If you’re researching red light therapy (photobiomodulation), you may be overwhelmed by the options. Red light therapy has become increasingly popular as a noninvasive and drug-free method for promoting tissue repair, increasing blood flow (which can help reduce inflammation), and managing pain.
You’re wondering whether you’d better suit a panel or targeted red light therapy.
In this article, we’ll look at red light therapy, panels, and the inherent limitations of panel designs. Things might get a bit technical, but if you’re serious about red light therapy and want to make an informed choice, this article is for you.
Targeted red light therapy and panels are based on the same science. Both use different wavelengths of red light and infrared light against the skin. Both also require the light to reach the skin to be effective.
However, the major difference is the way in which they provide the red light. While targeted red light therapy targets a specific area, panels tend to transmit light to a much wider area. This changes the potential applications which we’ve discussed more about below.
Now that you have a very brief overview, let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of both treatment options. We’ve looked at this from an objective viewpoint so you can consider both sides of the coin before choosing a treatment option that's right for you.
Advantages of targeted red light therapy
The direct targeting allows deeper penetration
The direct targeting of a smaller surface area allows precise treatment for a specific concern. This increased focus allows the red and infrared wavelengths to penetrate deeper into the target area, improving the beneficial effects.
This increased precision can be better for localized problems such as wounds, joint pain, injuries, or wrinkles in certain areas. This gives you an effective treatment option that can be used in common problem areas such as the elbows, knees, and ankles.
Able to multitask during the treatment
During the treatment, you can keep your eyes open. You can also stay fully clothed while allowing the device to slip under your clothing. This means that you can set the timer and continue with your day as the treatment takes place.
With targeted therapy, you don’t need to find extra time or stop what you’re doing. Suitable examples include reading, watching television, or continuing to work on your laptop or computer. The habit-stacking possibilities are quite endless when you begin to think about them!
Both Sides of the affected area can be treated
Targeted red light therapy devices use innovative designs that can be wrapped around joints or limbs to target the front and back areas simultaneously.
The MOVE+ has an adjustable strap that allows you to wrap the nodules around the problem area so they fit securely against the skin. It’s just one of the many features that make it so useful if you’re looking for an efficient recovery device.
Lightweight and portable designs
The portable designs of many targeted red light therapy devices allow you to use it anywhere on the go, whether that's in the house, at work, or even in the gym with light exercise using the other half of your body.
Some devices also come with handy carry packs with portable charging options which means you can charge your targeted device on the go or if you need to bring it with you on holiday. This means you don’t need to worry about carrying it around, the possibility of fitting it somewhere, or the need for an electric outlet wherever you go.
More budget-friendly
Compared to panels, targeted red light therapy devices tend to be available at a much lower price point. They use the same technology but are much cheaper due to the lower amount of light used. Unless you specifically want a full-body treatment option, you may not even need the extra coverage.
Because of this, targeted red light therapy can be much more cost-effective and at times offer enough coverage for what you need it for anyway.
Advantages of panels
Faster results for a bigger target area
Panels are designed to promote full-body healing. The large design means that they can reach a much larger treatment area compared to targeted therapy. Theoretically, this means that they may lead to quicker, more immediate results.
Again, considerations need to be made regarding the specific focus and wavelengths being used. The beneficial effects will depend mainly on this rather than just the size of the target treatment area.
May address multiple concerns at once
Panels are designed to cover a large area during the treatment. In most cases, you sit in front of the panel and expose one side of your body at a time. Because it targets a larger surface area, it may promote more cellular changes during each treatment period.
Because of this, panels may help to address multiple health concerns at once, making it a versatile option for overall health and wellness. However, you do need to bear in mind that the lower penetration depth means that it may still only target specific issues on more of a superficial level rather than deep into the muscle tissue and joints.
Disadvantages of targeted red light therapy
Can’t cover a large area in one go
Targeted red light therapy focuses on a specific localized treatment area. Because of this, you can’t target a large area in one go. If you want quick, full-body treatment, panels may be the better option.
However, the fact that you can move the targeted devices around your body and strap them on before forgetting about them means that this shouldn’t really matter. All you need is a little extra time and in most cases, you may even save time with the targeted therapy as you don’t need to stop what you’re doing.
Easier to use it incorrectly
Targeted red light therapy devices sit against the skin. This means that more care needs to be taken to get the dosage right. If you use a device with a set timer, this isn’t a problem. However, devices that require you to manually switch them off require you to focus more on the treatment period.
With correct use, this shouldn’t be a problem. Just make sure to set the correct time or use a separate timer if needed so you know when to turn the device off. If you’re feeling too tired, it might be best to save your treatment until a time when you’re well rested.
Disadvantages of panels
Lacks specificity
Panels target a large surface area. This means they are designed as a full-body treatment option. If you’re trying to focus on a specific issue or area of discomfort, targeting your full body using a shallower penetration depth may not be the best option.
Because of this, panels lack the specificity needed for localized pain and target areas. Targeting a larger surface area might not always be the best option for the pain.
