What Service Does to the Body
Military service is physically cumulative. The load-bearing demands of infantry and special operations, the repetitive stress of years of physical training, blast exposure, traumatic injury, and the sustained physiological cost of operational stress all leave marks that don’t resolve on their own.
The most common physical patterns we see in our military and veteran clients include:
- Chronic musculoskeletal pain — lower back, knees, shoulders, hips, and cervical spine conditions from years of load-bearing, combat operations, and physical training demands
- Joint degeneration — early-onset osteoarthritis and cartilage wear in weight-bearing joints
- Nerve pain and peripheral neuropathy — blast exposure and compression injuries to nerves
- Sleep disruption — hyperarousal, irregular schedules, and the neurological aftermath of sustained operational stress
- Systemic inflammation — the body’s inflammatory burden from years of physical demand and stress
- Post-surgical recovery — orthopedic and reconstructive surgeries following service-related injuries
These are not problems that resolve with rest and over-the-counter pain relievers. They require sustained, evidence-informed intervention — and increasingly, research is pointing toward nonpharmacological modalities like photobiomodulation as meaningful tools for exactly this population.
What VA and Military Research Say About Photobiomodulation
Photobiomodulation is not alternative medicine. It is an active area of research at some of the most rigorous institutions in military medicine.
Research and clinical investigation from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the VA Boston Healthcare System, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and multiple VA medical centers have explored PBM for:
- Chronic musculoskeletal pain in veteran populations
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) sequelae, including cognitive and neurological symptoms
- Post-traumatic stress and sleep disruption — specifically the physiological components
- Peripheral nerve injury and neuropathic pain
- Wound healing and post-surgical recovery from combat-related injuries
A 2021 review published in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology highlighted photobiomodulation’s particular relevance for chronic pain conditions disproportionately prevalent in veteran populations. This is a growing field, and the evidence base continues to build.
Full Spectrum’s Merican M6N operates at the clinical output levels used in research protocols — not the consumer-grade intensity of gym or salon devices.
Why Drug-Free Matters
The opioid crisis has not spared the military community. The Department of Veterans Affairs has reported that veterans experience significantly higher rates of opioid overdose and prescription pain medication dependence than the general population — a direct consequence of injury-driven pain management needs and the pharmaceutical tools historically used to address them.
Red light therapy offers something different: a non-pharmacological, non-invasive, non-addictive modality that addresses the biology of pain and inflammation rather than masking its signal. It carries no addiction risk, no tolerance buildup, no systemic side effects, and no interaction risks with most medications.
For veterans and active duty personnel who are looking for ways to reduce or avoid dependence on pharmaceutical pain management, photobiomodulation is a genuinely meaningful option — not a replacement for medical care, but a substantive complement to it.
Conditions Common in Military and Veterans That PBM Research Supports
Based on the current evidence base, photobiomodulation sessions at Full Spectrum may support:
For the Colorado Springs Military Community
Fort Carson is home to the 4th Infantry Division, 10th Special Forces Group, and one of the largest concentrations of active duty Army personnel in the United States. Peterson SFB and Schriever SFB bring Space Force and Air Force personnel and their families. The Air Force Academy prepares the next generation of officers.
This community is our community. Full Spectrum Red Light Therapy is located at 5735 Constitution Ave — accessible from Fort Carson and the broader Colorado Springs area. We are here specifically to serve the people who make this city what it is.
If you are currently serving or have served, we want to earn your trust through what we know, how we work, and what we can actually do for your body.
Frequently Asked Questions
No referral is required to book a session at Full Spectrum. We are a private wellness studio, not a VA affiliate. However, we encourage you to inform your healthcare provider about your sessions, particularly if you are managing complex medical conditions or post-surgical recovery.
Yes. Red light therapy is a complementary modality — it is not in conflict with VA care, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, or other modalities you may be receiving. Many clients use Full Spectrum as a supplement to their existing care plan.
Metal implants are not typically a contraindication for red light therapy. Photobiomodulation uses non-ionizing light — not electrical or magnetic fields — and does not interact with implanted hardware the way some other therapies do. Discuss this with your surgeon as part of any clearance process for post-surgical sessions.
Research on PBM for TBI is active and promising — particularly transcranial photobiomodulation. However, TBI is a complex neurological condition, and any wellness modality should be discussed with your neurologist or treating provider first. We are happy to discuss your specific situation during an intake conversation.