Phototherapy

Light is a form of energy that acts like a wave, and is also a stream of particles called a photon.

The study of light energy began in the 1980s by the National Space Agency (NASA) for the purpose to promote the plants’ growth in space and NASA developed a light devices used low-energy red LEDs as light-emitting devices. At the same time, the director of high-pressure therapy of Wisconsin Medicine Hospital and professor of pediatric neurology, Dr. Harry T. Whelan, also used the red LED device and technology developed by NASA for children treatment. Dr. Whelan found that LED light reacts with cells, when the cells are activated, the increased the cells’ energy will stimulate the growth and regeneration of tissue, giving the tissue, muscle, brain and bones the potential to regenerate.

After learning about Dr. Whelan's research results, the National Space Agency (NASA) found that astronauts had rapid bone loss, muscle atrophy and wounds not healed rapidly without gravity, etc. However, with the LED treatment of low-energy red light, it is found that the wound healing ability is increased by 5 times after irradiation, and bone loss and muscle atrophy are also greatly reduced.

When Dr. Whelan and NASA's results were published, phototherapy medicine began to undergo a series of tests and experiments. It was discovered that the effective light wave must have a certain wavelength and a certain amount of irradiation energy to promote the work of the glandular cells. Too much light will cause damage to the tissue cells, and if it is too weak, it will be ineffective. It has been confirmed that 425nm and 460nm blue light can inhibit the secretion of sebaceous glands and treat acne (acne); 590nm and 595nm yellow light can promote the absorption of external cosmetic products, while 630nm and 660nm red light can promote wound healing and 850nm, 940nm near-infrared light can repair tissue and relieve pain.

Although the wavelength can be precisely set, the illumination angle, the power current of each light source, and the semiconductor of the light source are truly the know-how of various manufacturers. In addition, all the above design points have huge impacts on the illumination efficacy.

To sum up, phototherapy can relieve pain and promote the repair of skin, nerves, bones, muscles, tendons, cartilage and ligaments. It is a non-invasive and side-effect-free physical therapy which is worthy of widespread use.