a serious health issue. There is a strong need to increase the speed at which bones are able to heal not only for convenience’s sake, but also in order to not reinjure the same point of fracture.
According to a publication from the National Library of Medicine entitled ‘Effect of near-infrared light on in vitro cellular ATP production of osteoblasts and fibroblasts and on fracture healing with intramedullary fixation’ (1) the authors describe the high volume of bone fractures reported yearly.
“Musculoskeletal injuries comprise a major proportion of unintentional injuries incurred in the United States. Fractures account for approximately 25% of the reported 61.2 million musculoskeletal injury episodes each year.” (1)
Despite excellent care from orthopedic surgeons and other medical professionals working in this field, there remains a strong need for alternative treatments to hasten wound healing according to the authors.
“Known complications of fractures in orthopedic patients include nonunion, delayed union, malunion, and refracture at the previous fracture site during early callus formation. Unfortunately, approximately 5–10% of fractures will show delayed healing.Therefore, treatment modalities that potentially augment and accelerate the healing process may help decrease the rate of these complications seen in the orthopedic population. In particular, accelerated formation of callus may result in decreased complications due to a reduced time period for movement-induced disunions.” (1)
The authors in this study clearly outline the need to find additional means to heal fractured bones quickly so as not to induce further damage to the patient. Near infrared light may be a promising means of speeding up recovery from bone fractures and therefore protecting patients from future fractures.
Find out why the medical community is so excited about the use of near infrared light in the treatment of bone fractures.
Bone Regeneration Occurs With the Use of Infrared Light: What Does the Research Teach Us About Healing Broken Bones with Infrared Light?
- Bone Regeneration-Osteogenesis
- Reduction of Swelling
- Lessened Experience of Pain
Broken bones and bone fractures remain a challenge for the medical field. Novel research into the use of near infrared light (NIR) has demonstrated that non-invasive phototherapy using this light frequency can in fact cause osteogenesis to occur!
What is osteogenesis? It is simply the creation of new bone cells, which is a core ingredient in the healing of any bone fracture. This information may herald a new era for the field of medicine and regenerative medicine when it comes to treating broken bones and fractures. The power of specific light frequencies to elicit cellular regeneration is truly staggering.
What’s more, this research was published by one of the world’s most reputable scientific Journals: Nature. There is nothing ‘woo-woo’ about the rigorous work that goes into a study that is published by Nature, but rather to the contrary this is hard science that clearly demonstrates that it is possible through the power of light alone to heal bones.
In November of 2022 Nature published this paper entitled ‘Low intensity near-infrared light promotes bone regeneration via circadian clock protein cryptochrome 1’ (2).
So, if you are lying in bed right now with a broken ankle, then rest assured there is light at the end of the tunnel. The authors of this research describe the type of light that they used to produce the results on bone regeneration when they write this.
“Low intensity 810 nm NIR light showed not only deep tissue penetration, but also favorable effects on pain relief and bone healing, which was recognized as an appropriate wavelength for treatment of bone defects.” (2)
The scientist used a light frequency that was measured at 810 nm, which lies just on the other side of the visible color of red. This means that this wavelength is invisible to the human eye, but is experienced tactilely as heat. The advantages of using this technique to heal bones is well described by the researchers here.
“Phototherapy has the advantages of less trauma, high biocompatibility and fast response speed compared with traditional therapeutic strategies.” (1)
The exact mechanism behind why near infrared light can induce osteogenesis still remains elusive. After extensive research it appears that there is a correlation between Cytochrom-1 (CRY1) being muffled by infrared light to induce bone cell regeneration.
CRY1 is cytochrome that is sensitive to blue light frequency, which moves at a much faster pace then near infrared light. CRY1 plays a strong role in the circadian rhythm of cells, but why dimming this response mechanism favorably promotes the healing of bones is still largely unknown even though the results are undeniable.
From the reputable journal Science Direct whose publication entitled ‘Cryptochrome 1’ delineates clearly the role of CRY1 at the molecular level.
“Cryptochrome-1 (CRY1) is a blue-light responsive flavoprotein photopigment and a core component of the molecular circadian clock machinery…CRY1 is a core component of the molecular clock.” (3)
If CRY1 is awoken into action by blue light, is it possible that it is silenced by near infrared light so that specific healing processes, such as osteogenesis can occur? Blue light is associated with daytime activity and the projection of energy outward, while infrared light is most powerful at dawn and in the late evening. The cancelling out of CRY1 by near infrared light does something strong enough to reallocate the cells energy toward healing. The paper published by Nature explored earlier describes the direct relationship between a lower CRY1 expression with exposure to near infrared light, and an increase in bone regeneration here.
“The effect of 810 nm NIR light on osteogenic differentiation was related to the ubiquitination degradation of CRY1.” (2)
The authors go on to state that the exact nature of why near infrared light so positively affects bone regeneration is unclear.
“The underlying mechanism of how NIR light promotes bone regeneration remains to be explored.” (2)
In concluding remarks from Nature’s paper the authors write this.
“Bone regeneration remains a great clinical challenge. Low intensity near-infrared (NIR) light showed strong potential to promote tissue regeneration, offering a promising strategy for bone defect regeneration.” (2)
While the full intricacies of how exposure to near infrared light causes bone cell regeneration may have something to do with CRY 1 there is another aspect yet to be explored: Photobiomodulation (near infrared & red light phototherapy). Photobiomodulation has the effect of upregulating ATP production which also appears to aid in the healing of fractured bones.
