Aliquot #86: A Fair Examination of Red Light Therapy
Aliquot #86: A Fair Examination of Red Light Therapy
Photobiomodulation (PBM) involves using light therapy, such as red light, laser, or infrared therapy, to stimulate, heal, regenerate, and protect the body. Factors such as wavelength, power, skin color, and lighting device influence the light's penetration into body tissues.
Get these episodes in a convenient podcast format.
Aliquot episodes make great companion listening for a long drive. You can find these special members-only episodes alongside live recorded Q&As on The Aliquot, our official premium FoundMyFitness podcast.
Photobiomodulation (PBM) involves using light therapy, such as red light, laser, or infrared therapy, to stimulate, heal, regenerate, and protect the body. Factors such as wavelength, power, skin color, and lighting device influence the light's penetration into body tissues.
In this Aliquot, we explore the complex landscape of PBM science, discussing its potential effects and the varying quality of evidence for its applications. Topics include hair regrowth in androgenic alopecia, pain reduction in rheumatoid arthritis with notable results but occasional study design concerns and conflicts of interest, muscle endurance, post-exercise muscle recovery, wound healing, and skin wrinkling. We investigate whether these effects are genuinely supported by research and examine the challenges faced in this field.
-
The many ways light affects the body
-
The discovery of hair regrowth
-
Power vs. wavelength (why some lights don't work)
-
Getting past the dermis — can you go more than skin deep?
-
Why light therapy may affect cellular energy production
-
Disentangling the mixed evidence
-
Is the arthritis relief from light therapy a placebo?
-
My impression (as a whole)
-
Wrinkles, scars, and redness
-
Can red light therapy increase collagen production?
Attend Monthly Q&As with Rhonda
Support our work
The FoundMyFitness Q&A happens monthly for premium members. Attend live or listen in our exclusive member-only podcast The Aliquot.
Recent Aliquot Episodes
Aliquot #142: How to Prevent and Recover From Jet Lag
Jet lag often shows up as fatigue after a long flight, reflecting a mismatch between your internal clock and the external...
Aliquot #141: The Lifestyle of Cancer Prevention
A large share of cancer risk is shaped not by genetics alone, but by everyday patterns of behavior that influence...
Aliquot #140: Should Everyone Cut Out Gluten?
Gluten interacts with the gut barrier in ways that can shift intestinal permeability, but the impact of that shift...
Aliquot #139: Do You Have Sleep Apnea and Not Know It?
Sleep apnea is far more common and far more disruptive than most people realize. Yet, despite its prevalence...
Aliquot #138: Why Sedation Isn't Sleep and What Actually Works
Many of the substances people use to relax, sleep, or stay alert quietly reshape the biology of sleep...