The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy (2) - Flipbook - Page 36
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The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy
Research in this field spread globally, with early studies conducted in the Soviet Union, followed by work in the
USA, Japan, Sweden, and many other countries.
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Over the years, thousands of scientific articles have been
published on RLT/ PBM, with most of them focusing on laser light sources.
However, recent understanding suggests that the beneficial effects of red and near-infrared light may not
depend on the unique properties of laser light, such as its single color (monochromaticity) or the way its light
waves line up (coherence).
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This means that other light sources, like LEDs, might be just as effective for light
therapy. This shift in thinking is opening up new possibilities for how light therapy can be applied and made
more accessible for various medical treatments.
The development of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) marked a significant advancement in lighting technology,
with far-reaching implications for various fields, including medicine.
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Nick Holonyak Jr. created the first visible
LED in 1962, earning him the title „father of the light-emitting diode.“ Over the following decades, researchers
developed LEDs in different colors, and today, these energy-efficient lights are widely used in homes and
businesses.
LEDs work by using a special type of material called a semiconductor.
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A semiconductor is a substance that
can conduct electricity better than an insulator (like glass) but not as well as a conductor (like copper).
When electricity flows through the LED, it causes electrons (tiny particles with a negative charge) to combine
with “holes” (spaces where electrons are missing).
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This combination produces light. The color of the light
depends on the energy released during this process. Unlike traditional bulbs that generate light by getting
hot, LEDs produce light without heating up.
