Red Light Therapy for Osteoporosis: What the Bone Research Shows
Red light therapy for osteoporosis is a research topic, not a treatment for bone loss: the work so far is mostly lab and animal studies, plus a few small studies of clinic lasers on the skin. Prescribed medicines, calcium, vitamin D, exercise and falls prevention come first, and a light panel fits only as a comfort add-on for joints or a back a doctor has already checked. Below: the studies, their wavelengths, diagnosis and medicines, back pain red flags, and a safe panel set-up for fragile bones.
Key takeaways
- Osteoporosis usually causes no symptoms until a bone breaks, most often at the hip, spine or wrist. NIAMS
- About 1 in 2 women and up to 1 in 4 men over 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. BHOF
- In a 2024 pilot of 8 people with spinal cord injury and osteoporosis, an 830 nm clinic laser on the skin, 3 times a week for 8 weeks, was followed by higher bone density at the hip and forearm. Mohammadzadeh, 2024
- A 2023 systematic review of 40 studies on low-level laser and bone healing found mostly cell and animal work, with effects on bone-forming cells mainly in the first 2 to 4 weeks of healing. Berni, 2023
- For people at higher fracture risk, Mayo Clinic says "diet, exercise and lifestyle changes alone are not an effective treatment." Mayo Clinic
Can red light therapy for osteoporosis rebuild bone?
Not on current evidence: light is not a treatment for bone loss. The closest evidence comes from small studies of clinic lasers in people and from encouraging lab and animal work.
Osteoporosis is "a bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases". NIAMS In the lab, red and near-infrared light act on the cells that build bone. Showing that this protects a whole skeleton in people needs large controlled trials, and that work is at an early stage.
What did studies of light on bone density in people find?
They are few and small, and all used clinic lasers applied to the skin rather than a home panel. Some reported higher bone density at some sites, so the field is early but active.
| Study | Who | Light and where | Schedule | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammadzadeh, 2024 | 8 people with spinal cord injury | 830 nm clinic laser on the forearm, hip, thigh and shin | 3 times a week, 8 weeks | Higher bone density at the hip and forearm |
| Ebid, 2022 | 95 men over 45 with low bone density | 1064 nm high-power clinic laser on the lower back and hip, plus exercise | 3 times a week, 12 weeks | Larger spine and hip gains than exercise alone; no placebo group |
| Abdelaal, 2017 | 60 adults aged 55 to 65 | Low-level laser on the lower back | 30 minutes, 3 times a week, 3 months | Higher bone density reported |
| Chang, 2014 | 50 people with wrist or hand fractures | 830 nm clinic laser over the fracture | 10 minutes, 5 times a week, 2 weeks | Better pain, function and grip than sham |
The 2024 pilot treated one side of the body and used the other side for comparison. Bone density rose at two of four sites: the hip and the forearm. The authors wrote that the laser "demonstrated efficacy in improving BMD at proximal-femur". Mohammadzadeh, 2024 Bone loss after paralysis differs from bone loss after menopause or with age, so this is a starting point for research.
The 2022 trial added a high-power clinic laser to an intensive exercise programme. All groups improved, the laser group more than exercise alone, but there was no placebo group, and that laser is a different kind of device from an LED panel. Ebid, 2022 The 2017 report gives few laser details. Abdelaal, 2017
What does lab and animal research show about red light therapy for bone density?
In cell and animal studies, red and near-infrared light nudged bone-forming cells, blood vessel growth and inflammation signals, mostly early in healing. Rats with their ovaries removed, a standard lab model of bone loss after menopause, formed more new bone with light in several studies.
