How to get the most out of your red light therapy device
As far as any effort that is required for you to get the benefits from your ATaPa light therapy device, its as simple as switching it on and allowing the light to hit your skin. However, this isn’t necessarily a more is better situation. Studies have shown that spending too much time with red light therapy begins to cancel out some of its benefits. While red light therapy is proven to be safe and effective, too much of anything can be overwhelming for your body (your cells can only absorb so much light at once). Below you will find information on effective treatment times, where to place yourself in relationship to your device, how we measure irradiance, and some FAQs.
Measuring Power (light density)
This one's for the geeks, if it doesn't interest you, feel free to skip to the next section about user duration, distance from device, and more ways to get the most out of your red light therapy device.
Light density, or irradiance, is a measurement of light concentration. We measure light density in units of mW/cm2 (milliwatts per centimeter squared). When we can measure the light density, which varies across different devices, we can determine optimal duration times and where your body should be positioned in relationship to the device. Studies have shown that the optimal light density for user treatment times are anywhere between 30-160mW/cm2. The higher the units of mW/cm2, the higher the concentration of photons that are passing through your device. But this is only one aspect of our light equation… the other half involving Joules/cm2. This measures the total amount of energy delivered per area during a light therapy treatment. We find this out by taking our light density (irradiance), multiplying it by our total treatment time in seconds, and then dividing that number by 1,000; giving us the total amount of Joules/cm2.
An example of the formula is as follows…
60mW/cm2 x 240 (seconds= 4 mins) / 1,000 = 14.4 Joules/cm2.
This isn’t the only key variable determining effective treatment times, but first... what is an ideal amount of Joules/cm2?
As far as photobiomodulation research has shown, the effective amount of Joules/cm2 is proven to be anywhere from 10-50J/cm2. Compared to other devices, our ATaPa red light therapy devices deliver high powered, medical grade irradiance at 110mW/cm2. This means shorter and more effective treatment times for less than what the competition costs. Why choose anything else?
Other variables : How to ensure you're getting the most out of your device.
Another key variable in terms of getting the proper treatment is coverage. Obviously, the more coverage the better. You want to have as much skin exposed as possible in order for your whole body to receive the benefits of red light therapy. While red light therapy is proven safe, and does not produce any harmful UV rays such as the sun, you want to think of coverage like getting an even tan. This is why we recommend getting a full body device. Does this mean you wont get the benefits from smaller models? Of course not, our smaller models are absolutely perfect for targeted use. Just point it where you need it, and let the healing begin.
Another key variable for an effective treatment is distance. What is the key distance for our ATaPa devices? Between 4-8 inches. This is clinically proven to be the ideal distance for treatment times. It's important to note that the measure of power density decreases as you move farther away from the light. This is one more reason why you want a device with a greater power density. This also means that the farther you are from your device, the longer the treatment time due to the decrease in mW/cm2 resulting in fewer Joules/cm2. The most important thing for you to remember is that if you want to keep treatment times low, stand up to 4 inches away from your device. An easy way to think about it is, the closer you are, the lower the treatment time, the farther you are, the higher the treatment time.
One more key variable in getting the most effective dose for your red light therapy treatment is time. Ideally, you want your treatment times to be anywhere from 2-15 minutes. This of course really depends on what you're looking to accomplish with your device, and also the distance at which you're standing from it. We recommend that you slowly increase treatment time when you first get started. This means starting on the lower end range of 2 minutes, and gradually increasing as you see fit. This will allow your cells time to adjust to the wonderful benefits of your device.
The last key variable to consider is frequency. If you're looking to get the most out of your ATaPa device, daily use is optimal. Will you still experience benefits if you can't do it daily? Yes. However, we recommend at least 5 sessions per week, at least once a day. It may be beneficial for you to do multiple treatments a day, but this is something we would also work up to. Consistency is absolutely key if you want to get the most out of your device. Please note, that if your body is hungry for energy, red light therapy can create a detox effect. While this is good, it can also feel overwhelming, its one more reason that we suggest starting small for treatment times. This way you can allow your body some time to adjust.
FAQs about usage.
Should I wear eye protection?
While it is not necessary, if it makes you comfortable to do so, go right ahead. In fact, red light therapy is shown in multiple clinical trials to improve eyesight/health. So if you are looking for a boost in vision, we suggest you slowly allow your eyes to adjust to your device. You can safely remove your contact lenses and glasses as well. Please note that the LEDs are in fact very bright, and staring into any bright light can prove problematic for your eyes. So do not stare directly into the light. If you have any pre-existing eye condition, or have just undergone LASIK surgery, you may experience more sensitivity which we would recommend eye protection for.
What clothes should I wear?
The answer is… none! The less the better, most people use red light therapy in the nude. Remember that coverage is an important factor, and the more the better. Obviously, if you are in a situation that requires you to keep your clothes on, please do so. You will still get the benefits from what skin is exposed.
Please remember that red light therapy has been used for decades by medical doctors, NASA, the military, sports medicine, and many more! The following study, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24049929 - points to red light therapies noninvasive nature with virtually no side effects.
If you have any further questions, please refer to our RESOURCES guide, if you want to look at more studies regarding specific topics. You may also reach out to us via EMAIL at info@myatapa.com
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