A therapy panel should be sturdy, quiet, and honest about the light it throws at a distance you can sit.
We looked at build as much as at wavelength: stands that tip, housings that buzz, and outputs at the red and near-infrared bands makers like to quote.
The box itself
Wavelengths on a sticker are the start. A panel that flickers, smells hot, or lives on a stand you do not trust will not be used near your face. Shielding and a stable mount are part of the product, not accessories.
- A stand that does not sway when you bump the table.
- A fan or a silence you can sit with.
- Output described at a real distance.
- A cord and a switch placed where you can reach them seated.
A panel you do not feel safe sitting under is a panel you will not use.
Sessions
Same spot, same distance, a timer you do not renegotiate. Wipe the face of the panel occasionally. Dust on the lenses is light you paid for and do not get.
Buy the one that feels like equipment, not a gadget. Then leave it set up.
