When to add Red Light, or use instead of PEMF

Posted on by MearaPulse

I’ll be blunt. From what I have seen and experienced, and based on what I know of the science, high intensity PEMF has better tissue penetration and longer lasting beneficial effects than red light therapy. As a go to, therefore, it is what I will primarily recommend. However, red light / near infrared light therapy (RL/NIL) still has a valuable place as a supplemental therapy.

RL/NIL does a lot of the same things that PEMF does, but it works in a different way. Whereas PEMF essentially stimulates electron activity within the cells with magnetic waves (not to be mistaken for electric pulses – that is not what PEMF does), light therapy uses photons. After a certain amount of time in a session, PEMF will have done all it can do. With deeper penetrating applications, such as those utilized by MearaPulse, it can be sort of like charging your phone battery. Once you have reached 100%, that’s as high as it will go for that session. When you introduce another modality, however, you’ve introduced another means to stimulate the cellular function to further promote healing and/or pain relief.

When you have an area or joint in the body with a chronic or acute injury that is causing significant pain or impairment, using both modalities truly maximizes the healing potential, synergizing the effects of both.

When to add Red Light to a PEMF Session

Honestly, you could add red light to just about anything you’d use PEMF for (except being able to access tissue deeper than 2-3 inches, or through bone). Here, however, I will list the scenarios and conditions in which I see the most benefit adding RL/NIL.

  • Arthritis
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Inflammatory conditions affecting a joint
  • Inflammatory conditions affecting superficial soft tissue
  • Laminitis/founder
  • Acute or chronic injury to a tendon or superficial muscle
  • Wounds to the skin and joints
  • Scar tissue (enhances pliability)
  • Bone fractures
  • If you have your own light therapy device!

When to use Red Light instead of PEMF

Because light therapy uses photons instead of magnetic waves, and because the beams are easier to be in control of with shallower penetration, there are some occasions where it is safer or more preferable to use. Some of these are contraindications for PEMF where it cannot be applied.

  • Cochlear implant
  • Pacemaker
  • Insulin pump
  • Medical implants (please inquire about specifics)
  • Sensitivity to EMF
  • If you wish to focus on a localized area

It’s impossible to include every possible scenario, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions.