Technology is developing at a faster rate than any of us ever imagined. It has been impacting the global sports industry for a very long time. Different leagues, clubs, players have invested billions of dollars on health, training, better performance over the years. It has undoubtedly led the industry to competitively use the latest technology in practice, healthcare facilities, individual physical growth, etc. Below are the 5 Reasons Why Athletes Use Red Light Therapy.
Whenever there is a new technology on the horizon, some of the sportspersons do not fear to incorporate them, to get a competitive edge. There is a new phenomenon as such on the rise. It’s called red light therapy.
Red light therapy is a relatively new technology that emits red light. It is also known as Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) or phototherapy. The low light emission coming from red lights goes through your skin to rejuvenate different parts of your skin. It does not generate any heat and thus is considered harmless. Red light therapy also doesn’t have any side-effects, which makes it the perfect choice for a lot of sports personnel to take care of their physique.
How Does It Work?
By entering through your skin, Red Light Therapy naturally stimulates the body’s production of Adenosine Triphosphate. It is the key to the regeneration of the body’s cells.
So, when the production of Adenosine Triphosphate is stimulated, our bodies react by improving the time of recovery, better skin, and more blood circulation. The results of its usage in a person’s regular life can be life-changing.
Red light therapy has proven to improve skin, recovery time, sleeping cycle, hair growth, immunity, and much more. So, its results were more than enough for a lot of athletes around the world to keep around.
How Does It Help Athletes?
Some sports are more physically demanding than others. The benefits of red light therapy can vary. It can leave a lasting impression on anyone who has used it in more than one way. The reason behind using red light therapy for an athlete can be more than one. One athlete could use it for enhanced physical prowess. In contrast, another athlete could use it to recover from tiring training sessions quickly. Let’s look at the five most common reasons why athletes use red light therapy:
Better Workout Sessions:
Nike’s Oregon Project trains Olympic distance runners, and they have been a strong advocate of red light therapy. The head coach of the Oregon Project, Alberto Salazar, said, “I felt that for that next month that we had the best workouts in terms of consistency that we have ever had with our group.” There are many athletes who use red light therapy for muscle on a regular basis. So, it is evident that athletes can expect to get better results in the gym and practice sessions when their bodies are exposed to regular doses of red lighting. A lot of teams around the world has already gotten themselves a red light therapy facility where their players can
Enhanced Energy:
Mitochondria – the powerhouse of the cell – is responsible for converting the food we eat into energy. That is where we get our power to live. Red light therapy’s short wavelengths of light go through our skin and stimulate mitochondria. Tyson Chandler of the Phoenix Suns said, “It gives me a little more energy, and makes my muscles feel fresh.”
Faster Recovery:
By now, we know that red light therapy helps improve our skin. But, it’s not just the skin that is benefited from the therapy. Alongside it stimulating the mitochondria, it helps to reduce inflammation, which can cause muscles to recover in a late manner. As a result, any individual going through regular red light therapy would be less likely to suffer from fatigue. Tyson Chandler also said that he felt that red light therapy helped him recover from the intense training sessions.
Better Mental Health:
The effects of red light therapy go beyond just physical, skin, sleep issues. It can help you focus better. It can help cure someone’s depression. Patrick Peterson is an NFL legend who uses red light therapy. According to him, since using red light therapy, his “mental game is much clearer.”
We have all noticed how big teams hire psychologists before a big game or a big tournament. Some clubs permanently employ a psychologist’s team to keep players focused and determined. So, it goes without saying that mental health is a big part of any sports.
Better Sleep:
For an athlete, it’s tough to get sleep the night before a big game or just any match in general. With the rise of sleep deprivation around the world, the problem is getting worse. More and more sportspersons are dealing with bad sleeping cycles and sleep deprivation.
It has a severe impact on their performance. Red light therapy one of the most valuable benefits is that it can soothe a person to the degree that a person can increase the quality of sleep. In general, people are exposed to blue lights emitting from electronic devices and displays around them. Red light not just stops the blue light, it undoes the harm done by it.
Pinstripe Magazine Staff
Online Men’s Lifestyle Magazine on Gear, Grooming, Girls, Gadgets
