Description: You have a concussion patient who isn’t recovering on your current protocol. They’re weeks out – maybe months – still symptomatic, still not cleared, and you’re running out of tools. Red and near-infrared light therapy may be the adjunct you haven’t fully considered yet. Photobiomodulation (PBM) isn’t a wellness trend. It carries nearly a century of scientific development, and a rapidly growing body of peer-reviewed research now supports its use for traumatic brain injury – from acute concussions to post-concussion syndrome to chronic TBI. Published in JAMA Network Open, the Journal of Neurotrauma, and Radiology, among others, the evidence is reaching a level that clinicians can no longer afford to ignore. What makes this moment particularly significant is a 2026 landmark study showing that consistent PBM use throughout a collegiate football season measurably reduced neuroinflammation from repetitive head acceleration events – the first evidence that light therapy can work prophylactically, not just as a recovery tool. For those of us managing athletes in contact sports, this changes the conversation entirely. In this one-hour course, athletic trainer and sports medicine specialist Mitch Hauschildt, MA, ATC, CSCS translates the science into clinical practice. You’ll learn exactly how red and near-infrared light interacts with brain tissue at the cellular level – targeting mitochondrial function, reducing neuroinflammation, improving cerebral blood flow, and managing oxidative stress – and how to apply that understanding to real patient scenarios across the concussion spectrum. This is not a course that will leave you with vague possibilities. You’ll walk away with specific wavelength targets, evidence-based dosing parameters, device considerations, safety screening criteria, and a framework for integrating light therapy into your existing concussion protocols – whether you’re in a Division I athletic training room, a physical therapy clinic, or a high school sports medicine setting.

Objectives: Identify the basic science behind red light therapy and how light interacts with brain cells to support overall brain health. Identify key features of concussion red light therapy, including common wavelengths, and general intensity ranges for therapy. Define how red light therapy may benefit concussion patients, both acute and chronic. Examine important safety considerations and contraindications for LED red light therapy use.

Presenter(s): Mitch Hauschildt, MA, ATC, CSCS

Status: Active

Activity Difficulty Level: Mastery

Domains:

• Health Care Administration and Professional Responsibility
• Risk Reduction
• Wellness and Health Literacy
• Therapeutic Intervention

Format: Virtual Asynchronous - On Demand

Dual Credentials and JA: Chiropractors, Nursing Professionals, Physical Therapy Professionals

Start Date & Time: 10/09/2026 09:22 AM CDT

Cost: $69.99

CEUs: 1