Red Light Therapy for Neuropathy: Feet, Hands and Chemotherapy
Red light therapy for neuropathy has its most encouraging results in chemotherapy-related nerve damage, where a sham-controlled trial and a meta-analysis found lower neuropathy scores and less pain. For diabetic neuropathy in the feet, laser studies report less pain, and the clearest gains are in pain rather than in lost feeling. Below: both types side by side, the settings trials used, how soon change showed, why numb feet need extra care with warmth, and how to set up a panel.
Key takeaways
- In a 2017 sham-controlled trial of 70 people with chemotherapy-related neuropathy, the neuropathy score fell by 52.6% at 8 weeks with light, while the sham group stayed level. Argenta, 2017
- In a 2025 meta-analysis of chemotherapy-related neuropathy, pain was 1.36 points lower on a 10-point scale with light than with control. Haria, 2025
- A 2023 review of 8 studies in type 2 diabetes found that light therapy improved neuropathic pain and nerve conduction velocity. Korada, 2023
- A 2025 review of 23 diabetic neuropathy studies found the most consistent effects at 630 to 670 nm and 808 to 904 nm. de Souza, 2025
- Numb feet may not sense heat, and the US National Institutes of Health warns "you may burn your feet and not know you did". NIDDK
Does red light therapy help neuropathy?
Research suggests it can ease symptoms, and the evidence is stronger for chemotherapy-related neuropathy than for diabetic neuropathy. Most trials used clinic lasers, given alongside usual medical care.
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Nearly 1 in 10 people in the UK aged 55 or over are affected, and diabetes is the most common UK cause. NHS
A 2024 review counted 18 human studies in diabetic neuropathy. Across all the diabetes studies it covered, animal ones included, about 80% used lasers and 82% used light between 600 and 900 nm. Perrier, 2024 The two main types of neuropathy have different evidence:
| Question | Chemotherapy-related neuropathy | Diabetic neuropathy |
|---|---|---|
| Best controlled result | 70-person sham-controlled trial: neuropathy score down 52.6% at 8 weeks | 60-person sham-controlled laser trial: less pain at 2 and 4 weeks |
| Reviews | Meta-analysis: pain 1.36 points lower out of 10; rated "moderate benefit" in a 2018 review | 8 studies (2023): less pain; 23 studies (2025): a "promising" add-on |
| Light used | Clinic lasers; 808 and 905 nm in recent trials | Lasers at 630 to 670 nm and 808 to 904 nm; infrared pads in older trials |
| Standard first-line care | Duloxetine is the only recommended medicine | Amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin or pregabalin |
Does red light therapy help chemotherapy-induced neuropathy?
This is where the human evidence is strongest. A sham-controlled trial, a meta-analysis and a cancer centre review all point towards less pain and lower neuropathy scores.
The key trial was a double-blind, sham-controlled study of 70 people, with 30-minute sessions 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Argenta, 2017 Change in the modified Total Neuropathy Score:
- 4 weeks: down 32.4% with light, against 0.7% with sham.
- 8 weeks: down 52.6% with light, against no change with sham.
- 16 weeks: still down 38.8% with light, 10 weeks after sessions ended.
- Physiotherapy: adding it gave no extra benefit.
A 2025 meta-analysis pooled 6 trials with 273 patients. Light lowered neuropathy scores and pain, and the authors called it a "promising adjuvant treatment". Haria, 2025
A 2018 review by MD Anderson authors graded 26 treatment options for this neuropathy. It rated low level laser therapy as "of moderate benefit", the same grade it gave duloxetine. Hou, 2018
The 2026 NEUROLIGHT study compared two doses in 60 patients, without a sham group. Claes, 2026 It used 808 and 905 nm laser at 6 or 8 J/cm², twice a week for 3 weeks. The neuropathy score fell from 10.50 to 7.50 in the higher-dose group. Six-minute walk scores rose by 13.1 and 17.6 percentage points at 1 year. No side effects were reported.
Can you use red light during chemotherapy to prevent neuropathy?
Only as part of your oncology team's plan, in a hospital setting. One 32-person pilot gave light twice a week during taxane chemotherapy, and its authors called the results promising.
In that pilot, quality of life was higher with light. Sensory symptoms worsened with placebo and stayed level with light. Lodewijckx, 2022 The 2020 ASCO guideline found no agent proven to prevent this neuropathy. ASCO Post, 2020
So do not add home sessions during chemotherapy on your own. Ask the team whether any current medicine makes skin sensitive to light, and never shine light over a known or suspected tumour.
