Pulsed and steady red light therapy deliver light differently, but research does not show that one is universally more effective. Steady light remains on throughout treatment, while pulsed light cycles on and off at a set frequency. Studies have found advantages for both modes under different conditions, so the better question isn't simply which is best, but when and why each mode might make sense.
Key research takeaways
-
Neither mode is universally better. A review of 33 pulsed photobiomodulation (PBM) studies found that, among nine direct comparisons, six favored pulsing, two favored continuous light, and one found no significant difference. Researchers concluded there wasn't enough evidence to establish pulsing as consistently superior.
-
Higher Hz doesn't mean better results. A 2026 randomized clinical trial comparing 10, 15, and 20 Hz pulsed PBM with continuous-wave treatment found that frequency and pain relief were not linearly related. This supports the broader point that increasing Hz doesn't automatically make treatment more effective.
-
40 Hz is especially interesting in brain research. A human study comparing continuous, 40 Hz, and 100 Hz transcranial PBM found distinct neurocognitive effects depending on operating mode and frequency. Another human study using 40 Hz near-infrared PBM found measurable changes in brainwaves, but these findings don't establish 40 Hz as better for pain, muscle recovery, wound healing, or skin health.
The Novaa Light Pad offers steady, 10 Hz, and 40 Hz modes alongside red and near-infrared light therapy. Below, we'll break down how these modes differ, what the research says about their potential benefits, and what to consider when choosing a setting.
Pulsed vs Continuous Red Light Therapy: What’s the Difference?
Pulsed red light therapy repeatedly switches the light on and off, while steady red light therapy delivers continuous light throughout the session. Both are forms of photobiomodulation (PBM); the difference is the pattern in which the light energy is delivered.
With pulsed red light therapy, the LEDs cycle on and off at a specific frequency measured in hertz (Hz). For example, 10 Hz means the light completes 10 on-and-off cycles per second, while 40 Hz means 40 cycles per second. At faster frequencies, this pulsing may occur too quickly to appear as an obvious flicker.
With steady red light therapy, sometimes called continuous or continuous-wave light, the LEDs remain on without these intentional pulse cycles. This provides uninterrupted light exposure throughout the treatment session.
| Steady Red Light Therapy | Pulsed Red Light Therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| Light delivery | Continuous throughout the session | Cycles on and off |
| Pulse frequency | No pulse frequency | Measured in hertz (Hz), or cycles per second |
| Duty cycle | Effectively 100% because the light stays on | Varies based on how long the light stays on versus off during each pulse cycle |
| Average light output | Consistent while the device is on | Depends on the duty cycle and other pulse settings |
| Heat | May produce more heat with continuous exposure | May reduce heat depending on the pulse settings |
| Dosing | More straightforward to calculate | Must account for the periods when the light is on and off |
| Research | Widely used throughout PBM research | Studied across various frequencies and applications, with mixed results |
What Red Light Therapy Pulse Settings Tell You
Red light therapy pulse settings tell you how the light is delivered, but no single setting tells you how strong or effective a treatment will be. Looking at these settings together gives you a more complete picture of what a pulsed treatment actually delivers.
To understand what a pulsed setting actually delivers, look at three numbers together:
-
Frequency tells you how fast the light pulses. A 10 Hz setting cycles 10 times per second; 40 Hz cycles 40 times. It does not tell you how much light is delivered.
-
Duty cycle tells you how long the light stays on. A 50% duty cycle means the light is on for half of each pulse cycle. Two treatments can use the same frequency but different duty cycles, resulting in different amounts of light exposure.
-
Irradiance tells you how much light power reaches the treatment area. Measured in mW/cm², it provides information about light intensity. With pulsed treatment, it's important to know whether a reported irradiance represents peak output while the light is on or average output over the full pulse cycle.
What This Means In Practice
Consider two hypothetical 40 Hz treatments. Both pulse 40 times per second, but one keeps the light on for 25% of each cycle and the other for 75%. The Hz is identical, but the light-delivery pattern isn't.
The same principle applies when comparing pulsed and continuous modes. A pulsed setting may have high peak output while the light is on but a lower average output across the entire session because of the off periods. Steady mode, by comparison, continuously delivers light without intentional off periods.
Keep these distinctions in mind when comparing settings:
-
Higher Hz ≠ stronger treatment. Hz measures how frequently the light pulses, not its intensity.
-
Higher Hz ≠ higher dose. Total light exposure also depends on irradiance, duty cycle, and treatment time.
-
Pulsed ≠ more powerful than steady. Either mode can deliver more or less light depending on the device and treatment parameters.
-
Same Hz ≠ same treatment. Two devices using 40 Hz, for example, can have different wavelengths, duty cycles, irradiance, and overall doses.
