For performance enthusiasts, fitness professionals, and athletes, recovery is just as important as training.
While it's important to challenge your body to its maximum potential in high-intensity training, without recovery, it's not going to reach its maximum performance potential. Full body red light therapy (RLT) has been increasingly used as a highly plausible tool with end-to-end solutions to muscle recovery, relief from pain, and overall well-being.
However, the million-dollar question remains: How exactly does full body red light therapy function? Today, in this article, we are going to explore the science of RLT, examine before and after effects, and lay out why the therapy has become a game-changer among those who are looking to heal faster and play better.
What Is Full Body Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy (RLT), low-level laser therapy (LLLT), or photobiomodulation (PBM) utilizes certain wavelengths of red light and near-infrared light to penetrate the skin and reach the deeper layers of muscle, tissue, and joints below the skin's surface. The body absorbs light energy, where it triggers various healing processes. Other traditional methods only treat symptoms or suppress disease, whereas RLT accomplishes its function by stimulating the cellular level, repairing tissue, and reducing inflammation.
Full body red light therapy involves either using a large therapy mat, blanket, or a light panel to treat your entire body. The full-body treatment provides full-body recovery through enhanced circulation, reduced muscle soreness, and enhanced recovery after a workout or injury.
How Does Full Body Red Light Therapy Work?
There are multiple mechanisms by which red light reduces stress and its effects on physical performance, including optogenetic mechanisms where light acts as a stimulus modulating cellular behavior, directly enhancing recovery of muscles, reducing fatigue, and promoting natural healing mechanisms in the body by targeting mitochondrial activity, thereby increasing the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - cells' energy source.
Here’s a breakdown of how full body red light therapy works within the body:
1. Mitochondrial Boost
It activates your mitochondria, your cells’ powerhouses, to make more ATP and speed muscle recovery while reducing post-workout or post-trauma fatigue.
2. Reduces Inflammation & Oxidative Stress
By increasing the antioxidant enzymes, RLT reduces inflammatory markers in your body, reducing swelling and pain. It assists in faster recovery and allows you to continue with your training regimen.
3. Improves Blood Circulation
RLT increases nitric oxide production, a compound that enhances blood flow with more oxygen and nutrients to muscles. It aids in faster recovery and overall improved performance.
4. Stimulates Collagen Production
Collagen supports muscle, tendon, and skin well-being. RLT enhances collagen production, a critical aspect of recovery from injury and joint health.
Scientific Evidence Supporting Full Body Red Light Therapy
There are various studies verifying full body red light therapy isn't just a temporary trend. Here's an overview of evidence supporting its effectiveness:
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2016 American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation study
Researchers found RLT reduced muscle soreness by 60% in participants who used it both pre- and post-workout. It puts into perspective how it accelerates recovery and reduces post-workout soreness.
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European Journal of Applied Physiology (2024)
A study illustrated how those who underwent red light therapy prior to and after exercising had less damaged muscles as well as recovered faster than those who employed traditional recovery methods like massages on their bodies.
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Meta-Analysis in Lasers in Medical Science
A systematic overview of studies concluded unequivocally that RLT drops significantly following physical stress like training or competitions and hence is a great recovery aid for anyone who wants to enhance performance.
These studies validate full-body red light therapy as more than a new trend but as a science-based solution to enhance muscle recovery, manage pain and performance.
Full Body Red Light Therapy: Genuine Before and After Trends
Before using full body red light therapy, the majority of athletes observe:
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Delayed onset muscle soreness lasting several days
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Joint pain or stiffness after activity
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Fatigue that makes it hard to train frequently
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Slow recovery times leading to reduced training frequency or intensity
After consistently using full body red light therapy, athletes and fitness enthusiasts report:
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Enhanced recovery of muscles and reduced soreness
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Reduced joint discomfort and enhanced mobility
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Increased circulation, facilitating greater oxygenation and delivery of nutrients into muscles
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Increases energy levels so more frequent training becomes more manageable
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Faster recovery from injury and fewer rest periods
Before and After Example:
A professional MMA athlete used full body red light therapy for 4 weeks.
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Before RLT, he used to experience muscle stiffness and soreness after 2-3 days of intense training.
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After 4 weeks of RLT, he had dramatic reductions in soreness, and he was able to train more frequently with less discomfort.
Using full body red light therapy for maximum recovery
To achieve optimum results with full body red light therapy, follow these best practices:
1. Timing and Frequency:
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Use RLT 3 to 5 times a week for optimum effectiveness.
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All treatments will take 10-20 minutes, depending on the intensity of the light and the area being treated.
2. Consistency
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To achieve optimum results, incorporate red light therapy into your recovery regimen. It must be used regularly in order to achieve long-term effects.
3. Targeted Use:
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Although general recuperation is optimally addressed with whole body treatment, painful muscles, joints, or injury may also be successfully treated with small, local instruments (i.e., pads or wraps).
4. Combine with Other Recovery Techniques:
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Apply red light treatment with stretching, correct nutrition, correct fluid intake, and correct sleeping habits to maximize recovery.
Is full body red light therapy worth it?
If you are looking for a way to improve recovery, reduce muscle soreness, and increase performance, full body red light therapy is well worth consideration. It's a science-based, non-invasive treatment working on a cellular level to enhance healing and health.
Adding full body red light therapy to complement your recovery process can significantly increase muscle recovery, decrease joint pain, and allow you to level up over time. Regardless of whether you're a professional athlete or just someone who wants to optimize recovery, this is a great addition to your recovery routine. Ready to reap the benefit of full body red light therapy? It's been an ideal recovery addition for so many users. Curious about how you can benefit from this therapy? If you want to see how this treatment can work for you, take a look at how it’s helped others by reading my personal experience with muscle pain recovery.
