Muscle-related woes, from aches and painful microtears to tension and cramps, are not uncommon among athletes. They often come about from an intense workout, overtraining, or not taking enough time between sessions to fully recuperate. Poor form or posture during workouts can also contribute.
Nonetheless, the latter muscle issues can still happen to those who don’t regularly work out, or even to those with sedentary lifestyles.
Red light therapy is one solution capable of helping with muscle recovery. Read on to learn more about this wellness service we offer here at Recovery Lab.
What is Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy is a wellness tool, which utilizes specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light as part of its process. The client simply sits under or near a red light therapy device for several minutes for the duration of their session, “soaking in” the special wavelengths of light emitted from the device.
This wellness service is painless, non-invasive, and is presumed to be completely safe. However, when in doubt, speak with a doctor before opting for this service, especially if you have specific medical needs or are receiving another form of treatment you fear will be counteracted by red light therapy.
How Red Light Therapy Helps the Muscles
Red light therapy sessions have been shown to aid with muscle recovery in a multitude of ways, which is why many athletes turn to this wellness service as part of their post-workout recovery routine.
By tackling inflammation, reducing pain, boosting circulation to muscle tissue, and enhancing cellular repair in tissue with microtears, red light therapy can ultimately make recovering from muscle-related issues easier.
With regular red light therapy sessions, athletes may notice better endurance and improved performance as time goes on. This is thanks to faster post-workout recovery times and fewer rest days between workouts.
Why Athletic Muscle Recovery Matters
Muscle recovery is more important than one might realize. By engaging in proper muscle recovery methods, an athlete is best able to support their muscles’ repair and growth stages.
Adequate muscle recovery techniques also have the capability of replenishing energy to the muscles faster, supporting nearby connective tissues like tendons and ligaments,and reducing the risk of injury in the future.
Other Benefits of Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy can help with more than just the muscles. It also has numerous other benefits it’s capable of providing, such as:
- Stimulates the production of collagen to aid with skin health (e.g., wound healing, scar reduction, and anti-aging)
- Improves blood circulation
- Decreases joint pain and supports general joint health
- Provides a boost in mood
- Has a positive impact on the body’s sleep-wake cycle
- May help with cognitive function
- Can aid with hair growth
As you can see, red light therapy is a recovery service option for more than just athletes in need of muscle recovery.
Are you interested in giving red light therapy a go? If you’re in the Southern California area, Recovery Lab has this service readily available for you, with no referral needed.
Contact us today to get your session on the schedule with us.
