RED LIGHT THERAPY

 

 

Red light therapy is thought to work by acting on the “power plant” in your body’s cells called mitochondria. With more energy, other cells can do their work more efficiently, such as repairing skin, boosting new cell growth and enhancing skin rejuvenation. More specifically, certain cells absorb light wavelengths and are stimulated to work.

 

Red light therapy may work in skin health to:

• Stimulate collagen production, which gives skin its structure, strength and elasticity.

• Increase fibroblast production, which makes collagen. Collagen is a component of connective tissue that builds skin.

• Increase blood circulation to the tissue.

• Reduce inflammation in cells.

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Red light therapy has been shown to increase endurance by improving energy production in cells (ATP). This increased energy production can help to delay the onset of fatigue during exercise, allowing you to exercise for longer periods of time.

 

Both before and after workout

Some recommend red light therapy 5-10 minutes before your workout for injury prevention, and again for 10-20 minutes after your workout for recovery. For other pain management, it might be best to use red light therapy for about 5-20 minutes, 3-5 times per week, for several months.

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Red Light and Tissue Recovery

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The effects of red and infrared light on tissue recovery are somewhat conflicting. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is the feeling of soreness and inflammation caused by damage to muscle tissue during training. While DOMS typically doesn’t last for more than a few days post-training, it does lead to performance decrements in the period it is present. This is why coaches will typically program weight room sessions with less frequency and intensity during in-season training, so as to avoid negatively affecting competition performance. Naturally, researchers set out to determine if red and infrared light had any significant effects on DOMS.

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