PEMF vs. Red Light Therapy — What’s the Difference?

If you’re familiar with wellness tech, you might already be aware of these two abbreviations — PEMF and RLT. These decode into ‘pulsed electromagnetic field therapy’ and ‘red light therapy,’ two non-invasive types of treatment.

I must be honest — being a doctor makes you skeptical of many treatment options that aren’t drugs or surgery, especially when they’re being hyped up by longevity influencers. And, well, it’s about time to be transparent that a medical background doesn’t help with thinking highly of this longevity thing per se, at least in my case. However, being a doctor and not being able to tell whether such devices actually work isn’t something I was proud of. So, it was time to change that.

After thorough research and hours of reading — as well as help from a physiotherapist Rebecca Huxley, BSc, MCSP — I’m here to break down all things PEMF and RLT, including their fundamental differences. So, if you’re curious about what they can (and can't) do and in what ways they’re completely distinct — you’re in the right place.

PEMF vs. red light therapy: the very basics

This section analyzes the main differences between PEMF and RLT.

What is PEMF, and how does it work?

Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, or PEMF, is a non-invasive therapy that directs small amounts of pulsed electromagnetic energy to help promote healing processes within certain body parts.

Studies have shown that PEMF therapy may influence cellular function, which could be described by how certain types of human cells behave: grow, divide, die, change into other types of cells, communicate with each other, and respond to outside signals. This might lead to certain effects on overall cellular health.

PEMF therapy has been used rather widely in an in-clinic setting to help heal bone fractures for quite a long time — after all, it’s been approved by the FDA since 1979.

However, Huxley adds: “PEMF is FDA-approved, but only under clinical supervision and for certain conditions. PEMF devices designed for home use are not FDA-approved,” meaning that the almost 50-year-old FDA approval doesn’t add much credibility to at-home devices — more on that later.

What is RLT, and how does it work?

Different from PEMF, red light therapy (RLT) is a type of light therapy. It’s relatively newer than PEMF and, naturally, less thoroughly researched.

This treatment employs low-level light wavelengths that penetrate into the tissues, aiming to alter processes at the cellular level to potentially deliver various proposed health benefits.

Sometimes, red light therapy is called low-level laser therapy (LLLT), low-power laser therapy (LPLT), and soft or cold laser therapy. So, if you stumble upon these terms, keep in mind that they are synonymous.

How does red light therapy work? It exposes your body to red and near-infrared light. While you can see red light with the naked eye, near-infrared light is out of the visible light range to humans.

These light wavelengths then travel into your cells and stimulate specific biological processes. One of these processes might be an increased production of the ‘energy molecule,’ scientifically known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), in the mitochondria, ‘the powerhouse of the cell.’

While we can’t see this and other changes that red light therapy may have on cellular function, consistent applications of red light therapy may eventually lead to certain health effects, which we’ll discuss shortly.

Decoding the potential benefits: PEMF therapy vs. RLT

In this section, you will find the main benefits of PEMF and RLT.

Benefits of PEMF

Applications of pulsed electromagnetic energy are associated with several effects on the human body, including helping to improve blood flow, increasing the amount of oxygen in the tissues, and potentially reducing inflammation.

“PEMF actively stimulates cellular repair with electromagnetic pulses. It has some good scientific backing: studies show benefits for blood flow, pain relief, and bone healing,” says Huxley.

It has a vast list of applications, mostly in addressing joint and bone health conditions. Research suggests PEMF therapy may be an effective aid in managing osteoarthritis symptoms, may help with the healing of certain types of bone fractures, and may be used as a potential measure for osteoporosis pain management.

Several small studies have also explored the potential uses of PEMF outside orthopedics and traumatology. They looked into whether PEMF therapy could potentially enhance the healing process of diabetic ulcers, athletic recovery and performance, and maybe even help manage the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Though the study results seemed intriguing, more research is needed.

Benefits of RLT

While red and near-infrared light is known to penetrate the deepest into the body when compared to other types of light — such as blue or yellow — it still cannot reach the deeper tissues that PEMF therapy can.

The potential benefits of light therapy are directly dependent on how deep these wavelengths can go, therefore, most research on red light therapy focuses on how it may affect skin health and the tissues just below the surface.

