By Dr. Bruce Mark, DC | Hollywood Laser Pain Center | Hollywood, Florida

South Florida is home to one of the largest veteran populations in the United States. Broward County’s communities, including significant veteran populations in Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Miramar, Fort Lauderdale, and Pembroke Pines, include men and women who carried the physical demands of military service and now live with the long-term consequences. Chronic musculoskeletal pain, nerve damage, and the compounding effects of years of pain management are common in this population. The Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol is offered as a drug-free, non-surgical option for veterans seeking alternatives to the opioid and polypharmacy approach that has shaped veteran pain care for decades.

Veterans are prescribed opioids at higher rates than the general population, and their overdose mortality rates reflect this disparity. The VA has explicitly recognized the need to expand access to non-pharmacological pain management. Photobiomodulation, the modality used in the Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol, is one of the non-pharmacological approaches being studied for chronic pain in the broader rehabilitation literature.

At Hollywood Laser Pain Center, I serve veterans from across Broward County, drawing on more than 20 years of local practice and ongoing Rotary Club community engagement in Hollywood, Florida. I communicate with patients in English, Spanish, Russian, and Haitian Creole, which reflects the linguistic diversity of South Florida’s veteran community.

What Physical Burden Does Military Service Place on the Body?

Military service imposes extraordinary physical demands. Repetitive heavy load-carrying, with standard battle gear weighing 60 to 100 pounds, places cumulative stress on the lumbar spine and lower extremity joints. High-impact training, parachute landings, vehicle accidents, and blast exposures produce acute musculoskeletal and neurological injuries that often receive limited field treatment and inadequate follow-up after separation.

National research has shown that a majority of US military veterans report pain, with musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain, joint pain, and nerve pain representing the largest single category. Yet the predominant treatment approach for chronic pain has historically been pharmaceutical, with opioid prescriptions contributing to dependency concerns within the veteran population.

What Does Photobiomodulation Offer in Chronic Pain Care?

Many chronic pain conditions common in veterans, including disc herniation and degeneration, facet joint arthritis, peripheral neuropathy from blast or mechanical injury, and soft tissue damage from repetitive strain, fall within the range of conditions studied in photobiomodulation research.

A 2017 systematic review and meta-analysis published in the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine examined the effects of low-level laser therapy on pain in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Additional research published in Frontiers in Neurology has examined the role of photobiomodulation in peripheral nerve regeneration. These studies are part of a broader body of scientific literature examining non-pharmacological modalities for chronic musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.

What Does Graston Technique Add for Veterans?

Veterans with chronic pain from repetitive strain, acute combat injuries, and years of heavy loading often develop soft tissue restrictions such as paraspinal adhesions, hip flexor shortening, and rotator cuff scar tissue. Graston Technique is an instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization method used in the broader framework of musculoskeletal rehabilitation. It is one of the manual modalities I incorporate when working with patients in this population.

What Does Acupuncture Add for the Veteran Population?

The VA has increasingly integrated acupuncture into its veteran pain care pathways as one of several non-pharmacological modalities under study for chronic pain management. Acupuncture is a modality I am certified in and incorporate as part of a comprehensive approach to working with patients managing pain, including those who are also living with service-related conditions.

This multidisciplinary approach, combining laser therapy, manual techniques, and acupuncture, reflects how chronic pain care continues to evolve beyond a pharmaceutical-first model. For veterans in Broward County who served the country, that evolution carries particular weight.

About the Author

Dr. Bruce Mark, DC | Hollywood Laser Pain Center | 2607 Polk Street, Hollywood FL 33020 | 954-925-7333 | Hollywood Laser Pain Center

Dr. Mark earned his Doctor of Chiropractic from Logan College of Chiropractic with honors and has practiced for more than 27 years in Hollywood, Florida. He holds certifications in Graston Technique and acupuncture, is a former collegiate football player at Wake Forest University, and has served the Hollywood community through Rotary Club for 15 years. He practices at Broward Medical and Rehab. He communicates with patients in English, Spanish, Russian, and Haitian Creole. He is a provider in the national ReliefNow® network.

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. The effectiveness of treatments may vary depending on individual circumstances. Consult a qualified healthcare professional to discuss your specific medical needs and treatment options.