Light & Vibration Therapy – An Aid for Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is one of the most common pelvic health issues affecting women in the US, with a recent survey finding that more than 60% report having the condition, and more than 30% report having symptoms at least every month. Despite the widespread prevalence, it remains a topic that most are reluctant to talk about. Whether it’s the occasional leak while laughing or a more persistent urgency that disrupts daily life, incontinence can erode confidence, limit activity, and affect intimate relationships. Despite how common it is, many women are left to navigate urinary incontinence alone, unsure where to go for support or what options are
At Fringe, we believe that women deserve real, research-backed tools to care for their pelvic health from the comfort and privacy of their homes. The Fringe Pelvic Wand was designed with this in mind, and is a therapeutic device that combines red, near infrared, and blue light therapy with customizable vibration therapy to support pelvic tissue, muscle tone, circulation, and microbial balance.
In this article, we’ll explore the science behind light and vibration therapy for urinary incontinence and describe how the Fringe Pelvic Wand can be a practical, empowering part of your daily pelvic health routine.
Understanding Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence isn’t a single condition but rather a symptom with many potential causes. The two most common types include:
- Stress Urinary Incontinence: Leakage caused by pressure on the bladder during movement, coughing, or laughing. This is often due to weakened pelvic floor muscles or connective tissue.
- Urge Urinary Incontinence: A sudden, intense urge to urinate, sometimes followed by involuntary leakage. This is typically related to nerve dysfunction or overactive bladder signals.
Factors like pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, hysterectomy, obesity, and aging all increase the risk of developing urinary incontinence. Conventional treatments range from pelvic floor exercises to medications, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgery. But many women are seeking non-invasive, natural tools to improve symptoms, especially those that can be used at home.
That’s where light and vibration therapy come in.
How Light Therapy Supports Pelvic Health
Light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, involves applying specific wavelengths of light to tissue to stimulate healing, reduce inflammation, increase circulation, and modulate biological processes. The Fringe Pelvic Wand includes three therapeutic wavelengths:
- Red light (630 nm): Promotes collagen and elastin synthesis, reduces inflammation, supports tissue healing, through mechanisms including increasing mitochondrial energy producing and improving circulation
- Near-infrared light (830 nm): Has affects similar to red light but penetrates more deeply.
- Blue light (415 nm): Offers antimicrobial effects, especially for yeast and bacterial infections
So how does this relate to urinary incontinence?
- Improving Tissue Strength & Elasticity
Red and near-infrared light have been shown to increase the synthesis of collagen and elastin. These proteins are integral to maintaining the strength of the vaginal wall and pelvic floor connective tissues, areas that are often weakened in women, especially those with stress urinary incontinence.
- Increasing Blood Flow
These wavelengths also increase nitric oxide production, causing vasodilation and enhanced blood flow. Better circulation results in improved oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues, supporting healing and muscle function, which are both critical for proper bladder functioning. Blood flow may also increase through the synthesis of new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis.
- Modulating Nerves & Pain Pathways
In some types of incontinence, nerve signaling may be disrupted and pain pathways activated. Red and near-infrared light may modulate nerve activity and reduce local inflammation, which may help to reduce overactive pain or urgency signals from the bladder and pelvic floor.
- Supporting the Microbiome
An often-overlooked component of pelvic health is the vaginal microbiome. Dysbiosis, or microbial imbalance, can increase susceptibility to infections, inflammation, and irritation. Blue light has been shown to reduce pathogens like Candida, while red light may support beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus which is important for microbiome health. Disruptions in the microbiome are a risk factor for urinary tract infections, which are a risk factor for incontinence.
The Role of Vibration Therapy
Vibration therapy offers a second therapeutic modality, especially valuable for activating and strengthening pelvic floor muscles, increasing circulation, and even reducing pain.
The Fringe Pelvic Wand provides four levels of mechanical vibration, from gentle (10 Hz) to strength-building (120 Hz). Research shows:
- Low-frequency vibration (10 or 50 Hz): Helps relax tight pelvic floor muscles, improve proprioception, and increase blood flow
- High-frequency vibration (90 or 120 Hz): Stimulates reflexive contractions via the pudendal nerve, strengthening pelvic floor muscles in women who struggle with voluntary control
How may vibration therapy help with urinary incontinence?
- Improving Tissue Strength & Integrity
Vibration therapy, especially low intensity vibration, may have many effects on cells associated with the structural integrity of the female pelvis, including collagen and muscle. Stronger pelvic floor muscles are associated with reduced urinary incontinence.
- Increasing Blood Flow
Vibration therapy may also increase blood flow, which may help to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the tissues of the pelvis and improve functioning of the bladder and pelvic floor muscles.
- Modulating Pain Signals
Pain signals from the pelvis/bladder may be modulated by vibration therapy, including neuropathic pain, low back pain, and muscle pain. Urinary incontinence is associated with pain in conditions including interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, vulvodynia, pelvic floor myofascial pain syndrome, and neurogenic bladder disorders like Multiple Sclerosis.