There’s a long list of potential health effects associated with RLT, including reducing inflammation and increasing collagen production. Currently, available scientific evidence suggests that red and infrared light therapy could be potentially helpful in managing:

• Multiple skin concerns, including signs of aging, roughness, and dark spots
• Hair loss associated with pattern baldness
• Both acute and chronic pain caused by certain problems with joint and muscle tissue

Research also suggests that red light therapy could help promote wound healing processes and tissue repair. Scientists are also investigating whether it could be useful in helping manage a wide range of other diseases and conditions, such as cold sores or depression, but we don’t know for certain if and how it could help in these cases.

Huxley adds that another potential use of red light therapy is helping with muscle recovery.

“It works best as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. It may help by reducing inflammation, increasing blood flow, and helping tissues heal faster. Red light therapy and near-infrared therapy show promising results as a treatment for muscle damage and soreness after exercise. However, larger, higher-quality studies are needed to confirm its benefits.”

In general, much is unknown about red light therapy, meaning that some potential uses — as well as dangers — may simply be undiscovered yet.

How do I know which one’s right for me?

PEMF and RLT devices have become trendy additions to wellness at-home routines around the world. While social media may make it look like they’re just there to improve overall well-being, research mostly focuses on how these two different types of treatment may help manage certain health conditions and diseases.

There’s little evidence to support using PEMF or RLT for general wellness. So, if you're experiencing any health complaints, the first step should be seeing your healthcare provider, not looking for trendy solutions online.

Your provider will help you find out the exact cause of your complaints, make an appropriate diagnosis, and come up with an adequate treatment plan. If you’re interested in giving complementary non-drug treatment methods a go, ask them whether PEMF therapy or RLT could potentially be helpful and safe in your individual case.

What do I need to know about at-home PEMF and RLT devices?

Both PEMF therapy and red light therapy can be applied at home and in the clinic. Professional treatments may involve more powerful devices than those you can purchase for at-home use and may also be more customizable according to your individual needs.

At-home, over-the-counter PEMF or RLT devices may be used alone or following a professional treatment.

While these treatments are led by trained specialists when applied in the clinic, below are some of the things that the user should know if they are interested in purchasing an over-the-counter device for home use.

Types of devices

There are several types of both PEMF and red light therapy devices, designed to cover a specific area. There are PEMF therapy devices on the market that cover the whole body — usually in a mat form, as well as smaller pads to target more localized areas, such as joints. RLT devices range from tiny makeup-brush-sized wands to large panels intended to cover the full body.

While larger devices cover a larger body area, they are also more expensive. Consider your individual needs first, whether you need the device to cover your full body or a localized spot only, such as your joints.

How do I use them?

There are no official guidelines that could tell us how exactly these devices should be used in order to achieve desired results — no matter if we’re talking about targeting wrinkles with a red light therapy mask or using PEMF therapy to help alleviate osteoarthritis symptoms.

If your healthcare provider has given you a green light to add PEMF therapy or red light therapy to the treatment plan of your specific health concern and you’re considering purchasing an at-home device, ask your healthcare provider for an individually tailored regimen, and don’t forget to closely follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use the device.

Precautions

Since there’s a huge variety of both PEMF and RLT devices on the market, it might be a good idea to choose those that are cleared by the FDA, meaning that the FDA has acknowledged that the exact device is substantially equivalent to another legally marketed device, and therefore could be considered as generally safe. Keep in mind that an FDA-cleared status does not equal FDA approval.

Both PEMF therapy and RLT devices should not be used differently than instructed by the healthcare professional. When purchasing an at-home device, make sure to read the user manual thoroughly first, and never exceed the maximum recommended use time.

PEMF therapy vs. RLT: the takeaway

While research shows that both PEMF and red light therapy may offer promising potential health benefits, they are completely different tools best suited for different needs.

PEMF therapy works deep within the body and is most often used for helping manage issues with bones and joints, whereas currently available evidence mostly supports using red light therapy for surface-level applications, such as improving skin health or hair growth. However, there may be therapeutic benefits of PEMF and RLT we still don’t know about.

Hopefully, you’ve learned as much as I have today. Just remember, if you’re curious about giving either therapy a try, consult your healthcare provider about whether PEMF or red light therapy could be potentially useful and safe in your individual case.