As the names suggest, full body red light therapy would involve exposing the majority of your skin to red light, whereas targeted red light therapy would involve firing red light beams into specific areas of your body, like a painful joint or post-op incision site. But which treatment is right for you, and why would a person choose one red light therapy over the other? In today’s blog, we talk about the main differences and some of the reasons a person may choose whole body red light therapy over targeted red light therapy and vice versa.
Full Body Red Light Therapy
Full Body Red Light Therapy (RLT) involves having the client lie in a bed that projects red and near-infrared light. It’s similar to a tanning bed in appearance, but it is much safer and healthier for your body in the short- and long-term. Exposing a larger portion of your body to red light will energize your cells across the spectrum, making cellular processes much more efficient. This is ideal for a number of types of clients, including:
- Athletes whose bodies are working to repair muscle tissue and other areas from the stress and strain of athletic activity.
- Patients with sleep disorders, as whole body RLT therapy can help harmonize your circadian rhythm.
- Patients with mood, stress or similar mental health issues. As we’ve talked about in previous blogs, red light therapy can directly and indirectly help to enhance your mood and aid in stress relief.
- Patients with whole body aches, like fibromyalgia, widespread arthritis or chronic pain. Whole body red light therapy can help cells reduce inflammation that may be triggering symptoms of discomfort.
Targeted Red Light Therapy
Targeted red light therapy involves taking a concentrated beam of red and near-infrared light and aiming it at a specific area of your body. The cells in a certain area become energized and begin operating more efficiently, which helps with a number of issues, including:
- Wrinkles and wound healing, as targeted red light therapy can improve skin tone and collagen production to tighten visible wrinkles and aid in scar healing.
- Joint pain in a specific area, like your knee, hip, ankle or elbow.
- Patients recovering after a surgical procedure who are dealing with localized inflammation and wound healing.
- Areas that have undergone significant stress compared to the rest of your body, like the arm of a pitcher or the knees of a downhill skier.
Both techniques can be extremely helpful for the right patient, and we love helping people recover at the cellular level. If you believe that whole body or targeted red light therapy may be right for you, please give our team a call to learn more about the process and how we can help you overcome the physical and mental issues you’re facing. For more information, or to schedule your first session, give the team at HyperCharge Clinic a call today at (763) 717-8745.