What is Total Body Enhancement? Red Light Therapy at Planet Fitness

Planet Fitness is an affordable approach to fitness that offers a wide range of unique features, including red light therapy technology. You may have seen red light therapy used in skin care routines, but how does it incorporate into your fitness regime? In this guide, we'll teach you everything about Planet Fitness' Total Body Enhancement machines and how to use them!

What does red light therapy do at Planet Fitness?

Red light therapy is used in Planet Fitness' Total Body Enhancement machines. It provides gym-goers with a non-invasive, 12-minute full-body treatment that can help shorten the body's recovery time. TBE uses red light therapy and vibration plates which may stimulate the body's collagen production and blood circulation to reduce stress.

Section 1 of 7:

What is red light therapy at Planet Fitness?

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Red light therapy can help shorten the body's recovery time. After giving your all in a workout, it's common to experience muscle soreness. Planet Fitness’ Total Body Enhancement machines use red light therapy (RLT) which can potentially stimulate the body's collagen production and blood circulation to help relieve muscle tension.^{[1]
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PubMed Central
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Go to source} Paired with the machine’s vibration plate, this may reduce cell inflammation and help you to nail the following day's workout a little easier.^{[2]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- It's important to note that while Planet Fitness' Total Body Enhancement (TBE) machines are advertised as infrared saunas, they're not. Infrared saunas use 1000nm or higher infrared light for deep tissue and heat therapy benefits. TBE machines deliver red wavelengths between 620-700nm, a common RLT wavelength.^{[3]
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Section 2 of 7:

How does red light therapy work?

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Red light therapy might help cells work more efficiently. While scientists are still exploring whether red light therapy is effective or not, they believe that when your skin is exposed to wavelengths of red light between 600nm or higher, the light may boost energy to the center of the mitochondria (the cell's powerhouse). This is thought to help the cells work more efficiently to promote healing and skin rejuvenation.^{[4]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- Red light is believed to travel further into your skin compared to other LED lights.^{[5]
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  Cleveland Clinic
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- RTL differs from traditional skin devices, like lasers, because lasers can cause skin irritation. However, RTL is a non-invasive treatment that is less likely to cause trauma to the skin.
- Note: There isn’t enough evidence to suggest that RLT is an effective treatment option, though some studies indicate that it can help with conditions like acne, hair loss, and muscle soreness.^{[6]
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  Go to source} More research is needed to determine its efficacy and long-term effects.

Section 3 of 7:

Is red light therapy effective?

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Research is still being conducted to determine whether or not red light therapy is effective. According to Harvard Health, red LED light is believed to play a role in skin recovery, while blue LED light may help treat acne. However, many of these studies have been performed on small control groups, and not large ones as of yet.^{[7]
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Section 4 of 7:

Benefits of Red Light Therapy and Total Body Enhancement

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Red light therapy may reduce inflammation that makes muscles sore. Planet Fitness’ Total Body Enhancement machines are said to promote pain relief after a workout. Because they use RLT, the machines might help speed up cell respiration and increase adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to stimulate the body's ability to repair itself.^{[8]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

Go to source} The machine's vibration technology might also help increase blood flow to your muscles which can reduce inflammation.^{[9]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} Other potential Total Body Enhancement benefits include:^{[10]
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- Increased energy before a workout
- Improvements in skin elasticity
- Reduction of wrinkles, stretch marks, and cellulite
- Targets muscle groups: legs, arms, abs, glutes
- Firms and tones the body
- Reduces stress

Section 5 of 7:

Is red light therapy safe?

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Yes—when used as a short-term recovery aid and as directed. Red light therapy is a non-toxic, non-invasive skin treatment with no major side effects. However, it’s important to wear eye protection and ensure your light level is not too harsh. For instance, daily use of RLT with 1,000 nm can cause thermal damage to your skin.^{[11]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} Refer to the manufacturer's recommended use and light levels before using RLT.
- Don't use RLT if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, have a condition with photosensitivity, or are on medications that make you photosensitive.^{[12]
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- Red light therapy may cause hyperpigmentation and melasma for darker skin tones. However, studies are still exploring this side effect.^{[13]
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- When in doubt, speak to a dermatologist about using red light therapy.

