Whole-body Photobiomodulation.
Red and near infrared light in the 600 to 1100 nanometre range is absorbed by an enzyme inside your mitochondria. That absorption is measurable, well characterised, and the reason this modality exists.
- Delivered across the full body rather than to one area at a time
- Non ionising and non thermal. It does not burn or tan
- Entirely passive. Stand or lie still for the duration
- One of the better evidenced modalities in the facility
Light your cells can actually use.
Not all light does the same thing. Ultraviolet damages DNA at high doses. Red and near infrared light, roughly 630 to 850 nanometres, is non ionising. It passes into tissue without generating meaningful heat and interacts with cells biochemically rather than thermally.
Most photobiomodulation is delivered to one area with a panel or a handheld device. Ours is whole body, which changes the exposure rather than the mechanism. You stand or lie still, the array runs, and nothing touches you.
Full body array · non contact and non thermal
One enzyme does most of the work.
This is one of the few modalities in the facility where the mechanism is understood down to the specific molecule involved, which is why we can describe it plainly rather than gesturing at it.
Light Reaches Tissue
Red and near infrared wavelengths pass through skin without being absorbed by water or haemoglobin the way other wavelengths are. This is why this particular band is used rather than visible light more broadly.
- Non ionising, unlike ultraviolet
- Non thermal at therapeutic doses
- Penetration depth varies with wavelength
Cytochrome c Oxidase Absorbs It
A protein in the mitochondrial membrane called cytochrome c oxidase absorbs these wavelengths. It sits at the end of the electron transport chain, the process that produces ATP. This is the specific molecular interaction the field is built on.
- A named enzyme, not a vague cellular effect
- Positioned at the end of the electron transport chain
- Absorption spectrum matches the wavelengths used
ATP Production Responds
Absorption is associated in the literature with acceleration of the electron transport chain and increased ATP production. ATP is what every cell spends to do its work, which is why this modality sits in the Cellular Energy system rather than in Recovery.
- ATP is the cell's energy currency
- Studied alongside effects on inflammation
- Research also examines mitochondrial dynamics
Dose Follows A Curve
Photobiomodulation follows a biphasic dose response. Too little produces no effect and too much can reduce the benefit rather than increase it. Longer sessions are not better sessions, which is why duration is set rather than chosen.
- A biphasic curve, not a linear one
- Wavelength, irradiance, and duration all matter
- Protocol set by our team, not by preference
What is established.
Photobiomodulation has moved from experimental into accepted clinical practice for several specific indications, and it is worth being precise about which parts have that standing.
The molecular mechanism is well characterised
That red and near infrared light is absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase, and that this relates to mitochondrial respiratory chain activity and ATP production, is described consistently across the literature. This is not a proposed mechanism, it is the accepted basis of the field.
Some clinical applications are established practice
Photobiomodulation has been included in clinical treatment guidelines for oral mucositis since 2020, one of the clearer signals that a therapy has moved beyond experimental status. A 2025 consensus review also addressed applications including peripheral neuropathy and chronic ulcers.
Whole body delivery has a smaller evidence base than local
Most published research studies photobiomodulation applied to a specific area. A 2025 systematic review looking specifically at whole body delivery for exercise performance and recovery found only five eligible studies from 193 screened, covering 105 participants. The mechanism is the same. The volume of whole body specific evidence is smaller, and we would rather tell you that than let it pass.
Who tends to use it.
One of the most broadly tolerated modalities we operate, which makes it easy to include consistently.
Athletes using it around training, before or after depending on the goal
Members working on the Cellular Energy system alongside other passive modalities
People with little time, since sessions are among the shortest here
Anyone who cannot tolerate exertion, heat, cold, or pressure based modalities
People who want a modality where the mechanism is genuinely well described
Screening applies for photosensitising medication, pregnancy, and certain conditions
What to expect.
Short, simple, and among the easiest sessions in the building to keep consistent.
Preparation
- Clean skin without lotion, oil, or sunscreen, which can block the light
- More exposed skin means more surface area receiving light
- Tell our team about any photosensitising medication
- Eye protection is provided and worn throughout
The Session
- You stand or lie within the array while it runs
- Ten to twenty minutes depending on your protocol
- You may feel mild warmth, though it is not a heat treatment
- Nothing touches you and nothing is applied to the skin
Afterwards
- No recovery period and no after effects to plan around
- Train, drive, or return to work immediately
- Frequently paired with another passive session in the same visit
- Consistency matters more here than any individual session
Ten to twenty minutes · eye protection worn throughout
Framed as mechanisms, not promises.
