If you’ve spent years running, lifting, cycling, playing footy or training hard week after week, you may already sense it:
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Knees that feel stiff first thing in the morning
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Hips that don’t move as freely as they used to
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Ankles that swell or ache after sessions that once felt easy
Many lifelong athletes say the same thing:
“I’m still strong and fit — but my joints feel like they’re ageing faster than the rest of me.”
That feeling isn’t imagined. It’s often the earliest sign of sports-related joint degeneration, long before X-rays or scans show “arthritis”.
This is where red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, is gaining attention — not as a quick fix, but as a tool for early joint protection.
Why Joint Degeneration Starts Earlier in Athletes
Joint degeneration isn’t just about getting older. For athletes, it’s about cumulative load.
Over years or decades, joints are exposed to:
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Repetitive impact (running, jumping, cutting)
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Heavy compressive forces (squats, lunges, tackles)
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Micro-trauma from previous injuries
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Low-grade inflammation that never fully resolves
Cartilage has very limited blood supply, so once breakdown starts, repair is slow.
The important point many people miss is this:
By the time pain becomes persistent, cartilage changes are often already underway.
That’s why early intervention matters.
What Is Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)?
Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to influence cellular activity.
Rather than heating tissue, photobiomodulation works at a biological level, where it can:
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Stimulate mitochondrial function
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Increase ATP (cellular energy) production
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Improve micro-circulation
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Reduce inflammatory signalling
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Support tissue repair processes
In plain language:
It helps joint cells work more efficiently under load.
What the Research Shows About Cartilage & Joints
A key peer-reviewed study published in 2021 and indexed on PubMed (PMID: 33497593) examined the effects of photobiomodulation on joint tissues and inflammatory processes.
The findings showed that low-level laser and red/near-infrared light therapy can:
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Modulate inflammatory mediators involved in cartilage breakdown
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Support chondrocyte (cartilage cell) metabolism
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Improve tissue healing responses without suppressing normal adaptation
More recent literature in Lasers in Medical Science and Photomedicine and Laser Surgery continues to support the idea that early photobiomodulation may help slow degenerative processes, particularly when combined with sensible training and recovery.
This is why red light therapy is increasingly discussed not just for pain relief, but for joint preservation.
Why “Early” Photobiomodulation Makes a Difference
It’s understandable to be sceptical.
You might be thinking:
“If my joints are already under pressure, can light really help?”
That concern is fair.
What many athletes have felt, and later found, is that photobiomodulation works best when used:
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Before severe cartilage loss
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Consistently, not just during flare-ups
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As a support tool alongside strength and load management
Rather than masking pain, early red light therapy aims to:
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Reduce chronic inflammation
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Improve joint tissue resilience
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Support recovery between sessions
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Slow the accumulation of micro-damage
How Red Light Therapy Supports Key Athletic Joints
Knees
Knees absorb huge forces with running, squatting and jumping.
Photobiomodulation may help by:
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Reducing synovial inflammation
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Supporting cartilage metabolism
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Improving recovery of surrounding muscles and tendons
Hips
Hip degeneration often develops quietly.
Red light therapy can:
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Improve deep joint circulation
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Support soft-tissue balance
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Reduce compensatory movement patterns that overload the joint
Ankles
Ankles are prone to repeated sprains and instability.
Laser therapy may:
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Support ligament and tendon healing
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Reduce lingering inflammation
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Improve tissue quality over time
Red Light Therapy Is Not a Replacement — It’s a Multiplier
It’s important to be clear.
Red light therapy does not replace:
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Strength training
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Mobility work
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Technique refinement
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Load management
What it does is support the biology behind those efforts.
Think of it as helping your joints keep up with the training you still love doing.
At-Home Red Light Therapy for Lifelong Athletes
Until recently, photobiomodulation was mainly available in clinics.
Now, modern pulsed low-level laser devices allow athletes to support joint health consistently at home.
One example is the
👉 Pulsed Low-Level Laser Therapy device from Pulse Laser Relief
These devices are designed to:
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Deliver clinically relevant wavelengths
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Use pulsed technology for deeper tissue penetration
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Be non-invasive and drug-free
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Fit easily into post-training or recovery routines
For athletes, that means:
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Supporting joints between sessions
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Reducing reliance on regular anti-inflammatory medication
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Taking a proactive approach to joint longevity
Is Red Light Therapy Safe for Long-Term Use?
When used correctly, photobiomodulation has a strong safety profile.
Research consistently shows:
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No tissue damage
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No systemic side effects
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No interference with training adaptations
This makes it suitable for long-term, preventative use, which is exactly what joint preservation requires.
Train Today, Move Well Tomorrow
If you plan to stay active for decades — not just seasons — joint health deserves early attention.
Red light therapy offers:
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A science-supported, non-drug approach
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A way to intervene before degeneration accelerates
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A practical tool for lifelong athletes who want to keep moving
It won’t stop ageing — but it may help ensure your joints age more gracefully.
References:
Martins LPO, Santos FFD, Costa TED, Lacerda ACR, Santos JMD, Costa KB, Santos AP, Gaiad TP, Pinfildi CE, Rocha-Vieira E, Mendonça VA, Xavier Oliveira M. Photobiomodulation Therapy (Light-Emitting Diode 630 nm) Favored the Oxidative Stress and the Preservation of Articular Cartilage in an Induced Knee Osteoarthritis Model. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2021 Apr;39(4):272-279. doi: 10.1089/photob.2020.4926. Epub 2021 Jan 27. PMID: 33497593.
