5 Important Questions to ask Before Picking the Perfect Place
Sometimes when you are seeking a certain therapy that can be used at home or at a facility, you may want to try it at a gym, spa, clinic before purchasing an expensive device, in order to evaluate how good of a fit it is for you. Red light therapy is no different; for while it makes a lot of sense to purchase a home-use device, starting with a clinic or gym makes a lot of sense, as a few weeks of red light therapy can give you valuable insight what size device you may need, as well as what benefits you can expect. Alternately, if the facility you are visiting has a whole body bed or very large panel which would not be practical in your home setting or fit your budget, then a red light therapy center nearby is also a great option.
When searching for the best red light therapy service near you – you want to make sure you find the right place for your specific questions and needs. Whether you're looking for pain relief, improved skin appearance, or a boost in energy levels, we'll share some key points we feel will help narrow down the search and find the best treatment in your neighborhood.
Finding the best fit for you
Before deciding on a place to try red light therapy, it is a good idea to ask the some key questions, so that you find the treatment option that is best suited for your needs and budget. We have put together a list of criteria and questions so you can be best prepared when you speak to someone at the facility.
Starting your search: Where to look?
To begin the search, you can start by asking your friends or family if they know of any good centers in your area while you also search more traditional sources such as online directories, search engine queries and social media searches for red light therapy. You can call around to different centers and ask about their services and prices. Often, healthcare providers will offer red light in their offices or clinics, and you can get a taste of the treatment by booking an appointment for a trial session. You can also drop a “hint” to your gym or healthcare practitioner who may be considering adding red light therapy to their offerings.
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First Question to ask yourself: which Benefits are you seeking?
Red light therapy has several benefits that make it an attractive option for those looking for alternative or complementary treatments. Typically, these can be divided into two main categories; deep tissue or closer to the surface of the skin.
Examples of deep treatment which would be muscle recovery or healing, systemic benefits such as immune function, inflammation relief in joints, organ and brain benefits etc. any type of improvement of whole body systems or deeper areas would fall into this category.
Examples of superficial benefits would be skin rejuvenation, anti-aging, fat and cellulite reduction, would and scar healing.
The reason this question is so critical is that if you go to a facility that only offers one wavelength for example, and it happens to the wrong one for the benefit you are seeking, then not only will you be wasting your time and money but you may give up on red light therapy altogether based on that unsuccessful experience.
Typically, a stronger irradiance with both red and near infrared light are needed for deeper benefits, so the key is to look for a treatment option that offers red and Near Infrared (NIR) wavelengths simultaneously. A red light therapy bed, or larger half or full body panel would be needed for this type of treatment goal.
Red light in the 600 nanometer range is recommended for surface benefits while NIR light, which is in the 800 nanometer range is recommended for deeper treatment, but together they work in compliment to enhance each other, so you don't need to find one in isolation, you simply want to make sure it is included in the spectral output of the device that the facility has.
Tip: Planet Fitness centers are a popular choice for trying out red light therapy, however notably, their stand-up cabins only offer red light wavelengths in the 600 range and do not have NIR, thus making them a suboptimal choice for deeper benefits that would respond better to NIR wavelengths. It does remain a great choice for those seeking skin and surface benefits and if there are no other options nearby, red light alone can deliver some deeper tissue benefits, just not as penetrative as the NIR wavelength.
Second Question to ask yourself: How large of an area are you looking to treat?
This is another important determination when choosing the right place to visit for red light therapy, as the treatment area is a significant factor in how well the therapy will work. For example, some people may only want to treat one small area, such as problem spot on their face or neck. For these types of benefits, a facility that offers dermatological treatment with smaller red light panels that focus on the face, might be the perfect choice. Or if someone else wants to alleviate pain in a knee or elbow, a physical therapy center with smaller red/NIR panels might be the answer. Others, may want to improve mitochondrial function, improve recovery in large muscle groups or treat the majority of their skin, in which case their best option is a larger panel that offers both red and NIR lights and can cover a large part of the body in one treatment.
Third Question to consider: How easy is it to get to the facility and how flexible is their scheduling?
The reason this is such an important factor is that it plays into the logistics of getting the right number of treatments that will be effective for the benefit that you are seeking. Trying red light therapy only once is most likely not going to yield any results, as for most noticeable changes, you need to try it for at least a couple of weeks if not longer, depending on what you are looking to gain from it. Occasionally people report immediate relief from certain symptoms, however this is usually the exception and we would encourage anyone wanting to give it a try to be consistent and aim for three to five treatments a week. So the distance you have to travel and ease of accessing the facility will directly impact your ability to enjoy multiple treatments.
Fourth Question: How much do the treatments cost?
This is a great question to ask especially if one is on a budget and simply wanting to try red light before buying a home treatment panel, since in some instances using red light therapy at a place of business can be very costly. If the price of treatment begins to equal that of simply purchasing a home use red light therapy setup, then bypassing the clinic altogether may make more sense financially.
Finding a facility that offers red light therapy for an affordable price is the best alternative if that is available. The next best option is to invest in a smaller pane and build on that if the treatment is found to work well.
Fifth Question: What kind of device is the center using?
This question impacts the user experience, as a red light therapy device that also offers a pleasant experience is highly recommended. Often times, a facility has red light panels that their clients can only use standing up, making the treatment a bit tedious. Increasingly popular are lights on stands which make it possible for clients to lie down while enjoying their red light session. Finding such a place is a great start, as it will offer a chance for you to relax and enjoy basking in the pleasant glow of the red light.
What should one Look For in a Red Light Therapy Center?
When you're looking for a red light therapy center, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, you want to make sure that the facility offers a variety of services. Red light therapy can be used for a number of different purposes, so you'll want to make sure that the center you choose offers the services that you're looking for.
Secondly, you want to make sure that the center is clean and professional. This is important because you don't want to end up getting an infection or other health complication from using the therapy.
Thirdly, you want to make sure that the staff at the center is knowledgeable and friendly. This is important because you want to feel comfortable asking questions and working with their personell.
Additionally, you want to make sure that the center has a good reputation. This is important because you want to be sure that your experience with the therapy will be positive.
Red light therapy is a great treatment for those looking to improve their skin health and overall wellness without the use of harsh chemicals or costly procedures. With the right information and guidance, it's easy to find a red light therapy provider near you that can offer the best results with minimal hassle. Whether you're looking for help managing chronic pain, improving your complexion, lowering stress levels, or just boosting your mood, there are many benefits that come from regular red light sessions. We hope this guide has given you plenty of helpful tips on how to locate the best nearby providers who can give you amazing results!
