Member-only story
How Using Red Light Therapy Can Act Like an Anabolic Steroid for Bodybuilding
Looking for a non-steroid advantage to pack on more muscle with exercise?
Building muscle is a hard process. Let me tell you from personal experience it gets even harder after age 60. I work out and from the studies I’ve read I’m expecting RLT to be the magic bullet that will accelerate muscle building and fat loss.
Supplementing exercise with Red Light Therapy (RLT), also called photobiomodulation, not only increases your muscle mass faster with exercise, it aids muscle recovery and reduces DOMS. There are hundreds of clinical studies supporting the effectiveness of the process.
Photobiomodulation before exercise increases strength and reduces fatigue. Photobiomodulation after exercise, boosts recovery and decreases Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).
I like this first study because it uses identical twins with identical genetic codes.
First Study
These brothers are monozygotic identical twins, 19 years old, male, 5'8" tall and weight 154 lbs. They both were college soccer players, living together and matched in habits and diet. Before starting the study, the researchers performed a genetic analysis to confirm that the brothers genetic code was nearly identical.
With their physicality and genetic code matching, increases the confidence the results of this study can be attributed solely to the effects of photobiomodulation.
The Photobiomodulation Treatment
The light used in this study was Near Infrared (NIR) at a wavelength of 850 nm. The amount of light provided to the quadriceps was 5 watts for 15 seconds for 75 watt/seconds or 75 joules. The quadriceps of each leg were similarly treated. RLT treatment in this study was given after each exercise session.
Blinded Study
Many features of the study were blinded. The 850nm wavelength of light is invisible and the LEDs did not generate heat. So neither monozygotic twin knew if they were receiving an RLT treatment or placebo. Weight training was kept separate. Neither twin was allowed to observe the training of his brother.
