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Red Light Therapy for Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

Published: Last updated:

Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) result from eccentric exercise and high-intensity training. They cause pain, reduced strength, inflammation, and elevated muscle damage markers.

Prevalence: Universal among athletes and active individuals after intense training

How Red Light Therapy Helps

PBM reduces markers of muscle damage (CK, LDH), decreases inflammatory cytokines, promotes satellite cell activation for repair, and can reduce DOMS severity and duration when applied post-exercise.

Recommended Wavelengths

660nm
Red
810nm
Near-Infrared
830nm
Near-Infrared
850nm
Near-Infrared

Treatment Protocols

Recommended Devices

Device-Specific Treatment Guides

View all 24 guides for Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

Body Zones

Research Basis

This content is informed by 47+ published peer-reviewed studies on photobiomodulation.