Red Light Therapy for Athletes: Recovery, Performance & Endurance

The Recovery Science

Intense exercise creates micro-tears in muscle fibers and generates inflammatory byproducts. Your body's natural repair process handles this — but it takes time. Near-infrared light at 850nm accelerates this process by stimulating mitochondrial ATP production in muscle cells, reducing inflammatory cytokines, and improving blood flow to damaged tissue.

• Reduces delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) by up to 50%
• Accelerates muscle fiber repair
• Reduces exercise-induced inflammation
• Improves mitochondrial efficiency for sustained performance
• Supports faster return to training

Pre-Workout Priming

Light therapy isn't just for recovery. Pre-workout sessions can prime muscles for performance by increasing blood flow, improving mitochondrial readiness, and reducing baseline inflammation. Many athletes use the Dahlia bed both before and after training for maximum benefit.

Recovery PTx™ for Iowa Athletes

LightLab's Recovery PTx™ program is designed for athletes of all levels — from weekend warriors to competitive endurance athletes. We serve runners, cyclists, CrossFit athletes, and team sport players from across the Des Moines metro. Our Clive location is open 6 days a week to fit your training schedule.