man using Truelight Energy square while laying in bed

Strengthen Your Body With Near-Infrared Light


Low level laser therapy (LLLT), also known as photobiomodulation, is a technique which uses a low-level laser or light emitting diodes (LED) to improve and  repair tissue, reduce pain and lower inflammation.  TrueLight™  is the only photobiomodulation device on the market that provides four different wavelengths of light, as well as settings to choose between pulsating and constant light, for faster healing, pain relief and recovery.

Near-infrared (NIR) light therapy is similar to red light therapy, except infrared energy is invisible, and it penetrates the body deeper than red — reaching deep into soft tissues, muscles, joints, and bone.

NIR wavelengths (typically 850nm or 880nm) have been reported as penetrating deeper than other light wavelengths through skin and bone.  Skin depth varies around the body, and transmission can also be affected by skin pigmentation levels.

NIR light has been used in light therapeutic devices to assist in addressing a variety of injuries.  It penetrates more deeply than UV or visible light and is benign to living tissue. There is very little heat generated by the LED array and therefore no potential thermal injury to individuals being treated.  LED is well-tolerated by biological tissues and has no known detrimental effect. As a therapeutic device, LED has achieved an FDA low-risk general wellness status.

The science behind light therapy

Researchers working with NASA have found that light therapy using NIR LEDs operate by activating color-sensitive chemicals in body tissues, stimulating the process in a cell’s mitochondria.  Light wavelengths from 680nm to 880nm have been found to travel through skin and muscle tissue, to prompt tissue and deep wound healing. Light penetration depends on power, wavelength and proximity to skin.

diagram showing how light interacts with skin

The basic premise is that long wavelength lights stimulate cellular energy metabolism and energy production.  Three major photoacceptor molecules in mammalian tissues are known to absorb light in the NIR range: hemoglobin, myoglobin, and cytochrome c oxidase. Of the three, cytochrome c oxidase has been associated with energy production.

Therapy Light Pulsing Options

Pulsed Light vs. Constant Light

It has been discovered that when specific frequencies of LED lights are pulsed, body tissue can heal more rapidly.  When it is given a continuous burst, it sedates the cell and relieves the pain. When a single-frequency pulsed light hits the cell, it stimulates the cell to start producing more protein than it normally does, as a result, the cell heals faster.  Even when the LED light source is taken away, the cell continues its healing. Alternatively, using a continuous light/beam has an effect that can remove/dull pain, reduce inﬂammation and allows muscle tissue to relax.

New routine at the gym making you sore?  Muscles exhausted from to much yard work or just looking to add a variation into your daily meditation?  Here are some great ideas to incorporate light therapy into your daily life!

If you’re interested in at home light therapy, consider  TrueLight ™. It is the only photobiomodulation device on the market that provides four different wavelengths of light, including NIR, as well as both pulsating and constant light. This patent-pending solution offers the maximum feature set for faster healing, pain relief, and recovery.

  1. For further reading, here are some scientific studies about Red Light Therapy and Pulsing light:
    Infrared and Near-Infrared Study (2015)
  2. Use alone or in Combination of Red and Infrared Laser in Skin Wounds Study (2014)
  3. Unconventional Use of Intense Pulsed Light (2014)

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