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Print | Email | Comments (6)

Infrared Light Therapy Is No Better Than a Placebo for Treating Neuropathy

Patrick Totty
5 March 2008
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Texas researchers says that an infrared light therapy that seemed to hold great promise in treating diabetic neuropathy works no better than “sham” (placebo) therapy.


Scientists at Texas A&M University Health and Science Center College of Medicine tested 69 diabetic patients with impaired ability to sense vibrations in their feet. They gave some patients lamps for home use that emitted monochromatic infrared energy (MIRE), and gave others lamps that emitted normal incandescent light.


Patients bathed their feet in the lights for 40 minutes per day for 90 days. Researchers were hoping that MIRE would be found to improve nerve conductivity and even prevent foot ulcers.


At the end of the study, however, they found no appreciable differences between the MIRE and sham groups in terms of quality of life, ability to detect vibration or the speed of impulses along nerves. They noted that where there were improvements in patients’ foot conditions, those that had received sham treatment improved as much or more as their MIRE-equipped counterparts.


Source: Diabetes Care


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Posted by anonymous on 8 March 2008

This is a 'sham' study in that it does not test the near infra red anodyne therapy light that has had such success with practitioners as Dr Joe Prendergast at his large diabetic practice in California.

Posted by anonymous on 8 March 2008

is this the same process as the anodyne machine uses? there were earlier stories in various diabetes outlets about this machine, available at some physical therapy offices, and its helpfulness visavis neuropathy in the feet. sgb

Posted by anonymous on 18 March 2008

not accurate, as it does help diabetic legs--have seen many patients with significant improvement.

Posted by anonymous on 2 April 2008

I have used the home unit for nearly nine months and have gotten a lowering of the pain level to a controllable level. This method has shown to be much more effective than the more than ten prescription medications I have tried in the past nine years. The extra bonus is there are no harmful side effects like so many of the pills.

Posted by anonymous on 1 May 2008

Regardless of what this articles say, for the first time in years my feet are not sore and swollen; keeping me awake at night. I can actually wear shoes now. This was only after a few treatments. It's non-invasive and is not a drug. What could be better?

Posted by anonymous on 1 May 2008

I have had a chance to research this therapy and receive NIR infrared treatments with great success. I had a small diabetic ulcer and severe numbness. The ulcer is now healed, and I am walking better now that I have regained feeling.

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