Ligament injuries are surprisingly common and notoriously slow to heal. In fact, sprains and strains are among the most frequent musculoskeletal injuries that sideline people from work, sports, or even basic daily movement.
But what makes ligament recovery so frustrating isn’t just the pain. It’s the waiting that can involve weeks or even months of limited function, repeated physiotherapy sessions, and the constant risk of re-injury if you push too hard, too soon.
And while surgery or rest may be necessary in more severe cases, many are now looking for additional ways to support the body’s natural healing process.
That’s where LED light therapy enters the conversation. Backed by emerging clinical research and already used in sports medicine clinics and rehab centres around the world, red and near-infrared light therapy has shown promise in stimulating tissue repair, including ligaments.
But can it really make a difference in your recovery time?
In this article, we’ll explore how LED light therapy may aid ligament healing, the science behind it, and what you can realistically expect in terms of results with our team at ROJO Light Therapy NZ.
Ligaments are the unsung heroes of your musculoskeletal system. These tough, fibrous bands of connective tissue anchor bones to other bones, helping stabilise your joints and control their range of motion.
Each ligament is made up primarily of collagen fibres arranged in a specific alignment to resist tensile forces, the kind that occur when joints are stretched or twisted.
This structural role makes them incredibly strong, but also relatively inelastic compared to muscles or tendons. And while this rigidity is important for stability, it comes at a cost: poor blood supply.
One of the main reasons ligaments heal so slowly is their inherently low vascularity. Unlike muscles, which are rich in capillaries and receive a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients, ligaments rely on a minimal blood supply to fuel the repair process.
This limits the delivery of key building blocks like oxygen, growth factors, and immune cells that are essential for tissue regeneration.
Studies also note that ligament tissues have limited intrinsic healing capacity, particularly in injuries where the torn ends are separated or where motion continues to stress the joint. Without adequate rest or targeted support, healing can stall or even regress.
In most cases, the initial injury is only part of the problem. Long-term instability, chronic inflammation, and scar tissue formation can all interfere with proper healing.
This is why clinicians often stress a comprehensive rehab plan, one that ideally includes strength training, range-of-motion work, and now, increasingly, adjunctive therapies like LED light therapy.
Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation (PBM), utilises specific wavelengths of light, typically in the red (620–750 nm) and near-infrared (750–1100 nm) spectrum, to stimulate biological processes at the cellular level.
Unlike heat-based treatments, LED light therapy does not cause tissue damage. Instead, it delivers photons deep into the skin and soft tissues, where mitochondria, the energy centres of your cells, absorb them.
But what does this mean for ligament healing?
The cornerstone of red light therapy's effectiveness lies in its ability to enhance mitochondrial function. When light penetrates tissue, it stimulates a key mitochondrial enzyme called cytochrome c oxidase. This interaction increases the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency of cells.
Why does this matter for ligaments?
Ligament healing is an energy-demanding process that involves cell proliferation, collagen synthesis, and tissue remodelling. By boosting ATP output, red light therapy helps provide the necessary cellular fuel for these regenerative activities to occur more efficiently.
Collagen is the primary structural protein in ligaments. Red light therapy has been shown to stimulate fibroblast activity, the cells responsible for producing collagen during the healing process.
A review of 68 in vitro and in vivo studies confirmed consistent results for certain biological effects of LED and laser treatments. This includes a decrease of inflammatory cells, increased fibroblast proliferation, increased collagen synthesis, stimulation of angiogenesis, and granulation tissue formation.Â
Ligament injuries often trigger a pro-inflammatory cascade in the body. While some inflammation is part of natural healing, excessive or chronic inflammation can delay recovery and contribute to ongoing discomfort.
Red light therapy has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by down regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α) and promoting circulation.
This helps to not only control swelling but also improve lymphatic drainage, remove cellular waste, and reduce pain, all of which support a more stable healing environment.
This is demonstrated in a 2016 study where university athletes with various injuries, including sprains, strains, ligament damage, tendonitis, and contusions, were treated with 830nm LED light therapy. Results showed that within two to six sessions, subjects already felt a significant decrease in their pain levels with no adverse effects.
While red light (around 660 nm) is excellent for superficial tissues like skin, it's the near-infrared spectrum (810–850 nm) that truly benefits deeper structures like ligaments and tendons.
These longer wavelengths penetrate several centimetres into the body, deep enough to reach ligaments located around the knee, ankle, wrist, and shoulder joints.
The short answer? It depends. Healing timelines can vary based on factors such as the severity of the injury, location of the ligament, your age, overall health, and most importantly, how consistently you're using light therapy.
Rather than expecting a sudden breakthrough, users often report gradual improvements such as:
These subtle shifts are indicators that deeper structural healing is occurring.
Ligament injuries can be frustratingly slow to heal, especially when they impact your mobility, daily activities, or athletic performance. But the science behind LED light therapy offers an encouraging alternative for those looking to accelerate recovery in a safe, non-invasive way.
While it’s not a magic cure, when used consistently and correctly, LED light therapy has the potential to become a vital part of your recovery toolkit, especially when paired with physiotherapy or targeted exercise.
Interested in trying out LED light therapy yourself? At ROJO Light Therapy, we specialise in premium-grade LED therapy devices engineered for deep tissue recovery. Our devices are designed with clinically supported wavelengths, user-friendly controls, and sleek, durable design, so you can bring evidence-based healing into your home on your schedule.
