How does red light therapy work?

The mechanism by which red light therapy works is not well-established, although most explanations center on its ability to increase cellular energy generation. More specifically, red and near-infrared light are thought to stimulate the activity of the mitochondrial protein cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), which increases ATP production.^[1][2] This increase in ATP synthesis can in turn lead to enhanced tissue repair, changes in gene expression, and the generation of cell signaling molecules, all potentially contributing to the biological effects of red light therapy.^[1][3]