810nm Wavelength in Red Light Therapy

Last Updated:
810nm Wavelength in Red Light Therapy

Our Products

810nm Near-Infrared: Deep-Tissue & Brain Healing

Photobiomodulation (PBM) at 810nm delivers near-infrared light that can reach deeper targets than visible red. By acting on mitochondrial cytochrome-c oxidase and downstream nitric-oxide/ROS signaling, 810nm supports cellular energy, blood flow, and repair in muscles, joints, nerves, and the brain (transcranial PBM). High-output LED delivery makes it practical and non-invasive for at-home use focused on performance, pain, recovery, and cognitive support.

Table of Contents

Research Summary (Human-focused, 810nm): From our curated dataset of 287 studies:

  • Very successful: 144 (50%)
  • Somewhat successful: 84 (29%)
  • No effect: 59 (21%)

Overall success: ~79% (very + somewhat). Outcomes are dose- and protocol-dependent.

Bioequivalent Wavelengths: 800–830nm

810nm sits inside the classic NIR “window” (≈800–830nm). When dose is matched, 808/810/820/830nm often yield comparable biological effects due to overlapping chromophore absorption and similar tissue optics. Compared with 660nm, 810nm scatters less and penetrates deeper - useful for muscles, joints, peripheral nerves, and transcranial targets.

Conditions Benefiting from 810nm

  • Brain & cognition: attention, working memory, executive function, post-concussive symptoms [1][5]
  • Mood & stress: symptom improvement in small trials/series with prefrontal tPBM [2][6]
  • Muscle & performance: DOMS reduction and strength preservation around training [7]
  • Tendinopathies & OA: pain/function signals in lateral elbow and knee OA when dosed over weeks [9][10]
  • Spine pain: adjunct support in neck and low-back programs [12][13][14]

Applications in Brain & Cognition

Transcranial 810nm (prefrontal placements) has been associated with improvements in attention/working memory and faster psychomotor performance. Effects often appear within minutes to hours and can persist beyond the session window [1][5].

Cognitive Rehabilitation Adjunct

tPBM paired with cognitive rehab reported greater gains vs. rehab alone on several executive-function measures in adults [1].

Mood & Stress

Repeated prefrontal tPBM sessions (multi-week) showed reductions in depressive symptoms and perceived stress in small clinical cohorts [2][6].

Traumatic Brain Injury (symptom support)

Human series/trials report improvements in sleep, headache, and executive function in persistent post-concussive presentations after multi-week tPBM programs [3][4].

Applications in Muscle, Joint & Pain

Because 810nm reaches deeper than red, it’s frequently used for large muscle groups and joints.

Exercise Recovery

Pre-/post-exercise 810nm was associated with reduced DOMS and better strength retention in trained individuals when energy density and timing were optimized [7].

Tendinopathy & Knee Osteoarthritis

In lateral epicondylalgia and knee OA, protocols delivered several times weekly over weeks reported pain reduction and functional improvement vs. controls or exercise alone [9][10].

Neck & Low-Back Pain

Trials using NIR PBM as an adjunct reported improvements in pain and range of motion in neck and chronic low-back programs, especially when combined with movement-based rehab [12][13][14].

Applications in Metabolism & Circulation

Human data suggest NIR PBM can support local perfusion and oxygen availability in target tissues during recovery phases; users often report improved perceived energy with consistent dosing. (General rationale supported across the above exercise and pain trials.)

Applications in Surgical & Dental Recovery

Dental Grafting (Adjunct)

Adjunct PBM around free gingival grafting reported improved clinical parameters vs. standard care alone, suggesting a role in early-stage recovery protocols [15].

Choosing an LED Device for 810nm

RLT Home panels in the Total Spectrum series include high density of 810nm alongside 630/660/830/850/1064nm for full depth coverage.

  • Adequate irradiance at working distance (clinically relevant dose in minutes, not hours)
  • Uniform LED density for large areas (thighs, back, shoulders)
  • Pulsing options (0-5000 Hz commonly used in tPBM literature) and continuous modes or use no pulse
  • Session controls for repeatable dosing (time, cadence, weekly frequency)
  • Low flicker, low EMF and precise wavelength calibration

Safety & Dosing Notes

810nm shows a favorable safety profile in human studies; most side effects are mild and transient (warmth, brief redness). Effects are biphasic: too little is ineffective; too much can blunt benefits. Start conservatively, increase gradually, and keep frequency consistent.

  • Seek clinical guidance if pregnant, photosensitive, on photosensitizing meds, or under active oncology care.
  • For transcranial use, avoid direct eye exposure and keep sessions within conservative time windows.
  • Use as an adjunct to, not a replacement for, standard medical care.
Back To Research

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.