- Bone cells: in the 2023 review, 810 nm light increased stem cell growth and bone-cell development, and 808 nm raised BMP-2 and osteocalcin, two proteins linked with bone building. Berni, 2023
- Bone loss after menopause, in rats: in 54 female rats with their ovaries removed, a 780 nm laser led to more new bone in skull defects than no light in most comparisons. Scalize, 2015
- Ageing bone, in rats: after 12 weeks of low-level laser, old male rats had higher bone density and stronger thigh bones than untreated old rats. Zhu, 2017
Rats are not people, so these studies explain why researchers are interested rather than what to expect from a home routine.
Which wavelengths does bone research use, red or near-infrared?
Mostly near-infrared: the bone studies above used 780, 808, 830 and 1064 nm lasers, with some red work at about 660 nm. No study has set a best wavelength for osteoporosis, and settings vary widely.
The 2023 review covered wavelengths from 636 to 1064 nm. Berni, 2023 Near-infrared reaches deeper into tissue than red light, which is why bone research leans on it.
Some jaw studies put light inside the mouth in a clinic; Kivorla devices are only used on the outside of the body. Our panel's near-infrared channels are 810, 830, 850 and 1060 nm; trial doses were given at points by clinic lasers, so they do not convert into panel minutes.
Can red light replace alendronate, denosumab or other osteoporosis medicines?
No. Light does not replace any osteoporosis medicine, and you should never stop or change one without your doctor.
The NHS says treatment depends on age, sex, fracture risk and previous breaks, not only the scan, and some people do not need medicine. NHS
- Bisphosphonates (alendronic acid, risedronate, zoledronic acid): they slow bone breakdown and "usually take 6 to 12 months to work", says the NHS.
- Denosumab: an injection every six months. Mayo Clinic notes that stopping it may raise the risk of spinal fractures. Mayo Clinic
- Bone-building medicines: teriparatide and abaloparatide for up to two years; romosozumab monthly for one year.
- Raloxifene and HRT: options for women after menopause that a doctor can discuss.
BHOF says there is no single "silver bullet" remedy and favours a whole-person approach. BHOF
Which habits protect bone after menopause?
Calcium, vitamin D, weight-bearing and strength exercise, not smoking and keeping alcohol low are the foundations official bodies recommend. Red light makes no UV, so it does not make vitamin D.
Women can lose 20% or more of their bone density in the 5 to 7 years after menopause. BHOF
- Calcium: BHOF gives 1,200 mg a day from food and supplements for women from 51 and men from 71. BHOF
- Vitamin D: the NHS advises 10 micrograms a day for all adults; BHOF gives 800 to 1,000 IU from age 50. See red light therapy and vitamin D.
- Weight-bearing exercise: running, skipping, dancing and aerobics load bone; swimming and cycling do not. Add muscle-strengthening on 2 or more days a week. NHS
- Safe technique: the Royal Osteoporosis Society advises avoiding sit-ups and toe touches, bending with a hip hinge, and seeing a physiotherapist first after painful spinal fractures. ROS
For vibration plates, see our guide to the vibration plate with red light therapy: bone density is a goal for the plate and a doctor, not for red light.
How is osteoporosis diagnosed, and how soon would a DEXA scan show a change?
A DEXA scan of the hip and spine measures bone density and gives a T-score, and a score of -2.5 or below means osteoporosis. Bone changes slowly, so repeat scans are often 1 to 2 years after starting or changing medicine.
| T-score | What it means |
|---|---|
| -1.0 or above | Normal bone density |
| Between -1.0 and -2.5 | Low bone mass (osteopenia) |
| -2.5 or below | Osteoporosis |
Source: BHOF. BHOF advises testing for women from 65, men from 70, anyone who broke a bone after 50, and adults over 50 with risk factors. The NHS says the scan is "quick and painless".NHS
For a light routine, track comfort rather than bone density: a few weeks of anything cannot be judged on a scan.
Could back pain with osteoporosis be a spinal fracture?
Yes, and that needs a doctor before any light. Sudden back pain, height loss or a new stoop in someone with osteoporosis can mean a broken bone in the spine.
