Anodyne Infrared Treatment

The Anodyne Therapy system is a procedure that claims to treat chronic poor circulation, muscle pain and stiffness, diabetic neuropathy and arthritis. The treatment involves using low-level light therapy to relieve these symptoms.

Therapy

• Anodyne Therapy founders claim that its light therapy improves circulation and relieves painful symptoms by stimulating the release of nitric oxide in the bloodstream. The light penetrates 3 to 5 cm deep into body tissue, reacting with hemoglobin and freeing nitric oxide. Nitric oxide causes dilation of nearby blood vessels and increases circulation, potentially bringing pain relief to affected areas.

Equipment

• The machine that administers the infrared light therapy consists of pads applied to affected areas. Monochromatic infrared energy is emitted from 60 powerful conductors in each therapy pad. These bulbs do not burn the skin, and the light is invisible.

Access

• The Anodyne Therapy treatment can be administered at a hospital or outpatient clinic. Also, many homecare services offer this therapy for their patients who cannot leave their homes.

Frequency

• The average patient receives light therapy three times per week for four weeks. Each session lasts approximately 30 minutes. For severe symptoms, Anodyne Therapy treatment is performed up to three times every day.

Precautions

• Anodyne Therapy treatment should not be used near cancerous growths or a pregnant woman's abdomen. Also, complications can arise if the light therapy is combined with heating or cooling agents.

Efficacy

• Several studies have cast doubt on the effectiveness and legitimacy of Anodyne infrared treatment. While a few experiments have shown minor positive results of this therapy, more substantial and credible evidence is necessary to prove its effectiveness. Most objective researchers have concluded that infrared therapy has no significant effect on muscle pain, stiffness, diabetic neuropathy and arthritis.

Other Infrared Treatment

• While the Anodyne Therapy system lacks empirical support, infrared light therapy still plays an important role in other medical situations. For instance, physical therapists use infrared light as a form of heat therapy with great success. Also, patients suffering from internal hemorrhoids may find relief from infrared coagulation therapy.