Research Library
How AWA Reads and Cites Research
This page explains how we approach research about red light and near infrared light, how you can read a study for yourself, and where to find our guides and outside sources. We do not use this page to make promises about what a device will do for you.
What photobiomodulation research looks like
Photobiomodulation is the term researchers use for studying how cells and tissues respond to low levels of red and near infrared light. The papers you will find are written by many different groups and cover many different questions. They use different light sources (lasers, LEDs), different wavelengths, different output levels, different session lengths and different study designs.
That variety matters. A paper that used one device, one wavelength and one schedule does not automatically tell you anything about another device. It is also common for studies to be small, to run for a short time or to use a laboratory setting rather than a home setting. Reading research well means keeping those limits in view.
How to read a study
Before you rely on any paper, a blog post or a product page that cites one, it helps to ask a few plain questions.
| Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Who or what was studied? | Cell cultures, animals and people are different things. A finding in one does not carry over to another. |
| How many participants were there? | Very small studies can point in a direction but are easy to over read. |
| Was there a comparison group? | Without a comparison, it is hard to say what caused any change. |
| Were participants and researchers blinded? | Blinding reduces the chance that expectations shape what is reported. |
| Did the paper report the light parameters? | Wavelength, irradiance, distance, session time and body area covered are needed to compare one study with another or with a device you own. |
| Who paid for it? | Funding is not a reason to dismiss a paper, but it is worth knowing. |
| Does the conclusion match the data? | Abstracts and headlines sometimes say more than the numbers do. |
| Is it the same kind of device you are looking at? | A paper about a medical laser says little about a consumer LED panel. |
If the answer to several of these is "we cannot tell," regard the paper as a starting point for questions, not as an answer.
How we cite research
When AWA guides refer to research, we aim to describe what was studied in plain terms, link to the source and say what we do not know. Our standards for sourcing, updates and corrections are written out on our Editorial Standards page. We do not use research to promise an outcome, and nothing on this site is meant to diagnose, address or replace care for any condition.
AWA guides on dose, distance and wavelength
These guides explain the numbers on a spec sheet, so you can compare devices and use yours the way the label says. You can find the full set in the Learning Center.
- How to calculate your dose: irradiance, time and energy explained with simple arithmetic. As an example with made up numbers for arithmetic only, 20 mW/cm2 for 300 seconds is 20 x 300 / 1000 = 6 J/cm2.
- What irradiance is and why it matters: why a number on a spec sheet depends on how far you sit from the device.
- FX300 and FX500 irradiance specs: how to read the published numbers at different distances.
- 660nm vs 850nm: a side by side look at red and near infrared wavelengths.
- How long a session should be: a plain guide to session length and frequency.
- Can you overdo it?: why more is not always better.
- Safety basics and who should ask first: honest guidance on when to talk with a professional.
- How to check a device's FDA claims: a short method for reading claims before you buy.
Outside sources we have opened and read
For regulatory questions, we point to the source rather than paraphrasing it from memory.
- General Wellness: Policy for Low Risk Devices (FDA). Explains how FDA looks at low risk products that support a healthy lifestyle and make no claims about any condition, and how that differs from products regulated as devices.
- Premarket Notification 510(k) (FDA). Describes the premarket submission that shows a new device is as safe and effective as a similar device already legally sold in the United States.
To see what we say about our own devices, read About Us.
Have a question about a study or a source?
Research can be dense. If you have read something and want help understanding how to read it, or you think we have cited something poorly, message the AWA team and we will take a look.
This page is for general information only. It is not medical advice, it does not diagnose anything and it is not a substitute for talking with a qualified healthcare professional.