Can Red Light Therapy Support Bone Health? What the Research Shows

Short answer: early clinical and lab research suggests red light and near-infrared therapy may support bone-forming cells and help maintain bone density, but it's a promising adjunct to bone health, not a treatment for osteoporosis or a substitute for medication, calcium, vitamin D, or weight-bearing exercise.

If you or someone you're caring for has gotten an osteoporosis or osteopenia diagnosis, you already know the drill: bone density scans, maybe a new prescription, a lot of advice about calcium and walking. Red light therapy doesn't show up in that conversation as often — but a small, growing body of research is looking at whether it can help too. Here's what's actually been studied, in plain language.

What is red light therapy, and how could it relate to bone health?

Red light therapy (also called photobiomodulation) uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light — typically in the 660nm and 850nm range — to reach cells beneath the skin. Near-infrared light penetrates deepest, which is part of why researchers have gotten curious about whether it can reach living bone tissue, not just skin and muscle.

Can red light therapy actually help with osteoporosis?

There's early evidence it might help support bone density, though the research is still limited and shouldn't be read as a green light to skip medical treatment. A 2022 randomized controlled trial published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine tested photobiomodulation therapy in people with osteoporosis and measured changes in bone mineral density along with blood markers of bone formation, like osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase.¹ It's one of the first human trials to look specifically at light therapy and bone density this way, and while the results were encouraging, one trial is a starting point, not a verdict.

How does light exposure affect bone cells?

At the cellular level, the working theory involves mitochondria — the energy-producing structures inside your cells. A systematic review on low-level laser therapy and bone healing found that photobiomodulation appears to stimulate osteoblasts (the cells that build new bone), support their mitochondrial activity, and encourage the kind of cellular signaling involved in laying down bone matrix.² A separate systematic review focused specifically on osteoblastic cells found a similar pattern: light exposure at the right wavelength and dose tended to support osteoblast growth and differentiation in lab studies.³

None of this means light therapy builds bone the way a bisphosphonate or hormone therapy does. It means researchers see a plausible biological pathway worth studying further — and some of that study is now happening in actual patients, not just petri dishes.

Can it help with fracture healing or bone recovery?

Most of the fracture-healing research so far is in animal models and lab settings rather than large human trials, so this is an area to watch rather than rely on. The same mechanism researchers point to for bone density — better-functioning osteoblasts, calmer local inflammation, and improved blood flow to the area — is also the reason light therapy is being explored for recovery after fractures or orthopedic procedures. If you're recovering from a break, this is a conversation to have with your surgeon or physical therapist before adding anything to your routine, since healing bone has different needs at different stages.

Who tends to ask about this?

In our experience, it's usually one of two people: someone who was just told their bone density scan came back low and wants to know what else they can reasonably do, or an adult child helping a parent manage osteoporosis alongside everything else on their plate. If that's you, red light therapy is worth knowing about — just go in with realistic expectations about what "early research" means.

What device and routine would make sense for this?

Because bone health support isn't about treating one small spot, a full-body or larger-area panel tends to make more practical sense than a small targeted device. The FX500 is AWA's flagship full-body panel and covers more surface area per session, which matters if you're thinking about hips, spine, and legs together. For a smaller space or a tighter budget, the FX300 is a compact 660nm + 850nm option that still reaches the same wavelengths, just over a smaller area at a time. You can browse the full lineup in our panels collection, or let our device finder quiz point you to the right fit in under a minute.

As with any wellness routine tied to a medical diagnosis, loop in your doctor first — especially if you're on osteoporosis medication, since they can tell you whether there's any reason to adjust timing or placement.

Is this FSA or HSA eligible?

Yes — red light therapy panels are generally FSA/HSA eligible, which matters if you're already managing the cost of bone density scans, supplements, and prescriptions. Our FSA/HSA eligibility guide walks through how to pay with pre-tax dollars and what documentation, if any, your plan administrator might want.

Frequently asked questions

Does red light therapy increase bone density on its own?

Not on its own, based on current evidence. Early research suggests it may support the cellular processes involved in building bone, but it should be layered onto — not used instead of — the calcium, vitamin D, weight-bearing exercise, and medication your doctor recommends.

Is red light therapy safe if I have osteoporosis?

For most people, red light therapy devices are considered low-risk for general wellness use, but "safe for me specifically" is a question for your doctor, especially if you have a bone-related diagnosis, take related medications, or have hardware from a prior fracture repair.

How long before you'd expect to see any change in bone markers?

The 2022 trial measured changes over a period of weeks to months, not days. Nobody should expect a fast or dramatic shift, and any change in bone density specifically takes far longer to show up on a scan than it does in blood markers.

Does this work for the wrist, hip, or spine specifically?

The research to date hasn't isolated one bone site as more responsive than another. Practically speaking, a full-body panel like the FX500 lets you cover the hips and spine — common sites for osteoporosis-related fractures — in the same session.

Can I use red light therapy alongside osteoporosis medication?

There's no known conflict between light therapy and common osteoporosis medications, but this hasn't been extensively studied together, so it's worth a quick check with your prescribing doctor rather than assuming.

Is this the same as the light therapy used in physical therapy clinics?

It's the same general category — photobiomodulation using red and near-infrared wavelengths — though clinics may use higher-powered laser devices. Home panels use LEDs at lower power, which means longer or more frequent sessions to reach comparable exposure.

Lights on, pain off.

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Red light therapy devices are intended for general wellness and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always check with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy.