Red and near-infrared light activates the power plants of your cells. Research shows what that delivers: faster recovery after training, more collagen in your skin and better nights.
Mitochondria are the power plants in almost every cell of your body. They produce ATP: the energy for your muscles, your skin, your brain and your recovery. When they work less well, every system notices.
Over the years, the quality and activity of your mitochondria decline. A lack of daylight, intense training, stress and short nights demand even more of them.
Source: Sun N, Youle RJ, Finkel T. The Mitochondrial Basis of Aging. Mol Cell. 2016;61(5):654–666. doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2016.01.028
Your muscles are packed with mitochondria. Less cellular energy means slower recovery and tiring sooner.
Skin cells need energy to produce collagen. Less energy means less firmness and glow.
Repairing tissue and calming inflammation cost energy. When it runs out, stiffness and discomfort linger.
Your brain uses around 20% of all the energy in your body. You notice lower cellular energy in your focus and your sleep.
Slower recovery, stiffer joints and skin that ages faster.
Red and near-infrared light penetrate your skin and are absorbed directly by your mitochondria. This is called photobiomodulation. Your cells produce more energy and get the signal to recover. Because mitochondria are everywhere, your whole body benefits. No UV, no heat and no pain.
Source: de Freitas LF, Hamblin MR. Proposed Mechanisms of Photobiomodulation or Low-Level Light Therapy. IEEE J Sel Top Quantum Electron. 2016;22(3). doi.org/10.1109/JSTQE.2016.2561201
Results from published studies using red and near-infrared light.
¹ Leal-Junior et al., Lasers Med Sci 2015 · ² Wunsch & Matuschka, Photomed Laser Surg 2014 · ³ Lee et al., Lasers Surg Med 2007 · ⁴ Zhao et al., J Athl Train 2012. Results from the studies cited; individual results may vary.
From muscle recovery to skin: the key studies at a glance, each linked to its source.
Across 34 randomised studies, light therapy before exercise improved muscular endurance and the recovery of muscle strength. Creatine kinase (CK), a marker of muscle damage, also fell.
34 randomised studies
Li BM et al. Lasers in Medical Science, 2024;39:132
View the study →A comparison of recovery methods: red light before training significantly reduced muscle soreness. Compression (such as compression boots) and electrical muscle stimulation after training did not.
19 randomised studies · 672 participants
Canez MS et al. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2025;44:570–584
View the study →After light therapy, participants lasted longer and managed an average of 5.5 more reps than with placebo. Red or infrared light before exercise gave the best results.
13 randomised studies
Leal-Junior ECP et al. Lasers in Medical Science, 2015;30(2):925–939
View the study →After 30 sessions, complexion, roughness and measured collagen density had improved significantly compared with the control group. Independent assessors did not know who had been treated.
136 participants · 2 sessions per week
Wunsch A, Matuschka K. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, 2014;32(2):93–100
View the study →Four weeks of alternating blue (415 nm) and red (633 nm) LED light: inflamed lesions fell by an average of 78%, non-inflamed by 34%. Participants also reported a more even, radiant complexion.
24 participants with mild to moderate acne
Lee SY et al. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 2007;39(2):180–188
View the study →A review from Harvard Medical School: red and near-infrared light has positive effects on wrinkles, scars, wound healing and inflammation-prone skin, with virtually no side effects.
Review · Wellman Center for Photomedicine
Avci P et al. Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 2013;32(1):41–52
View the study →Elite athletes received 30 minutes of whole-body red light on 14 evenings. Their sleep quality, melatonin levels and endurance improved compared with the group without light.
20 participants · 14 days
Zhao J et al. Journal of Athletic Training, 2012;47(6):673–678
View the study →Across five randomised studies, photobiomodulation significantly improved sleep quality (PSQI score) compared with a sham treatment. According to the researchers, light supports energy metabolism in the brain, among other things.
5 randomised studies · 240 participants
Vital de Azevedo WM et al. Lasers in Medical Science, 2026;41(1)
View the study →Nurses with sleep problems received 30 minutes of red (660 nm) and near-infrared (850 nm) LED light 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Their insomnia score dropped from 12.6 to 4.3 compared with the control group, and stress and low mood also decreased.
64 participants · 4 weeks
Liao YH et al. Journal of Nursing Management, 2025
View the study →Light therapy with near-infrared light (785–860 nm) reduced pain and disability in knee osteoarthritis significantly more than placebo. The effect lasted up to 12 weeks after the treatment period.
22 placebo-controlled studies · 1,063 participants
Stausholm MB et al. BMJ Open, 2019;9(10):e031142
View the study →Published in The Lancet: light therapy reduced neck pain immediately after treatment in acute cases, and up to 22 weeks after the treatment period in chronic cases. Side effects were mild and no different from placebo.
16 randomised studies · 820 participants
Chow RT et al. The Lancet, 2009;374(9705):1897–1908
View the study →Across 40 randomised studies on jaw joint disorders, light therapy reduced pain and improved pain-free jaw opening. Regular sessions (3–4 times a week) gave the best results.
40 randomised studies
Ok SM et al. Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery, 2025;44(3):138–156
View the study →Light is absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase in the mitochondria. This leads to more ATP and activates signals for repair, reduced inflammation and cell protection.
Review · Harvard Medical School
de Freitas LF, Hamblin MR. IEEE J Sel Top Quantum Electron, 2016;22(3)
View the study →Light therapy works best within an optimal dose. That is why wavelength, intensity and treatment time matter so much.
Review · dosing
Chung H et al. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2012;40(2):516–533
View the study →Photobiomodulation lowers inflammatory markers and strengthens the antioxidant defences of cells. According to this review, an overall reduction in inflammation is one of the most consistent effects, particularly relevant for joints, injuries and the brain.
Review · Wellman Center for Photomedicine
Hamblin MR. AIMS Biophysics, 2017;4(3):337–361
View the study →In research, everything comes down to the right wavelength and dose. Nuvibody uses red (630–660 nm) and near-infrared (810–850 nm) light: the wavelengths from the studies above.
We measure light intensity with a spectrometer at treatment distance, rather than just quoting the power of the LEDs. So you know exactly what dose you are getting.
MBBS, FCPS, MRCP (UK) · Peer reviewer for The Lancet, Wolters Kluwer and Frontiers, among others
Dr. Maqbool reviews Nuvibody's articles on red light therapy and photobiomodulation for medical accuracy, scientific grounding and responsible use of health claims.
Yes. More than 13,000 scientific publications have appeared on photobiomodulation, including meta-analyses that summarise dozens of randomised studies. Research is especially extensive for muscle recovery, skin and joints.
It depends on your goal. In studies on muscle performance, the effect was measured with exposure just before training. For skin, studies showed results after around 30 sessions at two sessions per week. Consistency is key.
For most goals, 3 to 5 sessions per week of 10 to 20 minutes work best. Follow the manual for the right distance and time.
Red light (630–660 nm) is mainly absorbed in the skin and is widely studied for skin and collagen. Near-infrared (810–850 nm) penetrates deeper, into muscles and joints. Nuvibody combines both.
Studies use a specific dose: intensity (mW/cm²) multiplied by time. If a device is too weak, you won't reach that dose. That is why we measure the actual intensity at treatment distance with a spectrometer.
Red and near-infrared light contains no UV and is non-invasive. Studies reported virtually no side effects. Don't look directly into the light and follow the manual. Are you pregnant, taking medication that makes you sensitive to light, or do you have a medical condition? Then consult your doctor first.
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