Summary: Red light therapy uses different wavelengths because each wavelength interacts with the body differently and reaches tissue to different depths. At Bridge Chiropractic, our system combines 630 nm and 660 nm red light with 810 nm, 830 nm, and 850 nm near-infrared light. Red wavelengths are generally more concentrated in superficial tissues, while near-infrared wavelengths can penetrate more deeply, making a multi-wavelength approach useful when targeting tissues at different depths. Research also shows that wavelength is only one part of effective photobiomodulation, with factors such as dose, power, and treatment time also playing important roles.
You may have noticed red light therapy devices described using numbers such as 630 nm, 660 nm, or 850 nm. These numbers are not different strengths or intensities. They describe the wavelength of the light, measured in nanometres.
Different wavelengths have different optical and biological properties, which is why therapeutic systems may combine several of them.
Red Light vs. Near-Infrared Light
Red light and near-infrared light occupy neighbouring parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, but there is an important difference.
Red light, including our 630 nm and 660 nm wavelengths, is visible to the human eye and tends to have a greater effect in more superficial tissues.
Near-infrared light, including our 810 nm, 830 nm, and 850 nm wavelengths, is invisible and generally penetrates farther through tissue. This makes near-infrared wavelengths particularly interesting for photobiomodulation involving deeper targets such as muscles and other musculoskeletal tissues.
Why Use 630 nm and 660 nm?
Bridge Chiropractic’s system uses two red wavelengths:
- 630 nm
- 660 nm
Wavelengths in this red-light range are commonly used in photobiomodulation research. Around 660 nm is also within an important absorption region associated with cytochrome c oxidase, an enzyme involved in mitochondrial energy metabolism.
Because red light does not penetrate as deeply as near-infrared light, these wavelengths complement rather than replace the deeper-reaching wavelengths in our system.
Why Use 810 nm, 830 nm and 850 nm?
Our system also delivers three near-infrared wavelengths:
- 810 nm
- 830 nm
- 850 nm
The 800 to 850 nm range is widely studied in photobiomodulation. Research has identified absorption bands for cytochrome c oxidase in both the red and near-infrared portions of the spectrum, and wavelengths around 810 to 850 nm can provide biologically meaningful light delivery into deeper tissues.
This is particularly relevant when red light therapy is being used as part of a broader approach to musculoskeletal care and recovery.
What Does Red Light Do at the Cellular Level?
Photobiomodulation is thought to work partly through the interaction of red and near-infrared photons with cellular components, particularly within the mitochondria. One extensively studied mechanism involves cytochrome c oxidase, which is part of the mitochondrial electron transport chain.
These interactions can influence cellular energy production and signalling processes. However, the science is more complex than simply saying that a particular wavelength automatically produces a particular health benefit. Responses to photobiomodulation are dependent on both wavelength and dose, and researchers continue to investigate the precise mechanisms involved.
Why Combine Multiple Wavelengths?
Using multiple wavelengths allows a red light therapy system to deliver light with different penetration and absorption characteristics rather than relying on a single wavelength.
At Bridge Chiropractic in Lethbridge, our red light therapy system combines 630 nm, 660 nm, 810 nm, 830 nm, and 850 nm wavelengths. This combination provides both red and near-infrared light as part of treatments customized around each patient’s individual goals.
If you’re curious whether red light therapy could complement your chiropractic or recovery plan, contact Bridge Chiropractic to book a consultation.