Other factors still matter. Wavelength affects how the light interacts with tissue, treatment time influences total exposure, and distance can change the irradiance reaching the body. Together, these variables determine the actual treatment being delivered.
For users comparing modes or devices, Hz should be treated as one specification, not a quality score. Look for clearly reported wavelength and irradiance, follow the device-specific treatment protocol, and don't assume a higher pulse frequency means a stronger or more effective treatment.
60-day money-back guarantee + up to 3-year warranty
Novaa Light Pad for Deep Healing
How Pulsed vs. Steady Red Light Therapy Can Affect Treatment
Pulsed red light therapy can produce different effects than steady light, but that doesn't make it universally more effective. The outcome depends on the complete treatment protocol, including how quickly the light pulses, how long it stays on during each cycle, the wavelength and intensity, and what you're treating.
This is why two studies of “pulsed red light therapy” can reach different conclusions. Pulsed isn't one standardized treatment. Results can vary based on pulse frequency, duty cycle, wavelength, irradiance and dose, treatment target, and light source. Studies provide several examples of pulsed and steady light producing different results:
| Application | What Research Has Found | What It Tells Us |
|---|---|---|
| Wound healing | One animal study found 10 Hz pulsed 810 nm light outperformed continuous and 100 Hz treatment. Another study found continuous 635 nm treatment outperformed the pulsed frequencies tested. | Delivery patterns can affect healing, but the advantage can shift depending on the protocol. |
| Pain relief | A 2026 clinical trial found both pulsed and continuous treatments reduced orthodontic pain, with results also varying among 10, 15, and 20 Hz protocols. | Pulse frequency may affect pain outcomes, but higher Hz doesn't necessarily produce greater relief. |
| Cellular activity | A laboratory study found that continuous, 20% duty-cycle, and 50% duty-cycle treatments produced different effects on human gum cells. | Changing the duty cycle can alter cellular responses, although that doesn't necessarily translate into better results in people. |
| Brain activity | Human research found different neurocognitive and EEG effects with continuous, 40 Hz, and 100 Hz treatment. Another study found 40 Hz near-infrared PBM influenced neural oscillations. | Researchers may intentionally use 40 Hz when studying brain activity, but these findings can't be generalized to other treatment areas. |
| Skin health and muscle recovery | PBM has been studied for both applications, but direct evidence showing that a particular pulse frequency improves outcomes over steady treatment remains limited. | There isn't currently a well-established reason to choose 10 Hz or 40 Hz specifically for these applications. |
These differences are what researchers mean when they say pulsing can influence the biological response. Changing how the light is delivered may alter what happens in cells or tissue, but a measurable biological difference doesn't necessarily mean a better treatment outcome.
10 Hz vs. 40 Hz Pulsed Red Light Therapy
10 Hz and 40 Hz are two pulsing frequencies used in red light therapy, but neither has been established as the better setting overall. 10 Hz has appeared in research on areas such as wound healing and pain, while 40 Hz has received particular attention in brain-focused PBM research.
| 10 Hz Pulsed Light | 40 Hz Pulsed Light | |
|---|---|---|
| Pulsing speed | 10 cycles per second | 40 cycles per second |
| Research focus | Studied in areas including wound healing and pain | Particularly studied for brain activity and neurocognitive effects |
| What stands out | Some studies suggest lower-frequency pulsing can outperform continuous or higher-frequency treatment under specific conditions. | 40 Hz is of particular interest because of its relationship to gamma-range brain activity. |
| Evidence limitations | Findings come from specific protocols and can't establish 10 Hz as better across applications. | Much of the relevant evidence is brain-focused and can't be generalized to whole-body applications. |
| Best-supported takeaway | Lower Hz doesn't mean weaker or less effective. | Higher Hz doesn't mean stronger or more effective. |
10 Hz Has Shown Benefits in Some Pain and Wound-Healing Research
In one animal wound-healing study, 10 Hz pulsed 810 nm light produced better results than both continuous and 100 Hz treatment. A 2026 human study of orthodontic pain also found that different low-frequency pulse settings produced different results rather than improving consistently as Hz increased.
The takeaway isn't that 10 Hz is the best frequency, but that lower-frequency pulsing can have meaningful effects and shouldn't be assumed to be weaker simply because the Hz is lower.
40 Hz Is Most Notable for Brain-Focused Research
Much of the interest in 40 Hz comes from neurological research. One human transcranial PBM study found different neurocognitive effects with continuous, 40 Hz, and 100 Hz treatment, while another human study found that 40 Hz near-infrared PBM influenced neural oscillations.
That makes 40 Hz an interesting research area, but it doesn't mean 40 Hz is preferable for every treatment goal. Evidence from brain-directed PBM can't automatically be applied to muscle recovery, joint pain, skin health, or other uses.
