Green Light Exposure Improves Pain and Quality of Life in Fibromyalgia Patients: A Preliminary One-Way Crossover Clinical Trial

Abstract

Objective Fibromyalgia is a functional pain disorder in which patients suffer from widespread pain and poor quality of life. Fibromyalgia pain and its impact on quality of life are not effectively managed with current therapeutics. Previously, in a preclinical rat study, we demonstrated that exposure to green light-emitting diodes (GLED) for 8 hours/day for 5 days resulted in antinociception and reversal of thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity associated with models of injury-related pain. Given the safety of GLED and the ease of its use, our objective is to administer GLED as a potential therapy to patients with fibromyalgia. Design One-way crossover clinical trial. Setting United States. Method We enrolled 21 adult patients with fibromyalgia recruited from the University of Arizona chronic pain clinic who were initially exposed to white light-emitting diodes and then were crossed over to GLED for 1 to 2 hours daily for 10 weeks. Data were collected by using paper surveys. Results When patients were exposed to GLED, but not white light-emitting diodes, they reported a significant reduction in average pain intensity on the 10-point numeric pain scale. Secondary outcomes were assessed by using the EQ-5D-5L survey, Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and were also significantly improved in patients exposed to GLED. GLED therapy was not associated with any measured side effects in these patients. Conclusion Although the mechanism by which GLED elicits pain reduction is currently being studied, these results supporting its efficacy and safety merit a larger clinical trial.

Systems and Circuits Linking Chronic Pain and Circadian Rhythms

“…Green light has been most heavily investigated for clinical use. In a recent study, it was shown that green light therapy, which activates the circadian system but to a lesser extent than blue light (Lockley et al, 2003), was able to improve multiple self-reported measures of pain and quality of life in mostly female fibromyalgia patients (Martin et al, 2021). Patients reported significantly lower overall numeric pain scores, and significantly lower associational scores of their pain with a number of descriptors such as, stabbing, aching, sharp, throbbing, shooting, tender, and tiring.…”

Effects of Green Color Exposure on Stress, Anxiety, and Pain during Peripheral Intravenous Cannulation in Dental Patients Requiring Sedation

“…Recently, Ibrahim et al reported that green light exposure (8 h/day for 5 days) induced not only antinociception and anti-allodynia but also an anxiolytic effect in rats via the visual system [ 15 ]. They also showed that green light improved pain and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia and those with migraine [ 16 , 17 ]. The patients in those studies were exposed to green light for an average of 1.5 h/day for 10 weeks.…”

“…In that study, green light exposure also induced an anxiolytic effect. Moreover, the same research group showed that green light improved pain and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia and migraine [ 16 , 17 ]. Therefore, green color exposure before a medical procedure might reduce pain and anxiety during PIC.…”

Healthy Dwelling: Design of Biophilic Interior Environments Fostering Self-Care Practices for People Living with Migraines, Chronic Pain, and Depression

“…Direct sunlight is an important part of designing for chronic pain, while providing exposure to nature and a vantage point can lead to faster stress recovery [ 109 ]. The design also includes ambient lighting that holds the capacity to emulate the blue light of the morning sun, and the yellow light of the evening sun, as well as narrow-band green LED light, shown to reduce pain in people with fibromyalgia [ 97 ].…”