Everything You Need to Know About Red Light Therapy
The average American spends a truly astounding amount of time indoors, approximately 90 percent. This time indoors is spent surrounded by artificial lighting, whether it is overhead lights, a TV, computer screen, or cell phone. The artificial blue light emitted from these machines is a much higher color temperature than the daytime sun. This tricks your body into thinking it needs to be wide awake for much longer, making less melatonin throughout the day, and leading to sleepless nights and even groggier days.
While technology continues to advance, one thing that has not changed is our body’s cellular energy production and circadian rhythm still being designed to follow regular sunlight. However, getting outside can be difficult with full-time jobs and life commitments. Red light therapy is a safe, effective way to get more therapeutic light. This kind of therapy has a multitude of clinically-proven health benefits and fits easily into the busiest schedule.
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy, or photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, is defined by the North American Association for Photobiomodulation Therapy as a form of nonthermal light therapy that utilizes nonionizing forms of light sources, including lasers, LEDs, and broad-band light, in the visible and infrared spectrum. Simply put, red light therapy uses red, low-level wavelengths to treat skin issues, like wrinkles, wounds, and scars, improve hair growth, and relieve pain and inflammation, among other conditions.
How does red light therapy work?
When the body is exposed to red light therapy, it produces a biochemical effect in cells that strengthen the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, or where the cell’s energy is created. Increasing the function of the mitochondria through red light therapy also increases the amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy-carrying molecule, created. In short, the more functional the mitochondria is, the more ATP created, and the more energy cells can use to function more efficiently, rejuvenate themselves, and repair damage.
How is red light therapy used?
Red light therapy was tested by NASA in the 1990s. They found red light therapy activated natural plant growth in space, inspiring them to start researching medical applications for humans. Since the initial testing in space, there have been hundreds of clinical studies and thousands of laboratory studies conducted to determine the validity of red light therapy’s supposed health benefits.
Research has found that red light from specific wavelengths – red in the mid 600 nm range and near-infrared in the mid-800’s – has been clinically-proven to deliver health benefits.
Specifically, red light therapy may have the following benefits:
- Wound healing and tissue repair
- Hair growth in people with androgenic alopecia
- Short-term treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome
- Healing of slow-healing wounds
- Relieving pain and inflammation in people with pain in their Achilles tendons
- Diminishing scars
- Improving the health of joints in people with degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee
- Mending sun damage
- Preventing recurring cold sores
- Improving skin complexion and builds collagen
- Reducing some of the side effects of cancer treatments
- Reducing psoriasis lesions
- Short-term relief of pain and morning stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis
Is it safe?
Joovv red light therapy is an FDA approved, safe, not associated with harmful side effects, non-invasive, and does not use chemicals or drugs. Other light therapies, like the use of lasers, cause damage to the skin to induce tissue repair, but red light therapy does not cause any damage to the skin.
How do I learn more?
Xperience Fitness Woodbury offers Joovv red light therapy through US Cryotherapy. Visit https://www.uscryotherapy.com/location/woodbury-mn/ or call (651) 288-2796 for more information.