Each item describes what this modality is studied in relation to. None is a guaranteed outcome, and individual response varies.
Absorption by cytochrome c oxidase in the mitochondrial membrane, a well characterised interaction
Activation of the mitochondrial respiratory electron transport chain
Increased ATP production, the energy currency every cell spends
Studied in relation to inflammatory response at the cellular level
Examined in the literature for tissue repair and wound healing
Research into effects on mitochondrial fusion and fission dynamics
Whole body delivery studied for exercise performance and recovery
Non thermal and non ionising, distinguishing it from ultraviolet exposure
Consistency over intensity.
Because the dose response is biphasic, this is a modality where doing it regularly at the right dose beats doing it occasionally for longer.
We measure where you are
VO₂ Max and InBody establish your baseline, and your consultation establishes what you are trying to change. Protocol decisions follow from that.
We set the dose
Duration and frequency are set deliberately rather than left open. More is not better here, and the biphasic curve is the reason your session length is fixed.
We retest
Your markers are measured again at a defined point. What continues or changes is decided on data rather than on how a session felt.
A mechanism you can name.
Photobiomodulation is among the better evidenced modalities we operate. These are papers on the mechanism and its clinical application, linked so you can read the source.
Photobiomodulation uses non thermal red or near infrared light in the 600 to 1100 nanometre range. That spectrum is pertinent to mitochondrial light absorption, activating the respiratory electron transport chain and increasing ATP production.
Systematic review of whole-body photobiomodulation
Effects of photobiomodulation on multiple health outcomes
Evidence-based consensus on clinical application
Does photobiomodulation alter mitochondrial dynamics?
Strong mechanism, and one honest distinction
The molecular mechanism here is well characterised and several clinical applications have entered accepted practice. One thing worth carrying as you read: most of that evidence examines light applied to a specific area rather than across the whole body. The first paper above looks specifically at whole body delivery and found a small number of eligible studies. The mechanism is identical. The volume of whole body specific research is smaller, and you should weigh that yourself.
Questions answered.
Is this the same as a tanning bed?
No, and the difference matters. Tanning beds emit ultraviolet, which is ionising and damages DNA at high doses. This uses red and near infrared, which is non ionising and non thermal. It will not tan you, burn you, or affect your skin the way UV does.
Will I feel anything?
Mild warmth, sometimes. It is not a heat treatment and the sensation is not the mechanism. As with the rest of this category, we would be cautious of judging a session by how it felt.
Is longer better?
No, and this is the most misunderstood thing about the modality. Photobiomodulation follows a biphasic dose response, meaning too much can reduce the effect rather than increase it. Your session length is set for that reason.
How is this different from the panel I could buy?
Coverage and dose control, mainly. A home panel treats one area at a time at whatever output it happens to deliver. Whole body delivery covers far more surface area at a specified irradiance and duration. If you already own a panel and use it consistently, tell us and we will factor that in rather than duplicate it.
Do I need to undress?
Light only affects skin it reaches. More exposed skin means more surface area treated, so most people wear minimal clothing. That is your choice and the session works either way, just over less area.
Should I use it before or after training?
It depends on what you are after, and the research examines both. Our team sequences it deliberately within your protocol rather than leaving the timing to chance.
Is it safe?
It is non ionising, non thermal, and among the best tolerated modalities we operate. Eye protection is worn throughout. Screening applies for photosensitising medications, certain skin conditions, and pregnancy.
How often should I use it?
Where prescribed, typically three to five times a week. Sessions are short enough to include regularly, and consistency matters considerably more here than any single visit.
Is it included in membership?
Access depends on your tier. Circuits are the unit of membership, and which modalities appear in yours is set by your protocol rather than chosen from a menu.
Rarely used alone.
Modalities in this system support each other. These are the ones most often sequenced alongside it.
NanoVi
A passive session studied in the context of protein folding and repair after oxidative stress.
BioCharger
Delivers light as one of four inputs at lower intensity, where this is a dedicated therapeutic dose.
Cellular Energy
See how this modality sits alongside the others addressing how your cells produce and use energy.
Reserve Your Consultation.
Your protocol starts with a conversation and a baseline, not with a modality. In it we will:
- Understand what you are actually trying to change
- Screen for photosensitising medication or anything else relevant
- Set the dose and frequency deliberately rather than leaving it open
- Explain honestly where it helps and where it does not
- Build a protocol across the systems that matter for you