Red Light Therapy 101: What It Is and What the Research Says

Red light therapy sounds simple: sit in front of a light. Here's what it is, what a session feels like, and what the research honestly shows.

Red light therapy, also called photobiomodulation, shines red and near-infrared light on your skin from an LED panel. There's no UV, and it feels warm, not hot. Evidence is low-certainty: studies suggest it may ease knee osteoarthritis pain at studied doses and, used before exercise, may reduce later muscle soreness. It's a wellness session, not medical care.

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?

Red and near-infrared light are absorbed by molecules in your cells, including some involved in making energy. That's the leading idea for why it might have effects. How much of that translates into something you'd feel is still being studied. Red light is visible. Near-infrared is mostly invisible. We explain the difference in near-infrared vs. red light.

What Does the Research Actually Show?

• Knee osteoarthritis: low-certainty evidence of less pain at the laser doses studied.
• Exercise soreness: low-certainty evidence that light used before exercise reduces soreness afterward.
• Most studies used lasers or clinical LED arrays at specific doses, so results may not carry over to every panel, including ours.

"Low-certainty" means the studies point in a direction, but better studies could change the picture. We'd rather you know that going in.

What a Session Feels Like

You sit or lie near a panel of LED lights. It feels warm, not hot. Most sessions at DWT Wellness run 10 to 20 minutes, and we provide eye protection. There's no UV exposure and no downtime. You can come in on a lunch break and go straight back to work.

Who Shouldn't Try Red Light?

• Anyone taking medication that makes you sensitive to light: check with your doctor first.
• Anyone with eye sensitivity to bright light.
• Anyone who is pregnant.
• If you've had surgery recently, get clearance from your surgeon first and bring it to your first session.

Want to know how red light compares to a sauna? Read red light vs. infrared saunas. Or contact us and ask. Your first session is free. Call (973) 908-1524.