Your cells have been asking for this for years. They just did not have a name for it.

Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to reach deep into your skin and muscle tissue. Unlike a heat lamp or the sun, this light does not just warm you up. It changes what is happening inside your cells.

Deep inside every cell there is a tiny structure called the mitochondria. Think of it as your cell’s battery. Part of that battery is an enzyme called cytochrome c oxidase. Under stress, a molecule called nitric oxide can get stuck to this enzyme, kind of like a clog in a pipe, which slows down how much energy your cell can make. Red and near-infrared light knocks that clog loose. Once it clears, the enzyme goes back to working at full speed, and your cell produces more energy. That extra energy helps your cells repair themselves faster, calm down inflammation, and function better overall. As a bonus, the nitric oxide that gets released helps relax nearby blood vessels, which improves blood flow to the area too.

More light is not always better. Research shows red light therapy follows what is called a biphasic dose response, meaning there is a sweet spot for dosage. Too little light does not do much. Too much light can actually cancel out the benefits, however, exactly how long you use a red light therapy device depends on your device’s output. At Kinetic Chiropractic, we use a clinical grade panel and a 10 minute session at the right distance to hit that sweet spot every time.

Patients use red light therapy for:

• Muscle and joint recovery

• Reducing inflammation

• Speeding up healing after an injury

• Skin health and overall wellness

It pairs especially well with chiropractic adjustments and shockwave therapy, since it helps your tissue heal faster between visits.

Red light therapy is safe for most people, though it is not recommended during pregnancy or if you are on certain medications that increase light sensitivity. If you are curious whether it fits into your care plan, just ask us.

We just added red light therapy to our services at Kinetic Chiropractic in Pleasant Grove. If you want to see what it can do for your recovery, ask about it at your next visit or call to add it on.