- Typical signs: sudden sharp pain, often between the shoulder blades, that eases lying down and is worse standing; height can drop by an inch or two. BHOF
- Small triggers: NIAMS says these fractures can follow minor falls, bending, lifting or coughing.
- After a fall: call 999 (911 in the US) if someone may have hurt their head, back, neck or hip, or cannot get up. NHS
Never remove a back brace to use light. After vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty or spinal surgery, ask the surgeon first and use light only over fully closed skin. Once a doctor has assessed the pain, see red light therapy for back pain for a lower back set-up.
Does red light help a broken wrist or hip heal if you have osteoporosis?
The closest evidence comes from fracture trials, where light after cast removal, alongside home exercises, improved pain, grip and function. A break after 50 is also a reason to ask about bone density testing.
In one 2022 trial, 50 people had light after a wrist cast came off, plus home exercises, and had better pain and disability scores than placebo at 8, 12 and 26 weeks; our guide to red light therapy for broken bones covers these trials. Light goes over intact skin only, never through a cast, and never by taking one off. In the UK, ask your GP about a fracture liaison service. After a hip replacement or metal fixation, ask the surgeon first.
How do you set up a light panel safely if your bones are fragile?
Sit down for every session, keep the cord against the wall and get help hanging the panel. The light itself is gentle; with fragile bones, the bigger risk around any device is a fall.
About a third of people over 65 fall each year, and many falls break a bone, "often the hip or wrist". BHOF
- Seat and goggles: use a stable chair with a back. Put the goggles on once seated, eyes closed, and take them off before you stand up slowly.
- Cord: "Coil or tape cords and wires next to the wall." CDC Keep the floor clear and remove loose rugs.
- Hanging: the panel weighs 6.3 kg and measures about 25 x 9 in. Ask someone to fit the door hook and pulley, and never climb on a chair to hang it.
- On the floor: place it where it cannot be knocked over and you will not trip on its base.
- Phone and medicines: keep a phone within reach; if a medicine makes you dizzy, speak to a GP or pharmacist.
Never fall asleep under the panel. For mounting heights, see how to set up a red light panel at home.
How would you use a Kivorla panel for stiff hips, knees or a lower back?
Once a doctor has checked the area, sit about 6 inches from one joint or 12 inches from a broad area such as the lower back, goggles on, for 10 to 15 minutes per area. Treat it as comfort care alongside your treatment plan, not as bone care.
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%. It hangs on a door or wall with the included door hook, pulley, hanging cables and screws, or stands upright on the floor; a floor stand is sold separately by the maker. Goggles and a controller are included.
- Channels: 810, 830, 850 and 1060 nm high; 630, 660 and 670 nm lower; 480 and 590 nm at their lowest; continuous mode.
- Position: lower back, panel at hip height when seated, back to it; hip or knee, side-on, one joint at a time, on bare skin.
- Start gentle: 5 to 10 minutes every other day at lower brightness, then 10 to 15 minutes per area, 3 to 5 times a week for joints and 2 to 3 for the lower back. The timer starts at 1 minute.
- Limits: keep each sitting to 30 minutes or less in total, then wait at least 6 hours. The surface stays at or below 40°C: warm is fine, hot means stop.
- Track: rate pain and stiffness from 0 to 10 before, after and the next morning, and judge after 3 to 4 weeks.
Do not use the panel if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or preparing for pregnancy, have epilepsy or light-triggered seizures, take photosensitising medication, have had sunburn on your body in the past 2 weeks, have Fitzpatrick skin type V or VI, or have broken skin on the area. It is also not for anyone with a thyroid condition or taking thyroid medication. Many people with osteoporosis take several medicines, so check with your pharmacist or doctor first. More set-ups: red light therapy for joint pain.
Read the precautions before ordering. Standard shipping to the US, UK and Germany is free. 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 osteoporosis or bone loss. Keep taking the medicines your doctor prescribes, and see a doctor about sudden back pain, height loss or any fall.