Joint pain
Arthritis, overuse and old injuries can make stairs, lifting and gripping hurt. The light is placed around the joint as part of care for aching, stiff joints, shaped by the movements that bother you most.
Near-Infrared Light Therapy in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Sore joints, tight muscles and slow recovery can wear you down. Near-infrared light therapy is a quiet, needle-free session you rest through, used as one part of a plan built from your exam.
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- A full exam before any session
Overview
Maybe your knee aches after every run, or your shoulders stay tight long after the workday ends. Maybe a pain that started months ago still shapes how you move.
Near-infrared light therapy places invisible light over the sore area while you rest. We use it alongside hands-on care and exercise, not in place of them.
It is one of the tools our pain control clinic in Rancho Santa Fe uses after a full exam.
What it is
What is near-infrared light therapy panel?
Near-infrared light therapy uses light just beyond what the eye can see, roughly 700 to 1,100 nanometers, aimed at a sore area from a panel close to the skin. The light reaches below the surface, and the session is painless and needle-free.
- near-infrared light therapy panel
How it works
Your exam decides which area gets the light and why.
You rest while the panel sits close to the area for a set time.
We track your pain and movement between sessions to decide what comes next.
What it helps with
- Aching or stiff joints that limit activity
- Muscle soreness after training or strain
- Pain that lingers alongside a nerve or joint problem
- Recovery between demanding training days
When it is not the right tool
- A new injury no one has examined yet
- People with light sensitivity from a condition or medication, until we check
- Anyone expecting lasting results from one visit
The re-check
If your pain and movement stop improving, we change the plan or tell you light therapy is not the right tool.
What does the light actually do?
Researchers call the effect photobiomodulation: tissue absorbs the light, and studies are looking at how that affects local blood flow and how cells use energy. The research is still growing, so we use the light as a support, never as the whole plan.
Conditions
Goals near-infrared light therapy panel can support
We use near-infrared light when your exam shows sore or stiff tissue that fits it, most often with these conditions.
Explore Joint Pain Relief
Chronic pain
Pain that has lasted for months can disrupt sleep and work. Light sessions can be one part of a plan for pain that will not settle, next to movement work.
Muscle pain
Soreness after hard training or a strain can slow you down. Read about muscle soreness and tightness care.
Sciatica
The light can ease muscle tightness that comes with sciatic nerve pain down the leg.
Knee pain
Sessions can support treatment for a sore, stiff knee.
Shoulder pain
The light can be one part of help for a painful shoulder.
Back pain
Light over sore back muscles can sit beside adjustments in care for a sore, tight back.
After a spinal injury
Once serious injury is ruled out, and in coordination with your medical team, the light can be placed over sore tissue after a spine injury.
Why here
Why near-infrared light therapy panel at True Performance
Every session has a reason
Your exam decides where the light goes and what it is meant to support. We explain both before the first session.
Paired with active care
We use the light to support adjustments, exercise and rehab, so it fits into the rest of your plan.
Easy to fit into a busy week
You rest during the session, and most people go straight back to their day.
Other options
Compare your options
Light therapy is not the only option for sore joints and muscles. Exercise, chiropractic care, physical therapy and your physician's medical care all help many people. We suggest near-infrared light when your exam shows it can support that work, and we tell you when another path fits better.
Is it for you
Is near-infrared light therapy panel right for you?
A good fit if
- Pain or stiffness has lasted long enough to affect your routine
- You are ready to pair the light with exercise or hands-on care
- You want a needle-free option to discuss
We check first if
- You take a medication that makes your skin sensitive to light
- You have a skin condition or a history of skin cancer in the area
- You are pregnant
If the second list applies, we review your health history, and check with your physician where needed, before any session.
Your visits
What to expect
A 15-minute intro call
A complimentary call about your pain, your goals and whether an exam makes sense.
Your comprehensive exam
About 90 minutes, plus data and history gathering. We check how the area moves, what aggravates it and your health history.
Your first light session
You rest while the panel sits close to the area. We explain eye protection if the equipment needs it.
Review and adjust
We ask what changed between visits, then keep, change or stop the light.
Cost
Cost and insurance
Cost depends on your exam findings and how many sessions your plan includes. We explain it before you commit.
What your cost depends on
- How detailed your first exam needs to be
- The number of light sessions in your plan
- Whether the light is paired with other services
- How often you can come in
Ask us about cost and payment options on your intro call.
Booking policies
- Complimentary 15-minute intro call
- A card on file reserves your appointment
The clinic
Why choose True Performance
Dr. Jeff McWhorter, D.C., a chiropractor whose practice focuses on functional neurology and performance, plans light therapy around how you move, train and work, not around one sore spot.
Near-infrared light is one part of the conservative pain relief options we offer in Rancho Santa Fe. Book an exam to find out whether it fits your plan.
Athletes and performance professionals we have worked with
Meet all 12 athletesDeMarcus Walker
NFL Defensive End, Broncos, Texans, Titans, Bears, and Commanders
Christian McCaffrey
NFL running back, San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey / DJ Moore
NFL Athletes
Raquel Pennington
UFC World Champion
DeMarcus Walker
NFL Defensive End, Broncos, Texans, Titans, Bears, and Commanders
Juan Archuleta
Bellator Bantamweight World Champion and Rizin Bantamweight Champion
Curtis “Razor” Blaydes / TJ Dillashaw
#4 in the UFC Heavyweight Rankings / Ultimate Fighting Championship and UFC Bantamweight Champion
Corey Zalewski
Colombian National Team Snowboarder
Visit
Where to find near-infrared light therapy panel
Light therapy sessions take place at our Rancho Santa Fe office: 18029 Calle Ambiente, Suite 507, in Cielo Village. We are about two miles from Lake Hodges, an easy drive from across North County San Diego.
The first step
Schedule Your Near-Infrared Light Therapy
- 01Start with a complimentary 15-minute intro call
- 02Every session is planned from your own exam
Is near-infrared light therapy safe?
It is generally well tolerated when the equipment is used correctly. Some people notice brief warmth or skin redness. We review your health history and any light sensitivity first.
What does a session feel like?
You rest while the panel sits close to the area. The light itself is invisible, and you may feel gentle warmth.
How often will I need sessions?
There is no single schedule. It depends on the area, your goals and the rest of your plan, and we review your response before changing it.
Does insurance cover light therapy?
We explain cost and payment options on your intro call, before you book an exam. The total depends on how many sessions your plan includes.
Find out whether light therapy fits your recovery
Start with a complimentary 15-minute call with our team.