I’ve long been a fan of Norwegian ski god Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. A few years ago, we had the privilege of photographing Aleks and his fiancée, Mikaela Shiffrin, in Norway with the incomparable David Yarrow. It was a shoot that redefined “power couple.”

Last season, Kilde suffered what could have been a career-ending crash. Months later, scrolling Instagram, I found him talking about something called FlexBeam. Honestly, the man could narrate a grocery list and I’d listen, but this was different. He credited FlexBeam –a red-light and near-infrared therapy device – with his recovery and return to the World Cup circuit.

So what is it? Behind the LED technology is photobiomodulation (PBM), a treatment that delivers light to stimulate cell function and promote healing. It minimizes inflammation, accelerates recovery, and can help reduce pain in conditions such as osteoarthritis. Intrigued – and increasingly bone-on-bone myself after a life as a skier and ski pro – I thought: If it can bring Kilde back, maybe it can help me, too.

So, I tried it. At first, nothing. Then, during CrossFit lunges – a movement I typically endure as torture – I noticed something shocking: no pain. For the first time in years, my back knee actually brushed the floor. Miraculous? Maybe. Or maybe just Norwegian-tested science.

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FlexBeam – Wearable Red Light Therapy Device