Does red light therapy help diabetic neuropathy in the feet?
Laser studies point to less pain in diabetic feet, and the evidence for restoring feeling is weaker. The encouraging trials used clinic lasers on top of standard diabetes care.
A 2023 review of 8 studies in type 2 diabetes found improved neuropathic pain and nerve conduction velocity, and lower pressure under the sole. Korada, 2023 It included some studies without randomisation.
- Sham-controlled, 60 people: laser at 2.5 J/cm² for 5 minutes, twice a week for 4 weeks, lowered pain and neuropathy scores more than sham at 2 and 4 weeks. Acta Med Iran, 2013
- Randomised, 55 people: 808 and 905 nm laser at 6 J/cm², 3 times a week for 4 weeks, improved quality-of-life scores more than control. Everyone stayed on standard care. Almasi, 2025
- Brazil, 2024: a trial reported that adding infrared light to physiotherapy eased pain and improved sleep more than physiotherapy alone. FAPESP, 2024
Infrared pads gave a different result. Two double-blind trials found no difference from sham in feeling. One used 30 minutes, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. Clifft, 2005 The other used 40 minutes daily at home for 90 days. Lavery, 2008 For home use, longer and more often was not better.
A sham-controlled home trial of a 660 and 850 nm LED boot, 6 minutes a day for 60 days, is now under way. Lourenço, 2025
Can red light therapy bring back feeling in numb feet?
The research supports easing symptoms more than restoring lost feeling. In one trial, feet with milder loss of sensation improved, while the most impaired feet did not.
That 2004 trial treated 27 people with diabetes, each leg randomised to near-infrared or sham. Leonard, 2004
- Milder loss, 18 people: spots without feeling fell after 6 and 12 treatments.
- Balance: substantial balance problems fell from 90% to 17% of people in the trial.
- Most impaired, 9 people: the changes were not significant.
A 2026 pilot of 26 people used 660 nm red laser on both feet for 12 sessions. Reported numbness fell from 62% to 27% of people across all groups, sham included. Feeling for the monofilament test did not return in that time. Santos, 2026
The nerve regrowth idea comes from a review of 26 animal studies, which found that red and near-infrared light sped up nerve regeneration after injury in most of them. Rosso, 2018 That is a promising mechanism, not a result in people. Any new numbness needs a doctor, because causes such as vitamin B12 deficiency need treatment.
Does red light therapy help neuropathy in the hands?
In chemotherapy-related neuropathy the hands are often affected too, and the NEUROLIGHT study treated hands and feet in the same sessions. Carpal tunnel syndrome, a trapped nerve at the wrist, is a separate problem.
NEUROLIGHT lit both hands and both feet with a broad 150 cm² spot. Claes, 2026 MD Anderson's clinic also treats hands or feet, usually for about 60 seconds per site. MD Anderson, 2026 Carpal tunnel trials are covered in our hands and feet guide.
What wavelengths, doses and schedules did neuropathy trials use?
Mostly red at 630 to 670 nm or near-infrared at 808 to 905 nm, at a few joules per square centimetre, 2 or 3 times a week for 3 to 6 weeks. A 2025 review found the most consistent effects with 3 to 10 J/cm² over at least 12 sessions.
| Study | Who | Light | Dose or time | Schedule | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argenta 2017 | Chemotherapy, 70, sham | Clinic device | 30 minutes | 3 a week, 6 weeks | Score down 52.6% at 8 weeks |
| NEUROLIGHT 2026 | Chemotherapy, 60, two doses | 808 + 905 nm laser | 6 or 8 J/cm² | 2 a week, 3 weeks | Score and walking improved |
| Acta Med Iran 2013 | Diabetes, 60, sham | Laser | 2.5 J/cm², 5 minutes | 2 a week, 4 weeks | Less pain than sham |
| Almasi 2025 | Diabetes, 55 | 808 + 905 nm laser | 6 J/cm² | 3 a week, 4 weeks | Better quality of life |
| Santos 2026 | Diabetes, 26, sham | 660 nm laser | Points on both feet | 12 sessions, 48 hours apart | Symptoms eased in all groups |
| de Souza 2025 review | Diabetes, 23 studies | 630 to 670 or 808 to 904 nm | 3 to 10 J/cm² | At least 12 sessions | Most consistent range |
Across all the studies in that 2024 review, doses ranged from 0.03 to 420 J/cm². Perrier, 2024 Our comparison of 660 nm and 850 nm light explains how deep each band reaches.
How many sessions before you notice a change?
