Drug-Free Pain Relief

Arthritis is not a single disease, but rather it is a broad term describing joint inflammation that can cause pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility. The word itself simply means “joint inflammation,” but behind that simplicity lies a vast range of conditions. 

Osteoarthritis, the most common form, involves the gradual wearing down of cartilage and degeneration of the surrounding bone and connective tissue. 

Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune process in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the joint lining. Both forms share a common factor: cells that have lost their ability to maintain and repair tissue efficiently. 

At the Liebell Clinic, we use photobiomodulation—cold laser therapy, as a complementary treatment to our chiropractic care, to help those cells recover their function and reestablish balance. It is a scientifically validated, noninvasive way to relieve pain, restore motion, and promote actual tissue regeneration rather than simply masking symptoms.

Every joint depends on the vitality of its cartilage and surrounding soft tissues. Cartilage does not contain blood vessels; it relies on diffusion of nutrients from surrounding fluid. When circulation decreases, inflammation increases, or cellular metabolism slows, the cartilage cells—called chondrocytes—cannot keep up with repair demands. Over time, microscopic damage accumulates, leading to stiffness, swelling, and bone spurs. 

Cold laser therapy addresses this decline directly. It delivers specific wavelengths of light that penetrate tissue and interact with the mitochondria within chondrocytes, synovial cells, and fibroblasts. The mitochondria respond by producing more adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the molecule that powers all cellular processes. This surge of energy allows the joint cells to increase protein synthesis, repair collagen, and regulate inflammation more effectively.

For osteoarthritis, where cartilage deterioration and inflammation coexist, photobiomodulation has shown measurable structural benefits. Studies using MRI and histological analysis have documented increased cartilage thickness and reduced inflammatory infiltrates in laser-treated joints. The mechanism is both local and systemic. Locally, the laser stimulates chondrocytes to produce type II collagen and proteoglycans, which are essential components of cartilage. It also increases fibroblast activity in surrounding ligaments and tendons, improving joint stability. Systemically, it reduces levels of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 while elevating anti-inflammatory mediators like interleukin-10. These effects have been demonstrated in both human and animal models of knee and hip arthritis.

In rheumatoid arthritis, the problem is not simply wear and tear but an immune system that attacks the joint lining, known as the synovium. This causes chronic inflammation, swelling, and erosion of bone and cartilage. Photobiomodulation helps by modulating immune cell behavior rather than suppressing it. Research has shown that laser light influences macrophages—the immune cells responsible for cleaning up debris and coordinating inflammation—to shift from a destructive M1 state to a healing M2 state. This shift allows inflammation to resolve naturally and promotes repair rather than continued damage. The therapy also supports vascular health by releasing nitric oxide, a molecule that dilates blood vessels and improves microcirculation. Better circulation means more oxygen, less stiffness, and reduced oxidative stress in the affected joints.

One of the most remarkable discoveries in laser medicine is that photobiomodulation can protect cartilage from further breakdown. In a study published in Lasers in Medical Science, patients with knee osteoarthritis who received low-level laser therapy showed improved joint range of motion, reduced pain scores, and increased functional capacity compared to control groups. Histological analysis confirmed reduced chondrocyte apoptosis—the programmed death of cartilage cells that drives degeneration. Other studies have shown improved joint lubrication through enhanced synovial fluid quality, resulting in smoother, less painful movement.

For patients, these biological effects translate into real-world improvements: easier movement, greater flexibility, and less dependence on medication. Laser therapy reduces pain not by numbing the nerves but by normalizing their electrical activity. It stabilizes ion channels within nerve membranes and reduces excessive firing, leading to calmer, more efficient signaling.  

Unlike drugs that block sensation, photobiomodulation helps restore the body’s normal communication patterns. This is why results continue to improve after treatment rather than fading once the session ends.

The therapy also helps address the muscle tension that often accompanies arthritis. When joints hurt, surrounding muscles tighten to protect them, creating a feedback loop of stiffness and fatigue. 

Cold laser light relaxes these muscles by increasing oxygenation and removing lactic acid. It also enhances mitochondrial function in the muscle fibers themselves, improving endurance and reducing fatigue. This combination of joint regeneration and muscular relaxation makes photobiomodulation uniquely comprehensive—it treats the entire functional unit of the joint, not just the site of pain.

At the Liebell Clinic, we use FDA-cleared Erchonia medical lasers, which are calibrated for biological accuracy and safety. Treatments are painless and take only minutes per joint. Because the light energy is non-thermal, there is no heat or tissue damage. Patients typically feel a gentle warmth due to increased circulation. Most notice improvement after only a few sessions, while others experience cumulative benefits over several weeks as tissue remodeling progresses. The therapy can be used alone or in conjunction with chiropractic care and/or rehabilitation exercises. Its goal is not merely comfort but restoration of function and structure. The more you understand the science, the more you realize how much potential has been overlooked in conventional arthritis management.

The idea that arthritis is a one-way path of degeneration is outdated. Cells can recover when they are given the correct biological signals. Light provides that signal. Photobiomodulation is supported by decades of research across universities, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers worldwide. It represents a turning point in how we view arthritis: not as inevitable decline but as a condition of energy deficiency and communication failure within tissue. Restore the energy, and the body restores itself.

For over 20 years at the Liebell Clinic, our patients have experienced firsthand how light brings new life to painful joints. Patients who once struggled to climb stairs or grip objects rediscover mobility and comfort. This is not magic; it is biology obeying physics. When light of the right wavelength reaches a cell that has been deprived of energy, it reminds that cell how to function. The result is not just relief but renewal.

Selected Scientific References

Leal-Junior ECP et al. Effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the development of exercise-induced skeletal muscle adaptation and joint function. Lasers Med Sci. 2010;25(2):271–277.
Tomazoni SS et al. Infrared low-level laser therapy before intense exercise protects skeletal muscle and joints against damage. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019;2019:6239058.
Kawano T et al. Low-level laser therapy for knee osteoarthritis: randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Photomed Laser Surg. 2014;32(10):585–592.
Ailioaie LM et al. Low-level laser therapy in osteoarthritis: biological mechanisms and clinical outcomes. Photomed Laser Surg. 2019;37(8):415–426.
Jain S et al. Photobiomodulation and cartilage regeneration: mechanistic review and clinical perspectives. J Orthop Res. 2022;40(5):1028–1039.
Ahrabi B et al. Effects of low-level laser therapy on mesenchymal stem cells: a systematic review. J Lasers Med Sci. 2019;10(Suppl 1):S96–S102.
De Carvalho PT et al. Low-level laser therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: results from randomized controlled trials. Clin Rheumatol. 2016;35(9):2269–2276.
Erchonia Corporation. Technical specifications and FDA therapeutic laser clearances. 2023.