- Regulating Muscle Tone
Balanced pelvic floor muscles with proper tone are essential for proper urinary continence. Vibration therapy may help both to decrease spasticity in muscles that are overactive, as well as improve voluntary muscle contraction, such as those of the pelvic floor, which are poorly controlled in between 30 and 50% of women.
The Fringe Pelvic Wand: Dual Therapy for Urinary Incontinence
The Fringe Pelvic Wand brings together red, near infrared, and blue light therapy with a range of customizable vibration modes from low to high in one comfortable, easy-to-use device. It was designed to meet a broad spectrum of pelvic health needs:
Light Therapy Specs
- Wavelengths: 630 nm (red), 830 nm (near infrared), 415 nm (blue)
- Intensity: 20–40 mW/cm² (adjustable to 50%)
- Built-in Timer: 10-minute automatic shut-off
- Modes:
- Mode 1: Red + Near Infrared Light (deep tissue healing)
- Mode 2: Blue light only (antimicrobial support)
- Mode 3: Red only (gentle tissue support for heat/light-sensitive users)
Vibration Therapy Specs
- Low amplitude, rapid acceleration
- Built-in Timer: 10-minute automatic shut-off
- Modes:
- Mode 1: 10Hz
- Mode 2: 50Hz
- Mode 3: 90Hz
- Mode 4: 120Hz
This level of control allows you to personalize therapy sessions to your unique needs, including calming inflammation, strengthening muscles, balancing microbes, or all of the above.
How to Use the Fringe Wand for Urinary Incontinence
Here's a suggested routine to start with:
Preparation
1. Before your session, make sure you have washed your pelvic area with soap and water.
INSERTION
2. Get comfy and use a water-based lubricant to assist with pelvic wand insertion. Insert the wand comfortably while seated or lying down.
Light Mode Selection
3. Begin with Mode 1 (red and near infrared light) for deep tissue healing and circulation; use built-in 10-minute timer
If prone to infections or irritation, add Mode 2 (blue light) for 5–10 minutes.
Vibration Mode Selection
4. Start with Mode 1 (10 Hz) or Mode 2 (50 Hz) to relax the pelvic floor
Progress to Mode 3 (90 Hz) or Mode 4 (120 Hz) to help stimulate and strengthen muscles.
Frequency
5. Use 3–4 times per week, or up to once daily. Let your body rest between sessions - results build over time.
Combine with Exercise (Optional)
6.
Gentle pelvic floor contractions during vibration can boost results. Use Mode 2 or 3 vibration for moderate exercises, Mode 4 for active training.
Always begin with lower settings and build up as you feel more comfortable. If you’re working with a pelvic health therapist, the wand can be a powerful tool to complement in-clinic treatments.
Pelvic Light & Vibration Therapy Safety
Light and vibration therapies are well-established as safe, but here are a few precautions:
- Avoid use if you have known light sensitivity, or are on medications that increase sensitivity to light
- Don’t use on open wounds
- Only use water-based lubricants (oil-based can damage the silicone wand material)
- Check with your provider before use if you’re pregnant
A New Era of At-Home Pelvic Health
Urinary incontinence is a highly prevalent condition that impacts millions of women, yet effective, accessible, and non-invasive treatment options remain limited. The growing body of scientific research surrounding light therapy and vibration therapy offers compelling evidence that these modalities may play a valuable role in supporting pelvic tissue health, improving muscle tone, modulating nerve activity, and restoring microbial balance, all of which are relevant to the underlying causes of incontinence.
The Fringe Pelvic Wand was designed with these mechanisms in mind. It provides a multi-modal therapeutic approach that is grounded in emerging science, integrating red, near infrared, and blue light with adjustable vibration frequencies to support the complex structures and functions of the female pelvic floor.
Whether used on its own or as a complement to pelvic floor physical therapy, the Fringe Pelvic Wand offers a novel, at-home tool for women seeking to improve urinary continence, restore comfort, and support long-term pelvic health. As with any health intervention, individual responses may vary, and we encourage women to consult with their healthcare providers when integrating new therapies into their wellness routines.
about the author
Dr. Genevieve Newton, DC, PhD spent close to 20 years as a researcher and educator in the field of nutritional sciences before joining Fringe as its Scientific Director. Gen’s job is to “bring the science” that supports Fringe’s products and education. She is passionate about all things Fringe, and is a deep believer in healing body, mind and spirit using the gifts of the natural world.
The contents in this blog; such as text, content, graphics are intended for educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider.
Can this help- 1) had radical hysterectomy with radiation 20 years ago
2) left with incontinence worst at night – don’t even know I’m urinating
Please advise
Thank you
Hi Ann, thank you for your question. The most effective non-drug/surgical interventions for incontinence target the pelvic floor muscles and help to strengthen weak muscles (and relax tight muscles, if present). Pelvic floor physical therapy is a great way to work on balancing muscle tone, and this can be augmented or supported by using red light therapy as well as vibration therapy. While a light/vibration therapy pelvic wand may be helpful in supporting incontinence on its own, in more severe cases, we recommend working with a pelvic physical therapist or other health care provider. The combined support of a limited number of in-person clinical sessions with unlimited at-home use of the wand is likely to yield the greatest impact.