Trials gave 6 to 18 sessions over 3 to 6 weeks. In the 2017 chemotherapy trial, scores had already dropped by week 4.
Leonard 2004 saw change after 6 and again after 12 treatments. In Argenta 2017 the effect was still present at 16 weeks.
At home, keep a short log: pain from 0 to 10, numbness, tingling, night symptoms and balance. Judge the trend at 3 to 6 weeks, not day to day. Keep your regular foot checks with a podiatrist, which the NHS advises for people with diabetes. NHS
Is red light safe on numb feet, and can it burn?
It needs extra care, because numb feet cannot warn you about heat. MD Anderson notes redness or burning if light is too intense or too close for too long MD Anderson, 2026, so distance and a skin check matter more than usual.
The CDC says nerve damage can take away the "ability to feel heat or cold very well". CDC The NIDDK advises against hot water bottles and heating pads on the feet. It gives 90 to 95°F, about 32 to 35°C, as safe water for washing. NIDDK In one report, two men with diabetic neuropathy got deep foot burns from hot water bottles, and one needed a skin graft. BJGP, 2005
The Kivorla panel's surface stays at 40°C or less. That is warmer than the NIDDK's safe water range, so these steps follow:
- Keep the gap: never rest your feet on the panel, and start at 12 inches.
- Look, do not feel: check the skin by eye, with a mirror or a helper, before and after each session.
- Test with a good hand: use a hand with normal feeling to judge the warmth near your feet.
- Stay awake: set the timer every time.
- Stop: see your foot team about redness that lasts, a blister or any new mark.
Do not use the panel over broken skin or an open wound, and a diabetic foot ulcer counts. Our safety guide covers burns and medicines. See a GP for pain, tingling or loss of feeling in your feet, or a foot wound that is not healing. NHS
Can you use red light with gabapentin, pregabalin or duloxetine?
Keep taking your prescribed medicine, because the trials gave light on top of usual care, not instead of it. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether any of your medicines make skin sensitive to light.
NICE lists amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin or pregabalin as the first-line choice for neuropathic pain. NICE CG173 For chemotherapy-related neuropathy, ASCO names duloxetine as the only recommended treatment. ASCO Post, 2020 Mayo Clinic adds physical therapy and daily foot care: "Check daily for blisters, cuts or calluses." Mayo Clinic
How do you set up a Kivorla panel for feet and hands?
Use the panel with your soles facing it at 12 inches, and bring the dose down towards the trial range. Ask your doctor, diabetes team or oncology team before you start.
The 9-Spectrum Red Light Therapy Panel carries 480, 590, 630, 660, 670, 810, 830, 850 and 1060 nm, each dimmable from 1 to 100%. Its 630, 660 and 670 nm red and 810, 830 and 850 nm near-infrared channels sit inside the two bands from the 2025 review. At 6 inches it puts out at least 1,567 W/m², with near-infrared at least 1,200 W/m².
- Position: stand it upright on the floor and sit with your soles facing it, or hang it low on a door or wall with the included door hook, pulley, hanging cables and screws.
- Channels: lead with the red and near-infrared channels, and turn 480 nm down as far as it goes.
- Distance: 12 inches, our suggested distance for broad areas, covers both soles at once.
- Hands: palms first, then the backs.
- Eyes: wear the included goggles.
Our general guide is 10 to 15 minutes per area. The neuropathy trials used a few J/cm² per spot, and a panel at full output reaches that quickly. Three controls bring a session towards the studied range:
- Shorter timer: it starts at 1 minute, and the panel stops at 5 minutes if no time is set.
- Dimmer channels: turn red and near-infrared down from 100%.
- More distance: stay back at 12 inches rather than 6.
Use 2 or 3 sessions a week and keep the same settings for 3 to 6 weeks, so you can judge the change. Leave at least 6 hours between 30-minute sessions. Our guide to how much red light therapy is too much explains the dose maths. A controller is included.
Standard shipping to the US, UK and Germany is free. Read the precautions before ordering: do not use the panel if you are pregnant, have epilepsy, a thyroid condition or take thyroid medication, take photosensitising medication, or have Fitzpatrick skin type V or VI. Under our return and refund policy, returns are accepted within 30 days: an unopened device with its seals intact is refunded less a 10% restocking fee, and an opened device that is undamaged and complete is refunded less 20%.
Kivorla devices are general wellness devices, not medical devices, and are not intended to treat neuropathy. See your doctor or podiatrist about numbness, tingling or a foot wound, and ask your oncology team before using light during or after chemotherapy.