Red light therapy is a popular treatment for hair growth, improving skin tone, and treating sun damage. But did you know that the lifestyle benefits of red light therapy go much deeper than skin benefits? From enhancing your workouts to helping you sleep better, red light therapy could become your go-to for a better life. For more information, check out the BIOMAX Series Panels. Also, take a look at our new SaunaMAX Pro, an RLT panel designed for sauna use. Intentional Self-Improvement with Red Light Therapy Like healthy eating, meditation, and exercise, red light therapy improves health and well-being. Once you see how beneficial it is, red light therapy can become a positive daily habit for self-care and self-improvement. Red light therapy uses red wavelengths, near-infrared wavelengths, or a combination with beneficial effects on the body. RLT for Health & Longevity Every wavelength of visible and invisible light has an effect on the body. Aging research is focused on bridging the gap between longevity and ‘healthspan,’ which means living healthier into old age. Light is a major part of this ongoing research. Increasing evidence suggests that the kinds of light we expose our bodies to affect our health and longevity. For example, ultraviolet light can promote damage to our DNA and has been associated with premature aging. Any bright light exposure after dark disrupts melatonin production and alters the circadian rhythm, which is linked to decreased longevity. Near-infrared light has widespread benefits with no side effects. It has been shown to have neuroprotective effects on the human brain. Red light therapy can also protect red blood cells against oxidative stress. Red Light Therapy and Aging Red and NIR wavelengths reduce inflammation, improve mitochondrial function, and boost ATP production. ATP is the primary fuel of cells. Low ATP production interferes with cellular homeostasis. Depleted cells behave like tired old cells. You can see the effects on your skin as wrinkles and sagging skin. Boosting cellular performance helps cells perform their specialized functions, and gives them enough resources to ward off infection and successfully replicate. As collagen-producing cells become high-functioning, users see the results in firmer skin tone. A combination of red and NIR light has been shown to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, which is an important part of reversing signs of aging such as photo-aged skin, loose or sagging skin, and thin papery skin. Skin complexion and skin roughness can be improved with consistent use of red and NIR light, especially when combined with healthy lifestyle choices and proper hydration. Red Light Therapy and Inflammation Inflammation has been linked to every major disease. One of the main effects of red light therapy is its anti-inflammatory effect that persists beyond the initial healing phase. Chronic inflammation can lead to psoriasis, acne, rheumatoid arthritis, neuropathy, degenerative brain disorders, and even weight gain. One of the most exciting recent discoveries found that red light therapy improves gut health. Poor gut health has been linked to obesity, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and brain disorders. This holds great promise in treating cardiovascular disease and currently incurable disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Recreation with Red Light Therapy Regular exercise is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. Red light therapy quickens the recovery process while giving users more energy. DOMS and Muscle Recovery Delayed onset muscle soreness strikes anywhere from 48 to 72 hours after an intense or novel workout. DOMS can interfere with a training schedule by forcing additional recovery time. Use red light therapy before a workout to prime your muscles for activity, and after a workout to help rebuild muscle. Better Sports Performance Muscle cells need a lot of ATP to cope with the intensity and duration of exercise. Increasing ATP production in muscle cells can improve athletic performance, and may even offer an ‘unfair advantage’ in sports. Faster Healing from Sports Injuries NIR light treatment can promote faster return-to-play among injured university athletes. In the above study, researchers treated 395 sports injuries that included tendon and ligament damage, contusions, and muscle strains. After an average of four treatments per injury, patients experienced faster healing and shorter return-to-play times: 9.6 days versus the anticipated 19.23 days. ''The benefits of photobiomodulation have been directly correlated to enhancements in sports performance and for recreational athletes. Several mechanisms account for improvements in muscle performance and exercise recovery based on potential for increases in muscle cell proliferation, reduction of exercise-induced oxidative stress, and metabolic changes to include ATP synthesis.'' Functional Medicine Doctor of Physical Therapy, Dr. Alayna Newton, PT, DPT, FAFS Faster Wound Healing How does red light therapy improve wound healing? A combination of reduced inflammation, better blood circulation, collagen production, and enhanced cellular energy production support the body's natural healing processes. Chronic Pain Red light therapy has analgesic effects, say researchers in a study that observed the effects of light treatment on temporomandibular pain (jaw pain). NIR light therapy has also been used successfully for low back pain relief and treating arthritis pain from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. RLT for Work and Career Red light therapy can even improve your performance at work. Increased Focus and Energy Research suggests that red light therapy can improve cognitive performance due to its neuroprotective effects. Better moods help you stay focused and maintain engagement with your work. Regular morning treatments can also contribute to greater energy, which can help improve engagement and competitiveness in the workplace. Better Sleep Lack of sleep can negatively affect your work performance, whereas red light therapy treatment stimulates melatonin production. In one case, 20 elite female Chinese athletes participated in a study to determine whether red light therapy could improve their sleep, and therefore their endurance performance. The participants received 30-minute red light therapy treatments every night for 14 days and as a result enjoyed a significant rise in melatonin levels and next-day endurance performance. General Pain Relief If back pain or neck pain interferes with work, you can decrease pain and inflammation daily with the soothing effects of red light wavelengths. Red Light Therapy for the Family The entire family, including your pets, can benefit from red light therapy. If one of the kids has a scraped knee, red light therapy can help speed up tissue repair and wound healing. Teens can use red LED light therapy to treat acne and other embarrassing chronic skin conditions like psoriasis. Adults can use red LED therapy to regrow hair, achieve better skin health, reduce the appearance of stretch marks and other scar tissue, and for weight loss. If you have an aging pet with mobility issues, soothing red light therapy sessions can relieve their joint pain. RLT Usage Guidelines Red light therapy works best when it’s used regularly. Some of the effects are cumulative, such as improved cellular functioning. The treatment is most effective when it’s done consistently as part of your regular self-care routine. We recommend 3-20 minute sessions at least 4-5 times a week using a powerful LED light therapy device. The relaxing experience is also a great time to de-stress with a brief meditation or to enjoy a luxurious stretch. BIOMAX Series: Red Light Therapy Solutions Today, LED light therapy is accessible to anyone. We invite you to take a closer look at the most advanced consumer red light therapy panels on the market. The BIOMAX Series panels offer convenient, affordable, full-body treatment. Panels come in a variety of sizes, including the BIOMAX 300, the BIOMAX 450, the BIOMAX 600, and the BIOMAX 900. In addition to the R+ and NIR+ wavelengths, all BIOMAX panels now also feature a trace blue light wavelength of 480nm, even further increasing its therapeutic value. This provides surface treatments for acne as well as deep-tissue applications like joint pain and muscle recovery. Users can also select specific wavelength treatment by turning on and off R+, NIR+ , or blue light wavelenghts as they see fit. Another of our panels, the SaunaMax Pro, is specifically for placement inside a sauna, so you can get your RLT treatment and ‘sauna time’ in simultaneously. The many lifestyle benefits of RLT make it a natural choice as a ritual for those looking to optimize. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions about the panels or the numerous benefits of treatment!