Increase ATP Production to Heal Your Bones With Near Infrared Light: An Exploration Into the Depths of Bone Fracture Recovery
- Increase ATP Production
- Improve Mitochondrial Metabolism
If you are currently seeking as much aid as possible to help rejuvenate your broken bone, it may not be important to know exactly why near infrared light so positively affects the health of bones, but for others understanding the ‘why’ may in fact help in hastening the healing. If you would like to skip straight ahead to the ‘how’ move on to the next section below! For those looking for more answers to question ‘why’ continue to read on to yet another study that reveals the pivotal role that near infrared light plays in the hastening of the healing process from bone fractures.
A publication from the National Library of Medicine entitled ‘Effect of near-infrared light on in vitro cellular ATP production of osteoblasts and fibroblasts and on fracture healing with intramedullary fixation’ (1) demonstrates why near infrared light may be able to positively alter and heal bone fractures. The authors write this about their goal in unleashing the power of near infrared light to heal bone fractures.
“NIR is one potential treatment option for complications of fracture healing, which has shown to stimulate cellular proliferation and to enhance the healing process.” (1)
Unlike the previous study from Nature, scientists in this current study used light ranging from 660 nm-830 nm, which means that they used a combination of the visible color red light and near infrared light. This combination of light frequencies when used in phototherapy is called photobiomodulation. (1)
Photobiomodulation is the application of both seen red light and near infrared light onto portions of the body, or the entire body. The membrane that surrounds the mitochondria, the energy center, or powerhouse of the cell, is particularly keen in receiving this combination of light frequencies. As the photoreceptors surrounding the mitochondria infuse this energy center with light energy the mitochondria works quickly to increase ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) production. ATP is the primary energy carrier for all living cells. ATP is a molecule currency of energy. So, by improving ATP production your body becomes very wealthy in energy currency.
It is hypothesized that by upregulating ATP production that the newly found resource of energy can be put toward the healing of the injured bone.
“A plausible hypothesis suggests that this immediate increase in ATP production may be related to long-term cellular proliferation via an ATP signaling pathway that mediates cell growth through effects on the cell cycle.” (1)
The authors of this paper describe the cascade of biochemical results from exposure to near infrared light when they write this.
“The potential of NIR therapy for application in fracture healing is evidenced by data showing increased mitochondrial ATP production, increased local lymphatic circulation, increased osteoblast activity and proliferation,upregulation of pro-osteoblast gene expression, and increased nitric oxide (NO) in presence of NIR” (1)
This is a huge bill to fill for a naturally occurring light frequency, and yet it is evidenced by both of these studies examined in this article that near infrared light does speed up the process of recovery from a broken bone. Furthermore, all of this is done without intrusive interference.
It is actually quite easy to access either near infrared light, or a combination of near infrared light with red light without any invasive surgery or pharmacological interference. So, whether bones and bone fractures heal at a faster rate because of improved ATP production in the mitochondria, or because of osteogenes, the reality is that bones do heal at markedly increased rates when exposed to near infrared light, and this fact remains unequivocal.
Find out how you can use near infrared light at home to heal your bones and integrate this process to what you are already doing with your orthopedic doctor.
Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna, Near Infrared Light Device, or Red & Near Infrared Light Therapy
If you have recently broken a bone it is unlikely that getting into a sauna will be accessible for you. The humidity from the perspiration may interfere with the cast and it is best to work specifically with infrared light in the early stages of a bone fracture.
If you are looking to use near infrared light as a portion of your treatment plan to recover from a broken bone then you will not need anything fancy!
If you already have an infrared sauna set up at home you can easily convert it into a fracture healing center.
Here is how you will do this:
- You will want to disconnect the far infrared heaters in the ceiling to avoid excessive heat, and therefore moisture from sweating
- Ensure that your near infrared heaters are connected
- Turn on your red light on the ceiling
- Set the temperature to as low as possible
- Sit in your sauna 3 times per day for 20 minutes
- Set the timer
- Have help close by so that you can safely enter and exit the sauna
Due to the way that infrared light travels through and into the body it is not necessary to shine the light directly on your fracture. According to infrared light expert Dr. Glen Jeffrey, Neuroscientist from the University College of London, infrared light travels as waves until it penetrates into the soft tissues of the body at which point the light energy turns into particles and disperses throughout the body. (4)
This means that you do not need to direct the infrared light directly onto the fracture point. You can if you would like, because once infrared light scatters as particles it will affect the entire body to stimulate ATP production within each and every cell of the body.
If you do not have a full spectrum infrared sauna you can still benefit from near infrared light and improve the healing process from a fractured bone by using a near infrared light bulb or a ‘red light’ therapy device. It is critical that your device, or lamp includes near infrared light. If some warm heat is present you know that you have hit the correct range of nanometers.
If possible, particularly in the early stages of healing try to expose yourself to infrared light for 20 minutes three times a day. If you are able to get outside during sunrise or sunset you will be able to receive near infrared light in this way as well.
Exposure to near infrared light will undoubtedly improve the rate at which your bone fracture heals. The data and research is very clear about this, however it is not a substitute for orthopedic care. Do not substitute your medical treatment with near infrared light, but rather use the light to enhance what you are already doing with your orthopedic doctor.
If you are uncertain about using infrared light in the treatment of your bone fracture, please consult with your medical care professional.
Sources Cited:
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41368-022-00207-y
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/cryptochrome-1
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5106470/
- https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-physchem-082423-032529