Karwyn Gibson shows the PEMF equipment.
Local owners introduce PEMF and red light treatments aimed at reducing inflammation, speeding recovery and promoting overall wellness.
By Rich Wicks | Panora Times, April 2026
Karwyn Gibson shows how PEMF is used on an ankle.
Wave Wellness, 102 Southeast 13th St. in Panora, within the Restore Wellness studio, offers treatments many people may not have heard of before. Owners Karwyn and Jim Gibson shared what the treatments are and who can benefit from them.
“It is pulsed electromagnetic field, or PEMF, and then I also just added red light therapy, which has red, near infrared and blue light, so it’s a broad spectrum of light,” Karwyn said. “How I got started in it is that one of our two girls had a knee injury while dancing, and a friend of ours was using PEMF on livestock. We asked if she would be able to help our daughter, and she said absolutely. She started working on our daughter’s knee, and it really helped her recover and continue dancing pain-free.”
Patients are able to recline and relax during PEMF treatments.
The Gibsons said PEMF has been used as a therapy for some time, but it is not yet widely used in Iowa on humans.
“PEMF is a magnetic field. The Earth has a magnetic field,” Karwyn said. “This therapy for humans is just now coming into the Midwest, but it’s been on the coasts for quite a while. We bought this mat and a PEMF machine and were using it on ourselves. We decided it might be something we could use to help other people because it helps decrease inflammation in the body, which is something most people have. It brings oxygen into your cells, helps them replicate more quickly and removes damaged cells while bringing in new ones.”
Karwyn said PEMF and red light therapies can benefit a wide range of people.
“It helps with things like arthritis or recovery after surgery. It can help with bone health after an injury. A lot of professional athletes and teams use PEMF to help athletes recover more quickly,” she said. “Red light does similar things and can help with skin issues, anti-aging, recovery between workouts and boosting collagen. It increases circulation and energy. Both therapies work with the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. They stimulate it to produce more ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, which is the energy of the cell.”
The red light therapy can help with arthritis, recovery after surgery and sports medicine..
“Everybody has inflammation at some level. It’s just how much it affects you,” Jim said. “The average person might feel OK, but if you’re not sleeping well or feel tired, that could be due to inflammation or your cells not functioning at a high enough level to give you enough energy. That’s what these technologies can help with. They address issues rather than masking symptoms.”
The therapies are generally safe for most people, although PEMF is not recommended for anyone with a pacemaker.
Karwyn shared her credentials in the therapies.
“I am certified through the Association of PEMF Professionals. I also complete continuing education credits and did my red light certification through them,” she said.
The Gibsons said the therapies are still not widely known.
“Most people don’t even know it exists. If you were in the livestock world, you would know because people use it very frequently,” Karwyn said. “Another big thing is that it’s not invasive. You’re not being injected with anything. It also works well with chiropractic care or physical therapy.”
Karwyn said the manufacturer of her PEMF equipment first used the technology on racehorses, then jockeys, and later expanded to treating a variety of conditions in humans.
Another point some may not realize is that with PEMF, there is no need for patients to disrobe.
“Before I was in this office, I actually treated people in the lobby before an office opened up,” Karwyn said.
The Gibsons added that the treatments are not painful. Users often report a relaxing or warm tingling sensation during PEMF sessions.
“With red light, you’re not going to get sunburn. There’s no UV light in it. It’s a totally different wavelength,” Karwyn said. “With PEMF, people sometimes worry it’s going to hurt. If it starts to feel uncomfortable, we’ll take it down a notch. There really isn’t anything to be afraid of. It encourages your body to heal itself.”
The recommended frequency of treatment depends on each situation, but Karwyn offered a general guideline.
“If somebody is doing it for general wellness, I would say once or twice a month,” she said. “But if it’s something chronic or an injury, it’s probably best to start two to three times a week and then taper off as things get better.”
Asked about a patient’s success, Karwyn shared a story of a man who had been seriously injured in a car accident and saw rapid improvement with PEMF treatments.
“He was dramatic. Every time he came, he was significantly better. He’s back working now,” she said.
The Gibsons welcome anyone interested to visit or call 641-276-9905. More information is available at www.wavewellnessiowa.com.
Believe it or not, I’m lacking things to write about this week. Sure, there is the Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini drama, but this is not a tabloid. You can Google that situation if you want. It’s great if you like reality TV. Besides that, nothing much has happened this week that has grabbed major headlines. So, for this week, I’m doing a buy and a sell. One of my favorite podcasts does this each week, and I’m stealing it from them. Thank you, “Brilliantly Dumb Show.” Plus, I’ll throw in my favorite clip of the week.