What Is Infrared Light Training And How Does It Work?
Infrared training is a form of exercise that combines athletic training with red light therapy to boost energy production and cell regeneration for faster recovery after intense workouts with less soreness overall.
Using both natural red light and near-infrared light from the spectrum of wavelengths, red light therapy blasts your cells with photons of light. In turn, your cells react by producing more energy and regenerating quicker. By leveraging the power of infrared training and by using red light therapy during your workouts, you’ll be able to harness the benefits on-demand as you exercise.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF INFRARED TRAINING?
Improved Physical Performance
Faster Recovery
Less Soreness
Fewer Injuries
Saved Time
Rather than spending time before or after exercising to use red light therapy, infrared training saves you time by combining the two. As you exercise, you’ll harness muscle growth and kick-start recovery benefits immediately. One way to visualize this is to imagine your body as an automobile and red light therapy as the fuel to keep it going – instead of using fuel and then stopping to re-fuel, infrared training would be like re-fueling as you drive!
HOW ATHLETES USE INFRARED TRAINING TO MAXIMIZE THEIR GAINS
So, why do so many athletes and collegiate/pro trainers choose to use infrared training, and how do they incorporate it into their training regimen?
Athletes are turning to infrared training for 2 major reasons:
You can keep your same training routine
Peer-reviewed, scientific evidence demonstrates the benefits
One of the biggest reasons that people don’t improve on or optimize their exercise routine is because change is hard – it takes 21-28 days to make (or break) a habit. With infrared training, that hurdle isn’t an issue because you get to keep your training routine! All you have to do is move your exercises under the red light.
Since most athletes are already training at elite levels, any natural and scientifically-backed advantage they can gain over their competition is worth it. Here’s how biology explains the the maximized gains of infrared training:
Cellular respiration is the vehicle that your body uses to create energy (adenosine triphosphate, a.k.a. ATP). When you have more ATP, you have more available energy to expend which in turn allows you to train longer and harder. Think of ATP as the body’s natural pre-workout energy drink.
On the flip side, infrared training also boosts cellular recovery, whereby your cells synthesize protein and activate enzymes (catalysts for healing). Protein synthesis is essential after working out because it balances proteins lost during exercise by creating new ones. This is why many athletes are directed to drink a protein shake after training – the influx of protein to the body builds muscle during the recovery phase (rest).
Since exercise breaks down muscle (quite literally tearing your muscles), rest (recovery) is what builds them back up to be stronger (and bigger). Red light therapy accelerates the recovery process. Your body’s other response to the breaking down of muscle tissue is inflammation, which makes you sore. Infrared training helps reduce soreness by boosting enzyme production thereby allowing you to heal quicker.
WHAT SYSTEMS WORK WITH INFRARED TRAINING?
One of the leading and most innovative athletic training and rehabilitation systems today is the AllCore360º. With its focus on improving core stability in both athletes and everyday people alike, the AllCore360º gives athletes both an edge when training at full-strength and a leg-up in expediting their recovery after an injury.
By combining the benefits of infrared training with the athletic advantage of the AllCore360º, athletes are able to supercharge their training sessions and expedite their recovery time. Even those who are injured, overcoming illness, or managing a disability and using the AllCore360º to make physical therapy gains will see better results when used in conjunction with infrared training.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT INFRARED TRAINING
SHOULD YOU USE RED LIGHT THERAPY BEFORE OR AFTER A WORKOUT?
The answer depends on your goals – If you’re looking to supercharge your workout, then you can use it before. If you’re looking to recover quicker, then you can use it after. You can also use red light therapy as you train to maximize your gains from infrared training.
DO ATHLETES USE RED LIGHT THERAPY?
Yes! Elite athletes like NFL cornerback Patrick Peterson (Arizona Cardinals) and U.S. Volleyball star Lauren Fendrick have leveraged the power of infrared training to improve their performance.
HOW MANY SESSIONS OF RED LIGHT THERAPY DOES IT TAKE TO SEE RESULTS?
You will begin to see and experience results within 24 hours of a single infrared training session, starting with the decrease of DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness), or soreness.