Working Out and Red Light Therapy, a Powerful Duo!

Did you know light therapy can assist in getting the most out of your workout routine? The metabolism from exercise creates a molecule called lactic acid putting the muscle tissue in an anaerobic state. The build-up of lactic acid in warmed, oxygenated tissue is less likely to destroy those cells during this lactic acid phase. And oxygenated tissues are less likely to fatigue as quickly as poorly oxygenated tissue. Combining red light therapy while working out, has shown potential to enhance muscle recovery and performance, making it a popular choice among athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

Additionally, irradiating the muscle area with red and infrared light after strenuous workouts increases circulation and oxygenation to the treated tissue, thus improving recovery time! So it’s a win win!

Since it’s not practical to administer red light therapy while working out, there are only a few studies on the effects of red light during exercise. However, they have all resulted in higher performance measurements and decreased fatigue.

One 2018 study involved 15 male recreational runners. Physiological and performance variables were measured during running tests, including rate of perceived exertion, running economy (efficiency), speed, total time-to-exhaustion, and total distance covered. The treatment group experienced significantly higher performance in these measurements.

A group of 30 post-menopausal women participated in a 2014 study by researchers from Brazil. Ten of the women received red light treatments during treadmill training, 10 did the treadmill without red light, and 10 neither exercised nor received red light treatment. Compared to the others, the treadmill/red light group showed increased quadriceps power and decreased fatigue.

One of my favorite ways to workout is with my vibration plate, a pair of hand weights and the Light Therapy Resource Red Light Panel. In only 20 minutes, I have burned hundreds of calories, my metabolism is on fire, and the vibration plate has provided not only a fully body workout, but it also aids in muscle recovery! I could write a whole blog on the benefits of the vibration plate, but I will leave it here for now. Just know that it’s a winning combination to combine red light therapy while working out and your recovery so keep that in mind when selecting your red light therapy device. To view the current and upcoming devices offered at Light Therapy Resource, click here.

Yes, this is me, drenched in sweat after only 20 minutes of this workout combo. And yes, I do workout in the nude as light does not penetrate well through clothing so go ahead and let your junk come out, let your middle jiggle, and let the light in! What have you got to lose!?