Ultimately, 10 Hz vs. 40 Hz isn't a low-versus-high or weak-versus-strong choice. They're different pulsing patterns, and the research does not support treating the higher frequency as an automatic upgrade.
Should You Use Pulsed or Steady Red Light Therapy?
The potential advantages are mostly about how the treatment is delivered, rather than pulsed and steady light having completely different health benefits. Looking across the evidence, a review of 33 pulsed PBM studies found nine direct comparisons: six favored pulsed treatment, two favored continuous treatment, and one found no significant difference. Researchers still couldn't identify an optimal pulse frequency or conclude that pulsing was consistently superior.
For most at-home users, steady mode is a reasonable starting point unless your device instructions recommend a pulse setting, a healthcare provider has suggested a specific protocol, or you're following a research-backed protocol relevant to your treatment goal. Current research doesn't support choosing 10 Hz or 40 Hz simply because one frequency is higher or sounds more advanced.
Use these practical guidelines to choose:
-
Start with steady mode if you're unsure. Continuous light provides straightforward, consistent exposure without adding pulse frequency and duty cycle as additional variables. There's no evidence that switching to pulsed mode automatically improves results.
-
Try pulsed mode if steady light feels uncomfortably warm. The off periods in a pulsed cycle can reduce average output and heat with some device settings, potentially making treatment more comfortable. If either mode causes uncomfortable or excessive heat, stop the session and follow the device's safety guidance.
-
Use a specific pulse frequency when your device protocol recommends one for your intended use. Research shows that frequency can influence biological responses, but it hasn't established 10 Hz or 40 Hz as the best setting across common at-home applications.
-
Don't choose 40 Hz solely because of the brain research. The promising research we've discussed involves light directed specifically at the brain. It doesn't establish 40 Hz as the preferred setting for treating your back, joints, muscles, or skin.
-
Don't assume 10 Hz is the better body-treatment setting either. Although 10 Hz has performed well in some wound-healing and pain research, those findings come from specific study protocols and can't be generalized to every device or treatment goal.
-
Prioritize the full protocol over the mode button. Appropriate wavelength, irradiance, treatment time, dose, and consistent use remain important regardless of whether you select steady, 10 Hz, or 40 Hz.
If you don't have a specific reason to pulse, steady mode is a sensible place to start. If continuous treatment is too warm for your comfort, pulsed mode may be a useful alternative. And if you're choosing 10 Hz or 40 Hz for a particular purpose, base that choice on device guidance or an evidence-based protocol, not the assumption that one frequency is inherently stronger or better.
How to Use Steady, 10 Hz, and 40 Hz on the Novaa Light Pad
The Novaa Light Pad gives you the option to use steady, 10 Hz, or 40 Hz light, so you can change the delivery pattern without switching devices. Whichever mode you choose, proper placement, treatment time, and consistent use remain important.
For a typical session:
-
Position the Light Pad over the treatment area. Place it directly over the area you want to target, with as little as possible between the LEDs and your skin.
-
Choose your light mode. Use steady mode for continuous exposure, 10 Hz for lower-frequency pulsing, or 40 Hz for faster pulsing. If you're unsure which to choose, steady mode is a reasonable starting point.
-
Adjust based on comfort. If continuous light becomes too warm for your comfort, try one of the pulsed modes. Pulsing may reduce heat depending on the device's output and pulse settings.
-
Use the recommended session duration. Follow the Light Pad's instructions rather than extending treatment simply because you're using a pulsed mode. Pulsing doesn't automatically mean you need a longer session to compensate for the periods when the LEDs are off.
-
Stay consistent with your chosen protocol. Switching between modes from session to session can make it harder to evaluate how well a particular approach is working. Unless you have a reason to change settings, use a consistent protocol and track your response over time.
It’s important to remember that 10 Hz and 40 Hz are different light-delivery patterns, not intensity levels. Choose the mode based on your protocol and comfort rather than assuming that a higher number delivers a more powerful treatment. For more detailed usage information, check out our article on how to use the Novaa red light therapy pad.
60-day money-back guarantee + up to 3-year warranty
Novaa Light Pad for Deep Healing
Finding the Right Balance Between Pulsed and Steady Light
Neither pulsed nor steady red light therapy is universally better. Research suggests that pulse frequency can influence how the body responds to photobiomodulation, but the best approach depends on the treatment protocol and your goals.
For most at-home users, steady mode is a practical starting point, while pulsed mode may be useful if continuous light feels too warm or you have a specific reason to use a pulse frequency. Just remember that higher Hz doesn't mean stronger treatment or better results.
With the Novaa Light Pad, you don't have to choose between pulsed and steady therapy. Its steady, 10 Hz, and 40 Hz modes let you adjust how the light is delivered while using red and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths in one portable red light therapy device.
Leave a comment