Photobiomodulation Therapy at KIHC

We’re pleased to introduce a versatile technology to our clients and patients that we believe aligns with the body’s ability to heal: a “Photobiomodulation” device by Inlight Therapy.

 

What is photobiomodulation therapy?

Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy is a form of light therapy. It is often popularly referred to as “red light therapy”, though PBM can include many different colours – not just red ones.

Many of us have already learned that light is carried as a wave and that these waves carry energy in the form of photons. Our different body tissues absorb these light waves and use the energy to complete various biological processes. For example, our body uses light to modulate our circadian rhythm via hormones like melatonin (blue light spectrum) and vitamin D (ultraviolet light spectrum). You may have heard of dermatologists using blue light to treat difficult skin conditions or physicians recommending full-spectrum light to address seasonal depression.

Different colours of light are characterized by the length of their wave. The shorter waves (e.g. blue light) carry more energy but aren’t absorbed quite as deeply as the longer wavelengths (e.g. near infra-red light). In this way, each type of light serves a different therapeutic purpose.

The PBM technology we use at KIHC applies light waves from the red (visible) and near-infrared (invisible) spectrum simultaneously to achieve a variety of biological effects. It uses light in the form of LEDs (“Light Emitting Diodes”) rather than LASER (“Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”), and emits light waves in particular pulsed patterns (frequencies), believed to offer additional healing support for the tissue being targeted.

 

How does photobiomodulation work?

PBM is a fast-evolving science that so far, focuses on at least 2 main mechanisms of action:

1. Microcirculation: Light waves penetrate the skin and trigger local blood vessels to dilate, bringing much needed oxygen and nutrients to the treatment area.
2. Mitochondria: These are the “power houses” in nearly all human cells, that directly absorb these light waves and respond with increased energy production (or “ATP” molecules) that can be used to repair damaged tissues.

PBM research also highlights the role light therapy can play in neuroplasticity, with additional implications for chronic pain, mental health concerns, and neurodegenerative conditions. I’m personally interested in the research that explores how near-infrared light waves impact water structure and charge (energy) around our cells.

 

What kinds of conditions respond to photobiomodulation therapy?

Given that PBM addresses circulation and energy production in cells, many health conditions have been researched for their response to PBM, including:

• Chronic pain (e.g. back pain, TMJ, joint or muscle pain)
• Acute pain (e.g. sports injury)
• Neurological illness and health (e.g. brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, Restless Legs Syndrome)
• Hair loss
• Immune modulation (e.g. autoimmune disorders, allergies)
• Osteoporosis and bone fractures

Additional research is ongoing for its impact on brain function, the lymphatic system (which carries our immune cells and removes waste products), and our microbiome. Understanding this might help us understand why light therapy on one part of the body has far-reaching effects on other parts of the body.

Though much research has been done, much more is required. Consequently, we consider PBM therapy to be an adjunctive and sometimes experimental treatment (i.e. not a stand-alone treatment). Further, these devices are only FDA approved for certain pain conditions. Ask your practitioner whether PBM therapy might be appropriate for your health concerns.

 

What is photobiomodulation therapy like?

At KIHC, we use Inlight Therapy devices and therapy pads. These pads look a bit like a blood pressure cuff but with dozens of tiny lights (diodes) on one side. These pads are hooked up to a “controller box” that manages how the lights function. Pads might be placed directly over your area of concern or on a different area of your body that contributes to the problem in some way. Your practitioner will choose the best area to apply these pads and the program most suited to your health concern.

Therapy is usually most effective when the pads lightly touch the skin, so wear comfortable and loose-fitting clothing. People generally feel nothing or only mild sensations during the treatment process. The program runs for up to 20 minutes.

 

How safe is photobiomodulation therapy?

Inlight Therapy devices do not emit UV rays and are not the same as tanning beds. The effect is also “photo-chemical” and not thermal, meaning that these devices do not cause heat damage. These devices are considered safe for home use.

The research is unclear in a few areas, and so best to avoid light therapy if you have cancer, suspected cancer, a seizure disorder, or are pregnant.

 

How do I access these treatments at KIHC?

We have In Light therapy devices available for KIHC clients to rent for 2 weeks of daily use at home. If you notice positive results and would like to purchase your own device.

If you’d like specific instructions about using our devices (or your own light therapy device) for your particular health concerns, speak with your KIHC healthcare provider during your next appointment, or schedule an integrative “Red Light Therapy” consult with Dr. Sonya.

 

Where can I find more information about photobiomodulation?

Updates (04/2025): PBM therapy has become extremely popular these last two years! Explore these podcast interviews with Dr. Mark Cronshaw for more technical details about PBM. Many people have also enjoyed these more popular podcast show hosts: “Using Light” by Andrew Huberman, and various episodes by Peter Attia, including Red Light Therapy: Promising applications, mixed evidence, and impact on health and aging. 

 

Research and use of light therapy technologies goes back to the 1960s, though the clinical effects of light wavelengths emitted by Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) such as what we’re using, perhaps only appeared in the literature in the 1990s.

Its potential for treating neurological conditions is highlighted in a recent “Nature of Things” episode with David Suzuki on CBC – this time hosted by Dr. Norman Doidge, the author of “The Brain that Changes Itself”.

To date, there are reportedly more than 1300 clinical trials conducted on light therapy. A good portion of this research is led by Michael Hamblin at Harvard Medical School. Links to two of his published articles are listed below.

You can also look up more current research about PBM using the MeSH heading “Photobiomodulation”. (A MeSH heading is the term used by the National Institute of Health to categorize research.) You can further reduce your search here to just clinical trials, meta-analysis, or systematic reviews. Other useful terms to add to your search include the older term “Low-Level Light Therapy” (LLLT), or “Polychromatic Light Therapy”.

 

Hamblin, Michael. Mechanisms and Mitochondrial Redox signalling in Photobiomodulation. Photochem Photobiol; 2018: 199-212. Doi: 10.111/php.12864

Hamblin, Michael. Shining Light on the head: Photobiomodulation for brain disorders. BBA Clinical; 2016: 113-124. Doi: 10.1016/j.bbacli.2016.09.002