Wavelengths

The light therapy system consists of lights in different wavelengths that can impact the body on a cellular level. However, not all wavelengths can affect the cells in the body. Here you can find out why and how.

The electromagnetic spectrum

Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, UV, x-rays, and gamma waves are all energies and part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Somewhere in the middle, you have visible light. The visible light is the light you can see (red, yellow, green, blue, violet).

All energies are moving in waves and can be measured in how long the waves are – wavelengths. For example, radio waves are as long as a football field, microwaves as the thickness of paper, and x-rays as a width of a water molecule.

The optical window

Some of the wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum can reach through the skin and tissue in the body. The range of wavelengths that has the best impact on the body is called the optical window. These wavelengths are red, near-infrared, and infrared light in approximately 600nm – 1200nm.

Infrared light

Infrared light is outside of visible light, and therefore we can’t see it. Since infrared light has longer waves than visible light, it can also reach further through the body, as red light can reach further than blue light.

Why combining different wavelengths?

If infrared light can reach further, why do we even use red light in our light therapy system? Because different wavelengths can penetrate different materials (water, blood, tissue, etc.). For example, the higher the wavelengths, the more water absorbs the light.

Why no blue light?

For the LED by Cheval light therapy system, we have chosen the lights within the optical window because that’s the wavelengths that best affect the body. Blue light is antibacterial (like red light) and is often used within health care to sterilize instruments. However, concerning “living tissue,” red and infrared lights have a more significant impact.