Tim Thomas, NHL All-Star, Stanley Cup winner, and recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy, is known for his tenacity and unorthodox brilliance on the ice. But off the rink, he faced one of the toughest battles of his life — recovering from multiple traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and the debilitating effects of toxic mold exposure. After retiring from professional hockey, Tim experienced a profound mental and physical crash. “I was in survival mode,” he recalls. “I didn’t even watch the Bruins win their next Stanley Cup.”
Like many athletes with repeated head trauma, Tim struggled with symptoms that included cognitive fog, emotional dysregulation, and fatigue — all hallmarks of chronic TBI. Frustrated by the lack of effective solutions, he eventually discovered photobiomodulation (PBM) through Vielight’s Neuro technology. The results were life-changing.
“When I started using the Vielight Neuro, it was like someone turned the lights back on in my brain.”
But Tim’s experience isn’t just anecdotal — it’s increasingly backed by science.
The Science That Backs the Story: Vielight’s Groundbreaking TBI Clinical Trial
What makes Tim’s recovery even more compelling is how closely it aligns with the results of the University of Utah’s peer-reviewed n=43 TBI clinical trial, with the Vielight Neuro Gamma conducted by the University of Utah and published in Scientific Reports (Nature Portfolio, 2022).
This randomized, controlled study tested the Vielight Neuro Gamma on individuals with moderate TBI and chronic post-concussive symptoms — the same condition Tim struggled with. The results were groundbreaking:
-
Cognitive Gains: Participants using the Vielight Neuro Gamma showed statistically significant improvements in processing speed, executive function, and verbal memory (as measured by standard neuropsychological tests).
-
Mood and Function: Reductions in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-concussive syndrome were observed, alongside enhanced quality of life.
-
Durability of Results: Notably, these improvements were not short-lived — gains were sustained even four weeks after stopping treatment.
To date, no other brain PBM company has published human trial results of this scale and rigor for TBI. The Vielight Neuro remains the most scientifically validated brain-targeted photobiomodulation device on the market.
🔹On His Struggles Post-Retirement
-
“I ended up suffering from some issues with my head the last couple of years that I played… I’ve had 10 years of really struggling with being able to think, inflammation of the brain, and being stuck in fight, flight, or freeze — for me, I was in freeze a lot.”
🔹 On Trying Multiple Therapies
-
“Over the years I’ve tried many different things… they helped, but only to a certain level.”
🔹 On Discovering Vielight
-
“I received my Vielight sometime in December, and I’ve been using it since then. It has helped me in many ways.”
🔹 On the Effects of Vielight
-
“The inflammation in the brain is nearly completely gone as far as I can feel. That in itself is a great relief.”
-
“I rarely have headaches anymore.”
-
“It has helped my nervous system a lot. I’m a lot more relaxed in my own skin.”
-
“It has helped my ability to organize, which is something I really suffered from.”
-
“I plan on continuing to use it for the rest of my life.”
🔹 On Brain wellness and Preventative Use
-
“Just recognize how important the brain is. It’s something you should protect.”
-
“If you’re playing a sport where you’re at risk of jiggling your brain around… I recommend the Vielight to help prevent the injury.”
-
“Even when I thought I was healthy during my career, I think it would have helped back then to keep my brain in a more consistent, relaxed state.”
🔹 On Peak Performance and Recovery
-
“When I look back on my career, the times I played badly were generally a couple weeks after I got hit in the head really hard.”
-
“If there is a device like the Vielight that helps you stay near your peak performance line all the time — yeah, I think it would have been very beneficial.”