The Revival of Athletic Recovery: How Solbasium is Changing the Game

For many years, athletic recovery took a backseat in the world of competitive sports. Coaches and athletes alike focused relentlessly on building strength, speed, and strategy. Recovery was often an afterthought, addressed only when injuries arose. However, this perspective has shifted dramatically over the last two decades. The spotlight has turned toward recovery technology, with a new generation of athletes and innovators using science to enhance performance in ways we never thought possible. One profile of this transformation is Bradley Carden and his company, Solbasium.

From Skepticism to Breakthrough

Bradley Carden didn’t initially see himself as a pioneer in recovery technology. When he first encountered red-light therapy, he dismissed it. “I thought it was BS,” he says bluntly, reflecting a healthy skepticism that many share when faced with unconventional methods. His background was steeped in rigorous science and engineering, and he couldn’t reconcile the simplicity of red-light therapy with what he perceived as the hard facts of athletic performance.

However, that skepticism would evolve. His journey began in earnest when he decided to dig deeper, intrigued by the thousands of peer-reviewed studies validating light therapy’s effects on cellular function, inflammation, and recovery. “I couldn’t understand why nobody had really built meaningful products around it,” Carden recalls. This exploration turned personal when a chronic elbow injury from jiu-jitsu prompted him to try red-light therapy himself. To his amazement, the pain vanished, and he became a believer. “That was it. I knew this worked.”

The Science Behind Red-Light Therapy

At its core, red-light therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to penetrate the skin, stimulating cellular energy production. It works by activating mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell, to increase ATP (adenosine triphosphate) output. ATP is the energy currency of the body, responsible for everything from muscle contractions to tissue repair. More ATP means more energy for the cells to function effectively, which ultimately aids in recovery.

Despite the science being well-established for years, most recovery tools on the market offered limited options, often aimed more at beauty and wellness than athletic performance. When Solbasium burst onto the scene, the prevailing recovery methods included massage guns and similar gadgets, yet light therapy remained virtually untouched in the realm of sports recovery.

Carden recognized this frustrating gap. Athletes were pushing their bodies harder than ever before, but the tools to support their recovery hadn’t evolved at the same pace. “Simplicity, durability, and effectiveness were often sacrificed for novelty,” he explains.

A Solid Foundation for Recovery

When developing Solbasium, Carden prioritized creating products that athletes would actually use—devices that could withstand the rigors of professional sports. “If something breaks down or doesn’t deliver consistent results, pro teams won’t touch it,” he states. With this foundation, Solbasium could enter one of the most skeptical environments in sports: the National Football League (NFL).

Breaking into the NFL wasn’t just a strategy; it was an uphill battle. Carden recalls the initial silence from teams when he reached out, often met with polite dismissals. Unexpectedly, the breakthrough came when the Los Angeles Chargers contacted him through a website inquiry. Initially assuming it was a prank, Carden was thrilled to learn they wanted to test Solbasium’s Helios red-light bed.

Winning Over Professionals

The feedback from the Chargers was overwhelmingly positive. But the real game-changer occurred when Khalil Mack reached out directly, crediting Solbasium with helping him recover weeks ahead of schedule. “Seeing that on live TV was surreal,” Carden remembers. For him, it wasn’t just validation; it was proof that this could compete at the highest levels of professional sports.

With growing momentum, several NFL teams began to trial Solbasium products. Red-light therapy was no longer a novelty; it became a staple for recovery in league facilities. This shift has monumental implications for not only the athletes but also the game itself. Trust has always been vital in professional sports, and Solbasium earned that trust one proof point at a time.

Collaboration and Innovation

Working with industry veterans like Gunnar Peterson, who’s spent decades training elite athletes, Solbasium refined its approach even further. Peterson understands intimately how recovery fits into the athlete’s overall performance and ensures Solbasium’s technology is designed not just for theoretical outcomes but for practical, everyday use. “Gunnar has seen everything—injuries, plateaus, mistakes,” Carden notes. That experience directly informs how Solbasium builds its products.

What makes Solbasium stand out is its ongoing commitment to innovation. Carden emphasizes the urgency of leading rather than following. The majority of the company’s revenue is reinvested into research and development, which has led to exciting advancements, such as the integration of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy with red-light beds. “Why make athletes jump between devices? Nobody wants that,” he asks.

The Future of Recovery Technology

So, what’s next for this evolving field? Carden believes we’re on the brink of a revolution. “There are patents and lab discoveries from decades ago that never made it to market because there wasn’t demand,” he explains. But with the growing awareness and interest in recovery technologies, he sees that changing.

His advice for aspiring athletes is simple: stack recovery methods. “Red light, PEMF, massage, hyperbaric oxygen—when you combine them, the results compound,” he insists. What this means for athletes—and indeed for fans—is that the future of performance may lie in subtle yet impactful technological advancements.

The Bigger Picture

In a sports landscape where every fractional improvement counts, recovery is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s essential. Carden’s story is a powerful testament to how skepticism can lead to innovation. It shows us that change often begins with questioning the status quo.

So, what does this mean for everyday athletes and fans? Well, the growth of recovery technology could democratize access, allowing not just elite athletes but weekend warriors to benefit from scientific advancements that enhance performance and well-being.

As I reflect on these developments, I can’t help but remember the times when the athletes I admired faced tough challenges, battling injuries that sidelined them for weeks. Now, thanks to pioneers like Carden, the tools available to them are evolving at light speed. The recovery revolution is more than just a trend; it’s a transformative journey that redefines what’s possible in sports.

In the end, Solbasium’s rise serves as a reminder that innovation often happens in unexpected places—sometimes fueled by doubt, inquiries, and the relentless pursuit of improvement. And as we continue to see the lines blurred between technology and performance, one thing is certain: the future of athletic recovery is bright, and it’s just getting started.