Fringe Light Therapy Pelvic Wand
Some clinical conditions related to female pelvic health that may improve with light therapy include:
• Vaginal candidiasis
• Human papillomavirus and associated vaginitis and cervicitis
• Vulvovaginitis
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction
• Overactive bladder
• Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome
• Menopause
• Episiotomy recovery
How might light therapy support female pelvic health?
Light therapy may have physiological effects related to female pelvic health, including:
Tissue Rejuvenation
Loss of connective tissue, such as collagen and elastin, in the female pelvis is commonly experienced by women as they age and can also occur because of childbirth and infections. Through its effects on mitochondria, light therapy (especially red and near infrared light) may increase cellular energy production and increase connective tissue production. Light therapy may also modulate the production of reactive oxygen species, causing a shift towards tissue rejuvenation rather than breakdown, and may support muscle strengthening.
Reduced Inflammation & Pain
Chronic pain is commonly associated with disorders of the pelvic floor, which may also be associated with pelvic inflammation. Light therapy (especially with red and near infrared light) may have powerful effects on inflammation. Studies have found that light therapy may affect levels of many molecules involved in inflammation, including reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species, and prostaglandins.
Increased Blood Flow
A decrease in blood flow to tissues in the female pelvis, especially the vagina, occur with age. This loss of blood flow negatively affects tissues by reducing the supply of oxygen and nutrients and contributes to age associated changes such as vaginal atrophy. Light therapy (especially red and near infrared light) may increase blood flow in two ways. First, it may increase levels of nitric oxide through its effects on the mitochondria, which causes vasodilation. The dilation of blood vessels allows more blood to flow through. Second, it may increase angiogenesis, which is the synthesis of new blood vessels. A greater density of blood vessels may increase the delivery of blood to tissues.
Effects on Microorganisms
Infections with pathogenic microorganisms in the female pelvis are quite common, and include bacteria (such as chlamydia), fungi (such as candida), and viruses (such as HPV). The vagina also naturally hosts the vaginal microbiome, which has a balance of microorganisms. When imbalanced, susceptibility to infections and bacterial vaginosis is increased. Light may have effects on microorganisms, both pathogenic and non-pathogenic. Blue light may have powerful effects on pathogenic microbes that can infect the vagina, such as candida, while red light may have positive effects on the microbes that comprise the microbiome, including the vaginal microbiome.
Some clinical conditions related to female pelvic health that may improve with vibration therapy include:
• Urinary incontinence
• Pelvic floor dysfunction
• Vulvodynia (a pelvic pain condition)
• Pelvic pain penetration disorder
• Sexual dysfunction
How might vibration therapy support female pelvic health?
Vibration therapy may have physiological effects related to female pelvic health, including:
Tissue Rejuvenation
Vibration therapy may have many effects on cells associated with the structural integrity of the female pelvic. Collagen in particular may respond to vibration therapy, especially at low magnitudes, and both collagen and muscle formation respond well to low magnitude vibration at between 8 and 10Hz.
Increased Blood Flow
Vibration therapy may increase blood flow, after as little as 10 minutes of therapy. Increasing blood flow helps to perfuse tissues with oxygen and nutrients and improve function and speed healing.
Muscle Tone Regulation
While proper functioning of the pelvic floor muscles is integral to bowel, bladder, and sexual health, in many women these muscles are weak. Others experience chronic hypertonicity in muscles of the pelvic floor, which is also suboptimal. Vibration therapy may regulate muscle tone in two ways. First, it may decrease spasticity in muscles that are overactive. Second, it may improve the potential to voluntarily contract muscles, such as those of the pelvic floor, which are poorly controlled in between 30 and 50% of women, and in this way activate and strengthen the muscle. Muscle tone regulation is accomplished by activating muscles via a spinal reflex and increasing blood flow.
Decreased Pain
Vibration therapy may reduce many different pain types, including neuropathic pain, low back pain, and muscle pain. This may happen via several mechanisms, such as regulating muscle tone and increasing blood flow.