Enhance Your Massage Session with Red Light and Infrared Therapy

Suzan D. Walker LMT 104331
Oct 8
4 min read

Updated: Oct 10

A hand lit by red LED lights in a grid pattern. The background glows red, casting vibrant light and shadows around the hand. — Red Light therapy is a another option that you can include in your massage therapy session.

Incorporating red light therapy into your massage sessions may help support relaxation, comfort, and overall wellness. Many clients notice enhanced relaxation and a sense of ease during and after sessions when red light therapy is used.

Red light therapy has become quite the buzzword lately, especially with its rise on the internet and in wellness communities. It’s often linked with anti-aging trends and even biohacking, as people look for ways to support their cells and overall vitality. Personally, I’ve been using red light therapy for over a decade, and I’ve seen how powerful it can be. In my own experience, it has supported faster recovery after workouts and injuries. I even used red light therapy after my cavitation surgery, and I truly believe it was one of the main factors that helped me heal more quickly. Some of my clients also use it regularly for neuropathy, post-operative care, and general wellness. It’s not only helpful for specific concerns but also an excellent tool for ongoing maintenance and self-care.

How Red Light Therapy is Used

Even though I have a handheld red light therapy device, I primarily use a red light therapy mat or a panel that is placed over specific areas of your body during the session. For example, if you have tension in your low back, I may use the mat on that section. This allows the light to target areas where it might be most supportive while I am massaging you in other areas.

Cellular Benefits of Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy works at the cellular level to:

Enhance mitochondrial function and ATP production, giving cells more energy to repair and regenerate
Stimulate cell proliferation and viability, including fibroblasts and stem cells, supporting tissue repair and regeneration
Reduce oxidative stress and modulate inflammation, protecting cells and accelerating healing
Support nerve health and neuropathy, particularly beneficial for many geriatric clients or anyone with nerve injuries

Red LED therapy lights are applied on bare skin under a beige blanket, creating a warm, soothing atmosphere. — Red Light with Avazzia treatment

Use of Red Light Therapy at Home

There are many types of red light therapy tools available, including:

Red light therapy masks for the face
Red light massage tools with vibration for facial muscles
Devices for specific body parts like wrists, arms, knees, and shoulders
Red light mats for targeted areas or full-body use
Basic red light panels or bulbs that can hang over your bed or workspace
Infrared red light bulbs for home therapy

Prices vary, ranging from around $20 and up—generally, the higher the price, the better the quality. Look for FDA-cleared devices whenever possible, as your money will most likely be well spent on these. Always read reviews to ensure you’re choosing a reliable product that matches your needs.

Infrared Mat Therapy: Deep Heat and Relaxation

In addition to red light therapy, I also use an infrared mat for most sessions. Unlike a regular heating pad that mainly warms the surface of the skin, far infrared (FIR) heat penetrates more deeply, up to about 1.5 inches (4 cm) beneath the skin, reaching into muscles and soft tissues. This deeper warmth can help ease muscle tension, support circulation, and provide a more thorough sense of relaxation throughout the body. Infrared therapy has also been shown to support cellular activity, help with pain management, and promote overall wellness for a variety of conditions.

Infrared therapy may help support the body on a cellular level and provide gentle comfort for conditions like fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, connective tissue disorders, or autoimmune challenges. It can act as a natural sauna therapy, helping with circulation and overall relaxation. With the mat, clients may burn up to 800 calories per hour while enjoying deep heat relaxation. Most clients prefer this therapy in combination with red light therapy, as it can compliment the overall session experience.

Red light and Infrared therapy can be used for:

Muscle recovery
Chronic or acute injuries
Scar healing
Post-workout soreness
Post-surgery recovery
Neuropathy

Different wavelengths target different tissue layers. Some work on surface tissues like skin and scars, while others penetrate deeper to support muscles, joints, connective tissue, and nerves.

Red light therapy and Infrared Mat is included in your massage session at no extra cost. Next time you book, we can make it part of your session so your body gets a little extra boost toward recovery, relaxation, and overall wellness.

If you’re interested in experiencing the benefits of red light and infrared therapy consider incorporating it into your next massage session. They are non-invasive, scientifically supported methods to enhance your body’s natural healing process.

With care and Support,

Suzan (Susan) Walker LMT

Massage therapy is not a substitution for medical treatment. The massage therapist cannot diagnose, treat or prevent disease. The therapist can only recommend products and services. Please consult a medical physician for further treatment.

References

Hamblin, M.R. (2017). Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophysics, 4(3), 337–361.
Chung, H., Dai, T., Sharma, S. K., Huang, Y. Y., Carroll, J. D., & Hamblin, M. R. (2012). The nuts and bolts of low-level laser (light) therapy. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 40(2), 516–533.
Avci, P., Gupta, A., Sadasivam, M., Vecchio, D., Pam, Z., Pam, N., & Hamblin, M. R. (2013). Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring. Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 32(1), 41–52.
Vatansever, F., & Hamblin, M. R. (2012). Far infrared radiation (FIR): its biological effects and medical applications. Photonics & Lasers in Medicine, 1(4), 255–266. PMC3699878