The newest movement for successful gyms across the country involves more than just adding extra equipment and classes. What they are embracing is something that sets them apart in the competitive fitness industry that others have been slow to adopt. What is it? It’s none other than red light therapy treatment. This total body enhancement is becoming very popular among gym enthusiasts and has been a smart fit for fitness businesses with good reason.
Originally developed and used by NASA to help promote healing, the low energy technology has been seen as highly effective and has potential for cost-effective therapy without the concerns of high levels of heat emission. Red light therapy is a commonly used term of photobiomodulation, which is essentially therapy that utilizes light emitting diodes to stimulate biological processes. This process typically results in beneficial therapeutic outcomes including but not limited to the lessening of pain, reduction in inflammation, and promotion of wound healing and tissue regeneration. When supplied correctly it will impact how you look, feel and perform physically.
The wavelength of visible light spans the spectrum from 400 to 700 nanometers, with red light at wavelengths of 660 nm and near infrared red light of 850 nm. This concentrated red light can penetrate skin at depths of up to 8 to 10 millimeters. When specific wavelengths of red light or near infrared light are absorbed by our cells in sufficient quantities, the mitochondria convert the light into raw cellular energy called Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). As the production of ATP increases, so does the ability for cells to perform their functions. When you can cover more surface area of your body with the red light, more cells absorb the light and perform at peak efficiency. Once that happens, the body can do amazing things physically.
Professional sports teams, world-class trainers, and leading clinics and gyms are using red light therapy treatment daily for natural health benefits. Thousands of clinical studies have demonstrated the following benefits of red light and near infrared red light therapy:
Before investing into any red light therapy device for your property, consider a couple of things first.
Make sure the device is producing proven wavelengths at mid-600 nm (red light) or mid-800 nm (near infrared red light) from the device. Not theorized data, but substantiated test data indicating that information. LED luminaires should be tested by a third party entity, more specifically accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP®). These specialized laboratories, such as American Testing & Assessment Laboratories, are assessed against the management and technical requirements published by the International Standard (ISO/IEC 17025:2017).
Don’t settle for a small, handheld device for red light therapy treatment. The red light should be delivered widely for full body or large treatment areas. LED luminaires, more specifically recessed luminaires, are perfect for integrating red LEDs to blanket large workout areas for red light therapy purposes. When designing LED luminaires specifically for red light therapy, XtraLight keeps these things in mind and optimizes appropriately for specific applications.
Jim Rice, Lab Manager for American Testing and Assessment Laboratories, sets up a recessed troffer with red LEDs for testing in the Goniophotometer.
The Type C Goniophotometer is the best in class assessment and verification instrument available, providing the most precise measurement of light intensity and distribution.
While red light therapy was once the sole domain of a doctor’s office, it is now widely implemented technology across gyms, health clubs and fitness centers across the country. Their members are seeing vast improvements across everything from weight loss to skin enhancements. There’s a reason why red light therapy has earned multiple mentions across fitness trends any why the opportunities could be endless. Are you interested in incorporating red light therapy in your space? Contact the team at XtraLight so they can give you a professional assessment of your needs and help design the perfect red LED lighting solution for your application.