San Francisco 49ers appoint 'light therapy partner’

22 Oct 2020

US football team working with provider Joovv to treat players with red and near infrared light to speed muscle recovery.

US football team San Francisco 49ers and Joovv, a California-based company that develops light therapy products, have announced a partnership. Joovv is to be the “official light therapy partner” of the 49ers, and has constructed the Joovv Recovery Room adjacent to the team’s locker room.

Inside the locker room at the Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco, players now have access to a dedicated light therapy room for recovery immediately after games or practice. Joovv says that light therapy has “proven benefits for muscle recovery, including improving blood circulation and helping the body’s inflammation process.”

The team started using this treatment prior to the start of the 2019 season, and have since expanded its use in the team’s daily training and recovery routine, warranting this official team partnership.

49ers Director of Functional Performance Elliot Williams commented, “Light therapy allows us to provide a player’s body with a valuable resource that is proven to support the body’s natural inflammation process, increase cellular regeneration and aid in sleep optimization, three main aspects of recovery that ensure our players are at their best for gameday.”

Red light, near infrared, or both

Joovv light therapy products provide users with the ability to choose between the recovery benefits of red light, near infrared light, or both. Red light is readily absorbed by surface tissues and cells, promoting skin health and healing, while near infrared (NIR) light is invisible to the human eye, and penetrates into deeper tissues, leading to enhanced recovery by supporting the body’s natural inflammation process.

The patented modular design features Recovery+ mode, delivering continuous red light and pulsed NIR light to boost the body’s natural recovery, healing, and regeneration process, such as for post-workout treatments.

“We are excited to partner with the 49ers,” said Wes Pfiffner, Director of Marketing for Joovv. “Healthy light exposure is such an integral part of maximizing performance and recovery that we feel this is just the start of what’s possible.”