Red Light Therapy for Muscle Growth & Testosterone

Whether you’re a professional bodybuilder or just an average gym-goer, building muscle offers a wide range of health benefits. The more muscle mass a person has, the easier it is for them to control blood sugar, the more joint support they have, and the faster their metabolism is.

 

Of course, the most important influences on a person’s muscle mass include regular strength training and a high-protein diet. However, other lifestyle changes can lead to better, more noticeable results. This includes red light therapy.

 

Never heard of red light therapy? Not sure what it is or how it works? Read on to learn more about the connections between red light therapy and muscle growth.

What Is Red Light Therapy?

Before we start addressing questions about red light therapy and testosterone production or red light therapy and muscle recovery, let’s address what red light therapy is and how it works.

 

Red light therapy is a simple and non-invasive treatment protocol that uses red and near-infrared light wavelengths.

 

Red light therapy was first created to address topical issues (acne, fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, etc.). However, it has evolved quite a bit over the years and has since been found to offer a variety of other benefits, including faster muscle growth.

 

Red light therapy works by penetrating the skin and reaching the cells of the body. The wavelengths produced by red light devices stimulate the mitochondria (often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell) and allow the body to create adenosine triphosphate (or ATP) more efficiently and with less oxidative stress and inflammation.

 

ATP is the body’s main source of energy. When more of it is produced, the body is better able to carry out a wide range of processes, including processes related to muscle growth and recovery.

Does Red Light Therapy Increase Testosterone?

A few small studies suggest that red light therapy can increase testosterone production. This, in turn, can lead to improvements in muscle growth, particularly for active individuals (such as bodybuilding competitors) who are looking for an extra edge that helps them to add more mass and present their best physique.

 

Those who struggle with low testosterone often experience diminished muscle mass, strength, and endurance. This, in turn, can cause them to have trouble losing weight, and they may even gain weight despite eating well and exercising regularly.

 

Red light therapy increases testosterone levels because it improves the efficiency of all of the body’s processes. In men, it specifically stimulates energy production in the Leydig cells. These are the cells that are responsible for testosterone production in the testicles. If these cells are producing energy more efficiently, this allows for natural increases in testosterone levels.

Additional Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Muscles

In addition to supporting testosterone production, there are other benefits of red light therapy for muscles. The following are some additional perks to keep in mind:

Increased Strength

Those who use red light therapy are more likely to notice strength increases than those who don’t. For example, this study found that men who received light therapy were able to leg press weights 55 percent higher than those who didn’t receive the same therapy.

Increased Endurance

Endurance has been shown to improve in response to regular red light therapy treatments, too. This study shows that pre-exercise red light therapy can increase oxygen uptake and time-to-exhaustion in treadmill runners while also decreasing body fat.

Improved Performance

From increased strength to improved endurance and speed, overall workout performance improves with red light therapy. When you’re performing better during your training sessions, you’re going to see results faster and are more likely to be happy with your outcomes.

Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Athletes

Of course, athletes can enjoy the muscle-building benefits of red light therapy. There are other reasons for them to include it in their routines, though, including the following:

Reduced Pain and Inflammation

Red light therapy allows for more efficient ATP production without high levels of oxidative stress and inflammation. This is very important for athletes who naturally experience higher levels of inflammation because of the demands placed on their bodies.

 

Regular red light therapy sessions help to combat inflammation. This, in turn, reduces muscle soreness and pain that often follow difficult training sessions.

Faster Recovery

In addition to reducing inflammation, red light therapy can also improve circulation and blood flow. This helps to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and carries away waste products, which explains why red light therapy helps recovery after tough workouts.

How to Use Red Light Therapy for Muscle Growth

Another great thing about using red light therapy for muscle growth is that it can be done anywhere. High-quality red light therapy devices are sold online and are easy to set up in your home (you can even add them to your sauna and experience those benefits at the same time).

 

To see the best results from your red light therapy treatments, follow these steps:

Expose the Skin

If possible, remove clothing and expose the skin of the area you want to target with the red light therapy device. Red light therapy is not hot or damaging to the skin. All you will feel is a warming sensation.

Start Low and Slow

Start with short sessions (around 10 minutes) and aim for a few treatments per week. This helps you to start building a habit of regular red light therapy.

Be Consistent

Speaking of regular red light therapy, consistency is key. The more frequently and consistently you undergo treatments, the easier it will be for you to see results and maximize your muscle growth.

Try Red Light Therapy Today

Now that you know more about the benefits of red light therapy for muscle recovery and red light therapy for bodybuilding progression, are you interested in experiencing it for yourself?

 

If you want to see what red light therapy can do for you and your fitness goals, check out our high-quality, high-performing devices today. Visit our store to shop our wide range of red light therapy products, from sauna panels to portable tabletop devices.