Summary
Red light therapy uses therapeutic red and infrared wavelengths to support the body’s natural recovery processes. In this article, we explore how red light therapy works, the conditions it may help with — including pain, inflammation, circulation, and wellness — and the benefits of using FDA-cleared devices at home.
Medically reviewed by Karen Wolters, RN
Red light therapy has become increasingly mainstream in recent years, with many discovering the benefits that it can provide for a range of conditions, including muscle and joint issues.
While there is a growing amount of research to support the hype, it’s normal to be hesitant before investing in a new wellness tool. If you’re wondering if red light therapy is right for you, read on.
What is red light therapy?
Using therapeutic wavelengths such as 650nm (red) and 850nm (infrared), red light therapy stimulates mitochondria in the cells to produce more ATP.
ATP is the universal energy source for all living cells, providing the energy the body needs for metabolic processes, such as building cell components and disposing of waste products.
As a result, ATP production is key to more efficient injury recovery, effective pain relief and better circulation.
What types of conditions can benefit from red light therapy?
Pain management
While red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation (PBM), isn’t a replacement for prescription medication, it can support pain relief by helping the body to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
Red light therapy is commonly used by athletes to improve muscle recovery and pain from sports-related injuries. Research carried out on 65 student-athletes with a variety of injuries found that most of the participants reported a reduction in inflammation and pain with no negative side effects. ¹
However, it’s not just athletes who can benefit from red light therapy. People who suffer from chronic joint pain and arthritis have also shown improvements to pain levels after using the treatment.
A 2024 systematic review of 10 knee arthritis studies discovered that PBM can significantly reduce knee pain at rest. Patients who received red light therapy also reported lower pain scores and could “move a bit better”. ²
Circulation improvement
For people who experience poor circulation, leading to cold extremities and discomfort, red light therapy could be beneficial.
Red light therapy has been found to increase circulation by increasing nitric oxide (NO) production, which promotes vasodilation – the widening of the blood vessels.³ This enables blood to flow more efficiently around the body, ensuring oxygen is effectively delivered to the tissues that need it, and waste products, such as pain-producing metabolites, are quickly removed.
Therefore, not only does better circulation ensure the body’s extremities stay warm and comfortable, it can also support pain reduction and improve stiffness in joints by relieving muscle inelasticity.
Wellness
Many people view red light therapy as a tool for physical aches and pains, but that isn’t the extent of its uses. You may be surprised to learn that red light therapy has the potential to improve mental wellness too, through improving sleep, boosting your mood and increasing focus.
The therapeutic wavelengths of red light therapy can have relaxation effects when used before bed. Some users find the soothing warmth of the red light calming in itself, and its pain relief abilities ensure a more restful sleep without the interruptions of aching joints and muscles. Better sleep, means a better mood throughout the day.
Feeling like you can’t focus can be frustrating, but red light therapy could help with this issue too. Increased ATP production may energize the cells in the brain as well as the body. Harvard psychiatrist Paolo Cassano says that this allows our brain to “branch more” and “form more connections”, positively affecting the way it functions and increasing focus.⁴
What are the benefits of red light therapy?
Red light therapy is a non-invasive and side-effect free form of treatment. As such, it can be used regularly as part of a wellness routine without fear of harm.
HealthLight’s red light therapy pads can be used at home, and are portable, enabling consistent use, no matter where you might be.
Using a red light therapy device at home is simple. All you need to do is find the right pad for you based on your needs and ensure it’s used as instructed. HealthLight has a range of pads, designed to fit each area of the body, from feet and ankles to your neck and shoulders. This ensures the red light emitted by the device is in direct contact with the treatment area, without any struggles.
For safety, it’s important to invest in an FDA-cleared device, such as all of HealthLight’s devices. If you have any concerns, seek the advice of your healthcare provider before use.
References
¹Gonzalez, J., Sanchez-Trinidad, Y. and Olmeda, K. (n.d.). THE EVOLUTION OF RED AND INFRARED LIGHT THERAPY IN MODERN TIMES. [online] Available at: https://www.nsca.com/contentassets/f5974883683c4a348635dd18cb721d4f/nsca-coach-11.1.1-evolution-of-red-and-infrared-light-therapy.pdf.
²Staff Journalist (2025). Expert Interview: Does Red Light Therapy Work? A Research Review. [online] New Health Journal. Available at: https://newhealthjournal.org/news/does-red-light-therapy-work-research/.
³Kashiwagi, S., Morita, A., Yokomizo, S., Ogawa, E., Eri Komai, Huang, P.L., Bragin, D.E. and Atochin, D.N. (2022). Photobiomodulation and nitric oxide signaling. Nitric Oxide, [online] 130, pp.58–68. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.niox.2022.11.005.
⁴NeuroFlex (2021). A Harvard Psychiatrist Explains How Light Therapy Rejuvenates the Brain w/ Paolo Cassano, MD, PhD. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJjn5gxEs-I [Accessed 28 May 2026].
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