The role of near-infrared light-emitting diodes in aging adults related to inflammation | Healthy Aging Research

Traumatic and non-traumatic injuries are common complications in the aging adult. Inflammation is related to aging in older individuals and may lead to an increased risk of mortality, reduced muscle strength, and decreased mobility. Unresolved inflammation could be related to the origin of many chronic diseases associated with aging such as autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases or tumors. With any injury to the body there is initially a process of inflammation and wound healing that in large number of cases are related with pain that increases in the following days. On the other hand, chronic inflammation in high percentage of cases are related to chronic pain, very common symptoms in aging. Chronic inflammation is associated with normal and pathological aging. Surgery, orthopedic fixation, pharmaceutical therapies and physiotherapy can be used to the treatment of the pathologies and injured area. Here we review the use of gallium arsenide (GaAs)-based near-infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a coadjutant therapy to control inflammation and wound healing. GaAs-based near-infrared LED therapy can be used alongside surgery, orthopedic fixation and pharmaceutical treatments. Studies have shown it to be an effective therapy for the treatment of inflammation and to speed wound healing. This review of clinical observations highlights the capability of GaAs-based LEDs to accelerate wound healing and avoid inflammation.