Less Portable
Large, multi-panel systems can often be heavy and take up a large surface area. Even with a mounting system, this makes them hard if not impossible to carry around or take with you to work or on holiday if needed.
In most cases, the panel will have to stay in the specific area it was set up in. This may make it harder to find time to use it, reducing the frequency or use and therefore effectiveness.
Full coverage requires no clothing
Let’s get one thing straight here. To use panels effectively, you have to get naked. Remember that, trying to use red light therapy over clothing may reduce its effectiveness. This is especially the case when wearing dark or shiny colors. Even tight-fitting clothing can reduce the possible benefits you want to receive.
For these reasons, you need to be fully naked to use panels correctly. This might be okay if you have your own home and space, but it's probably not a good idea if you have housemates or want to use it at work or on the go!
Extra protective gear is needed
When using panels, protective gear such as goggles or sunglasses are usually needed to protect your eyes. While this might make you look cool, it’s another thing that you need to consider when using it.
We know this is a rather small disadvantage, but it’s still something to consider when making your decision.
Can only cover one side at a time
While it's true that panels cover a much larger surface area than targeted red light therapy does, you can still only use one side at a time. Because of this, you still need to switch positions, change your timer, and start again.
The only way to truly get around this is by using red light therapy beds that are often in clinical settings and cost hundreds of thousands of pounds!
Now that we’ve discussed some of the disadvantages of using panels in simple terms, we’re going to dive a bit deeper and get into the science behind them.
I want to warn you that we’re going to get quite technical here. However, this section is worth reading if you really want to understand why targeted red light therapy is the better option!
The Inverse Square Law and Light Therapy
The inverse square law is a fundamental principle in physics that describes how the intensity of light diminishes as the distance from the light source increases. According to this law, the intensity of light is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. In practical terms, this means that as the distance between the light source and the target tissue doubles, the light intensity reaching the tissue decreases by a factor of four.
This principle has significant implications for light therapy, as the dosage of light received by the target tissue is crucial for achieving optimal therapeutic effects. When using a light therapy panel, small changes in distance from the panel can result in considerable variations in the light dosage delivered to the internal tissue. This makes it challenging to ensure consistent and accurate dosing when using light therapy panels for treatment.
The Inverse Square Law and Light Therapy
We’re going to start this section by discussing what this actually is before going into the specifics. This will help you to fit the different pieces together!
So, the inverse square law is a fundamental physics principle that describes how light intensity diminishes as the distance from the light source increases. We’ve all experienced being in a lit room before moving away from it into increasing darkness. This is exactly what this principle is.
In scientific terms, the law states that the intensity of light is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. In other words, every time the distance between the light source and the target area doubles, the intensity of the light reaching the area decreases by a factor of four, which is double again.
So, what does this mean for light therapy? Well, we can look at a light panel in exactly the same way. When using red light therapy, the dosage received by the target area or tissue determines the beneficial effects. Using a smaller dosage that can't properly reach the target area means that the benefits won’t be received as intended.
When using a red light panel, small distance changes between the target tissue and the panel can result in considerable dosage variations. This makes it much harder to ensure consistent and accurate dosing when using red light panels.
Hopefully, you’re still following! Here’s the specifics on why this happens:
Variability in distance
Maintaining a consistent distance between the light therapy panel and the target area during treatment is challenging. This means that when using a panel, you need to stay very still in order to ensure you’re getting a consistent dosage. I'm sure if you’ve tried to stay still for more than five minutes, you’ll understand how hard this is!
Even slight positional shifts can result in significant changes in the light intensity. This variability can result in under-dosing or over-dosing which totally changes the treatment’s effectiveness.
Difficulties in targeting deep tissues
Our body tissues strongly absorb the light placed on them. Because of this, deeper penetration of the target tissue tends to require a greater intensity than what’s given off at the skin’s surface.
Because of the inverse square law theory that we’ve discussed above, the light intensity that reaches the skin tends to be low when using panels. This means that panels tend to target tissues at shallow depths meaning they can’t achieve the full benefits that red light therapy can offer.
Uneven distribution of light
A big problem with using panels is that they may not provide a uniform distribution of light across their surface. This variation in light intensity may also lead to uneven dosing across the treatment area.
All this does is further complicate the delivery of consistent and accurate dosing. Not good when you’re looking for a therapeutic treatment option.
Limited control over treatment parameters
Many light therapy panels work on a broad scale, meaning they lack precise control over treatment parameters such as light wavelength, intensity, and duration. Again, this makes it difficult to tailor the treatment to the specific needs of the individual.
If you know anything about recovery and rehabilitation, you’ll know that this is one of the vital factors that needs to be considered when aiming to achieve beneficial outcomes.
So, what’s right for you? Targeted red light therapy or panels?
Now that we’ve completed the breakdown and the science, it’s time to wrap things up once and for all. When choosing between the two options, you need to consider your individual circumstances. What do you want to get out of the treatment? What treatment can help you achieve this?
References
For more articles on light therapy, read:
