Red Light Therapy Benefits: What New Research Shows

Curious about red light therapy? So are researchers. What do the red light therapy benefits look like when scientists put light therapy to the test? Two studies published in September 2026 add to the picture: one on sleep, and one on strength and endurance.

Here is what each study did, what it found, and what it means for you, in plain English.

Key takeaways

• Sleep: A Korean study (mice, cells and a 40-person randomised trial) found that near-infrared light on the head was linked to lower insomnia scores and falling asleep faster.
• Exercise: A review pooling 23 randomised trials found small improvements in muscle strength and endurance, especially endurance.
• Settings may matter: Early analyses in the exercise review suggest that power and timing may affect results.

First, what is photobiomodulation?

In research, light therapy like this is called photobiomodulation (PBM). Both studies in this article use this term.

Researchers think near-infrared light can support mitochondria, the tiny power plants in our cells, in making ATP, the cell's energy molecule. In the sleep study below, the light increased cellular ATP production in lab tests.

1. Near-infrared light and sleep: a new study from Korea

On 15 September 2026, researchers led by Tae Kim and Jae Gwan Kim at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) published a study in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. They asked a simple question: can light shone on the head help people sleep?

What they did

• In mice: near-infrared light delivered to the brain increased non-REM sleep, with stronger deep-sleep brain waves, compared with a sham (fake) treatment. It also raised levels of adenosine, a natural brain chemical linked to the build-up of sleep pressure.
• In cells: the light increased cellular energy (ATP) production without harming the cells.
• In people: a double-blind randomised controlled trial with 40 participants found significant reductions in insomnia severity, sleep disturbances and sleep latency (the time it takes to fall asleep).

According to a report on the trial by the Seoul Economic Daily, participants were adults with insomnia symptoms. They wore a headband fitted with near-infrared LEDs every night before bed for one week, and neither group knew whether their device was emitting near-infrared light. The improvements were based on participants' own ratings of their sleep, and the study's authors describe the results as preliminary evidence for short-term improvement of sleep disturbances.

In this study, near-infrared light raised cellular energy in lab tests and was linked to better sleep scores in people.

What this means for you

Light is a promising area to watch for your evening wind-down. Pair it with the basics that support good sleep: a regular bedtime, a dark room and less screen time late at night.

2. Light therapy and exercise: gains in strength and endurance

On 18 September 2026, a systematic review and meta-analysis in the Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine looked at whether PBM improves muscle performance. A meta-analysis combines the results of many studies to get a clearer overall picture.

The team pooled 23 randomised controlled trials in healthy people that compared PBM with a placebo (fake) light treatment.

What they found

• PBM gave small but statistically significant benefits for both muscle endurance and muscle strength.
• For endurance: in exploratory analyses, lower-power settings (100 mW or less per diode) and using the light 1 to 3 minutes before exercise were linked to better results.
• For strength: gains were linked to higher energy doses (151 to 300 J) and a gap of more than 3 minutes before exercise.

The authors concluded that PBM "may modestly improve muscle endurance and muscle strength", especially endurance, and that the evidence is not yet enough to define the best protocols.

What this means for you

If you train, light may add a small extra benefit alongside good training, sleep and nutrition. Early findings suggest that power and timing may matter.

The two studies at a glance

Topic	Study type	Who	Main finding
Sleep	Mouse and cell experiments plus a double-blind randomised trial	40 people in the trial	Lower insomnia scores and faster sleep onset after one week
Strength and endurance	Meta-analysis of 23 randomised trials	Healthy people, including athletes	Small benefits for strength and endurance, mainly endurance

Bringing light into your routine

Whether you are in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Brunei, a few simple ideas from this research can guide you:

1. Be consistent. The sleep trial used the light every night for a week, before bed.
2. Think about timing. For workouts, early findings suggest timing may matter, so keep your routine consistent.
3. Know your device. Light devices differ in power and wavelength, so choose one with clear specifications.

We work with Weber Medical, whose medical laser systems are used in more than 2,000 clinics in over 40 countries (the company's own figure). Biosimba is Weber Medical's official exclusive distributor in Malaysia. Their wrist-worn EndoLight® Band includes red (660 nm) and infrared (808 nm) laser diodes among its light colours, and it is designed for general wellness use. The studies above used different devices, wavelengths and body sites, so their results are not results for the EndoLight® Band.

Frequently asked questions

What is photobiomodulation?

It is the research term for light therapy of this kind. Both 2026 studies in this article use it.

Can light therapy help you sleep?

Early research is promising. A 2026 randomised trial of 40 people found lower insomnia scores and faster sleep onset after a week of near-infrared light on the head. The authors describe it as preliminary evidence.

Can light therapy improve my workouts?

It may help a little. A 2026 review of 23 randomised trials found small benefits for muscle strength and endurance, especially endurance.

When should I use light therapy before exercise?

In exploratory analyses in the 2026 review, using the light 1 to 3 minutes before exercise was linked to better endurance results, while strength gains were linked to a gap of more than 3 minutes. The authors say the best protocol is not yet known.

The bottom line

Research published in 2026 adds new, encouraging evidence that near-infrared light may support sleep and that photobiomodulation may support exercise performance. If you are curious about adding light to your day, it is a great time to explore.

Explore the EndoLight® Band. Questions about how it fits your routine? Send us a message. We are happy to help.

Sources

1. Jung J, Cheong C, Oh Y, et al., Kim JG, Kim T. Transcranial photobiomodulation to enhance sleep by elevating adenosine signaling: a translational study. Molecular Psychiatry. Published 15 September 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-026-03875-y
2. Seoul Economic Daily. Near-infrared light cuts insomnia scores 26% in GIST trial. 24 September 2026. en.sedaily.com
3. Zhai H, Wang T, Yan H, Xu N, Zhai H, Wei H. Effects of Photobiomodulation Therapy on Muscle Strength and Muscle Endurance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. Published 18 September 2026. https://doi.org/10.1177/27683605261488795

For general wellness education only. Not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.