Section 6 of 7:

How to Use Total Body Enhancement Therapy at Planet Fitness

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1
Schedule a session at the front desk or self-service kiosk. Before you begin, visit Planet Fitness' front desk to make an appointment. Some locations have a self-service kiosk with the available time slots. Once it's time for your session, check in with the front desk so they can let you know which private room is assigned to you.^{[14]
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- Using red light therapy before a workout can help prime and energize the body, whereas using it after a workout might improve the body's recovery time.^{[15]
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Quickly undress to your comfort level and step into the machine. Enter your private room and lock the door behind you. Each room has a Total Body Enhancement machine, a chair for your belongings, paper towels, and sanitizer. Red light therapy is most effective when you expose as much skin as possible—you can strip out of all your clothes or leave your undergarments. All Planet Fitness requires is that you remove your shoes.^{[16]
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- Your session will automatically be started within 1-2 minutes, so be sure to undress and get into the machine as quickly as possible.
- Before your session, cleanse your skin so there are no lotion, makeup, or similar products on your skin.
- Wearing sunglasses or similar eyewear is optional but encouraged.^{[17]
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  Cleveland Clinic
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Select one of the four vibration settings for a full-body passive workout. The platform you stand on generates vibrations that stimulate your muscles to contract and relax involuntarily, which might aid in their recovery. Choose one of the four settings, which include Feel Great (low intensity), Toning (medium intensity), Cross-Training (high intensity), and Multi-Level (mixed intensity).^{[18]
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- Vibration therapy can potentially help increase muscle strength, flexibility, bone health, enhance circulation, and reduce stress.^{[19]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
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Maintain a slight bend in your knees and raise your arms. Once inside the machine, shut the sliding booth door and stand on the grey vibration mat. Your session will automatically start; however, you can adjust the vibration using the interior remote. Stand with a slight bend in your knees and raise both arms above your hand. Some booths have straps you can hang onto.^{[20]
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- You can also adjust the volume for music and fans using a small control panel. The panel will also display the time elapsed during your session.
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Enjoy a 12-minute passive workout and wipe the machine down. Each session lasts 10 minutes and ends with a 2-minute cooldown. Afterward, step out of the machine and get dressed. Use the sanitary products in the room to wipe down the machine before leaving.^{[21]
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- You may not notice results after one use. Planet Fitness recommends using TBE machines 2-3 times a week with a 24-hour gap between sessions over 90 days.

Section 7 of 7:

FAQ

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How often should you use Total Body Enhancement? Information about how often you should incorporate red light therapy varies. Planet Fitness recommends using the TBE machine 2-3 times a week with a 24-hour gap between uses.^{[22]
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Research source} However, others recommend daily use. A study by the American Association of Dermatology showed textural and color improvements in patients who used RLT three times a week for two weeks.^{[23]
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- Speak to a Planet Fitness representative or your local dermatologist for recommendations.
Unfortunately, results vary depending on the person and their goal. Some patients have seen results, such as reduced inflammation and energy boosts, after their first session. Meanwhile, other users can take up to 4 months or longer of continuous use to see results.^{[24]
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PubMed Central
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Yes! Nowadays, LED red light therapy comes in many different forms. You can purchase a mask, lamp, or wand. You may not see dramatic improvements, but it may help slowly improve skin quality by reducing acne, wrinkles, and more.^{[25]
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Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public

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Planet Fitness' Total Body Enhancement comes with the Black Card membership, which costs $24.99 per month. Total Body Enhancement is only available in certain locations. So, contact your local Planet Fitness to see if it's available.^{[26]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

Where did the red-light therapy originate?

Pila Xian
Esthetician and Massage Therapist
Pila Xian is an Esthetician and Massage Therapist based in Aspen, Colorado. Pila owns and operates Heaven on Earth, a day spa that offers personalized facial and massage therapies, as well as a variety of spa services. She draws on traditions from Hawaii, Thailand, Japan, and Western massage to tailor her massages for each client. Pila has a BBA from Marymount University, a Certificate of Massage from Boulder College of Massage Therapy, and has studied in the art of Lomilomi and Ashiatsu, among other modalities. Heaven on Earth has been featured in Vogue, Glossy, Aspen Sojourner, and more.

Pila Xian

Esthetician and Massage Therapist

Expert Answer

It's actually interesting because the red light therapy started with NASA. When they were looking for ways to help astronauts heal faster while they were in space, and the conditions can make recovery tougher. During their research, they discovered that red light could speed up tissue repair and promote cell regeneration. Interestingly, the skin benefits were more of a happy accident and a lot of skincare treatments come from research originally focused on something else, and red light therapy is a great example of that.

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