The Hidden Power of Infrared Light for Health and Performance

Infrared and near-infrared light therapy has quietly moved from medical clinics into gyms, physiotherapy practices, wellness centres, and into our homes. It’s not new,  in fact reported therapeutic applications of infrared go back to the late 19th century.

Nowadays you’ll see athletes using it for recovery, therapists using it for pain relief, and health-conscious individuals using it to support energy, skin health, and long-term wellbeing. One of the more recent and very popular infrared devices being face masks for the reported benefits of boosting collagen production.

The science behind infrared light is stronger than most people realise. Like most tools people employ in health, it works best when used consistently and as part of a broader, health-focussed lifestyle.

So what is infrared light therapy?

Infrared light is part of the natural light spectrum and it sits just beyond the red light that we can see with our eyes. There are different types, but the two most commonly used in health and recovery are near-infrared (NIR) and infrared (IR):

NIR penetrates deeper into the body and is often used for muscles, joints, and brain support where IR produces more heat and is commonly used in saunas and therapies focused on circulation and relaxation.

The tech-spec

The primary mechanism behind red light therapy is something called photobiomodulation which is a process where light stimulates cellular function. At the centre of this process are your mitochondria.

Mitochondria convert oxygen and nutrients into energy and when certain wavelengths of light reach these cells, they can improve efficiency. In practical terms, this may lead to increased cellular energy, improved blood flow, reduced inflammation, faster tissue repair and better recovery from physical stress.

How amazing!

This is why infrared therapy shows up across so many areas of health.

Is Infrared Light Safe?

For most people, infrared and near-infrared light are safe when used appropriately but there are, as always, some sensible precautions for people with heat sensitivity, certain medical conditions and in pregnancy. This is mostly because the research is more limited in those areas rather than there being any concrete evidence that it is harmful in any way.

Realistic Expectations

Infrared is not a miracle cure rather it’s a supportive tool that, when used consistently, will support the body’s natural repair and recovery systems.

One of the key reasons infrared is helpful is because it can reach tissues beneath the skin without being invasive. Along with responsible levels of exercise, focussing on recovery, therapeutic massage, physiotherapy etc., infrared light can make a meaningful contribution to your overall wellbeing.

Sources

Hamblin, M. (2017)

Photobiomodulation and inflammation: How light therapy can reduce inflammation and support healing.

AIMS Biophysics.

de Freitas, L., & Hamblin, M. (2016)

Proposed mechanisms of photobiomodulation (light therapy) and how it supports cellular repair.

IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics.