Top Benefits of Photobiomodulation Therapy for Chronic Pain Relief

clinician applying laser to knee
High-Intensity Laser Therapy
July 31, 2025

Chronic pain is one of the most common—and most frustrating—conditions patients face. Whether it’s joint pain or muscle soreness, living with persistent pain can severely impact your patients’ quality of life.

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) offers a safe, non-invasive, and drug-free way to help treat chronic pain at its source. This treatment works at the cellular level to help reduce pain, improve circulation, and accelerate recovery—all without the side effects of pain medications.

 

Here’s What You Really Need to Know

Photobiomodulation therapy helps relieve chronic pain by improving blood flow, stimulating the body’s natural repair processes, and impacting pain signaling pathways through the use of targeted light therapy. It offers a safe, non-invasive alternative to pain medications and is a research-supported option for pain associated with conditions like arthritis, back pain, and tendonitis.1-3

 

How Photobiomodulation Therapy Targets Pain

PBMT uses therapeutic doses of light to penetrate deep into muscles, joints, and other tissues. This light energy triggers biological changes resulting in:

  • Increased ATP production for cellular energy
  • Effects on the inflammatory cascade
  • Nitric oxide release
  • Endorphin and serotonin release
  • Neural inhibition

This process doesn’t just reduce the sensation of pain—it promotes recovery and can lead to long-term pain relief.

 

Key Benefits of PBMT for Chronic Pain Patients

1. Drug-Free Relief

No opioids and no prescriptions. In some cases, PBMT  may be used as an alternative to medication.

2. Non-Invasive & Comfortable

Treatment is non-invasive and pain-free. Most patients describe a warm, soothing sensation during therapy.

3. Helps Restore Mobility

By relieving pain, PBMT can help restore range of motion and daily function.

4. No Downtime

Patients can return to their regular activities after each session.

 

Common Chronic Pain Conditions Treated with PBMT

  • Arthritis1
  • Back pain2
  • Neck and shoulder pain4
  • Tendonitis3
  • Plantar fasciitis5
  • TMJ (jaw pain)6

Many of these conditions show significant improvement within just a few sessions.

 

Clinician Success Story

“The medical staff has made this therapy device ‘one of our go-to’ tools when treating sprains, strains, and other muscular skeletal conditions. The ease of application makes the whole treatment very efficient. I am confident in saying that the LiteCure laser helped us get our players back on the court faster. It also helped us keep injured players in action through some painful conditions.“


— Ed Lacerte, M.Ed., PT, SCS, L/ATC, CSCS
Former Head Athletic Trainer for the Boston Celtics & Current Administrator of Player Health & Medical Services for USA Basketball
 

Photobiomodulation Therapy for Chronic Pain Relief

 

PBMT vs Traditional Pain Management

Treatment Long-Term Relief Non-Invasive  
PBMT Sometimes Yes  
Pain Medications Temporary Yes  
Injections Short-lived No  
Surgery Sometimes No  

 

Why Choose LightForce® for Pain Management?

LightForce® lasers are trusted by thousands of providers across the country—from physical therapy clinics to professional sports teams. Our proprietary technology ensures:

  • Precision dosing
  • Custom treatment protocols
  • Consistent, clinically backed results7

Explore more about our photobiomodulation therapy for pain and why other healthcare providers trust LightForce to deliver results.

Sources:

  1. Song HJ, Seo HJ, Kim D. Effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy in the management of patients with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2020;33(6):875-884. doi: 10.3233/BMR-191738. PMID: 32831189. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32831189/
  2. Alayat MS, Atya AM, Ali MM, Shosha TM. Long-term effect of high-intensity laser therapy in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized blinded placebo-controlled trial. Lasers Med Sci. 2014 May;29(3):1065-73. doi: 10.1007/s10103-013-1472-5. Epub 2013 Nov 2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24178907/
  3. Roberts DB, Kruse RJ, Stoll SF. The effectiveness of therapeutic class IV (10 W) laser treatment for epicondylitis. Lasers Surg Med. 2013 Jul;45(5):311-7. doi: 10.1002/lsm.22140. Epub 2013 Jun 3. PMID: 23733499. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23733499/
  4. Chow RT, Johnson MI, Lopes-Martins RA, Bjordal JM. Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the management of neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo or active-treatment controlled trials. Lancet. 2009 Dec 5;374(9705):1897-908. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61522-1. Epub 2009 Nov 13. Erratum in: Lancet. 2010 Mar 13;375(9718):894. PMID: 19913903.
  5. Ordahan B, Karahan AY, Kaydok E. The effect of high-intensity versus low-level laser therapy in the management of plantar fasciitis: a randomized clinical trial. Lasers in Medical Science. 2018;33(6):1363-1369. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-018-2497-6
  6. Abbasgholizadeh ZS, Evren B, Ozkan Y. Evaluation of the efficacy of different treatment modalities for painful temporomandibular disorders. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020 May;49(5):628-635. doi: 10.1016/j.ijom.2019.08.010. Epub 2019 Sep 21. PMID: 31547949.
  7. Enovis (2023). Post-Market Clinical Follow-Up Retrospective Study Report: LightForce® Therapy Lasers. Internal Enovis report. Unpublished.

 

Related Blog: Photobiomodulation for Sports Injuries: Faster Recovery, Less Pain

 

End Chronic Pain at the Source

If you’re ready to help patients take control of their chronic pain, photobiomodulation therapy from LightForce® is your next step.


 Schedule a demonstration with your local territory manager today.

 


 

Tags:
HILT PBMT Chronic Pain