Self-guided back pain relief - built for real life. Accessible anytime, anywhere.
To help you overcome frontline pain by finding a clear path to low back pain relief — so you can keep showing up for the work and life that matter.
Frontline work isn’t limited to military or first responders.
It’s the work you show up for every single day.
Raising kids.
Working long shifts.
Building a business.
Carrying responsibility that no one else sees.
And when low back pain shows up too, you don’t need more confusion or delay.
You need clarity.
That’s what we provide.
We support people navigating demanding, high-responsibility lives — including military service members, first responders, healthcare professionals, and others working in physically and mentally demanding roles.
But you don’t have to wear a uniform to be on the frontline.
If you’re carrying weight — physically or otherwise — and low back pain is slowing you down, you’re in the right place.
Meet the Founder
My story working with military service members began in 2007.
I was finishing physical therapy school during a clinical rotation at a neuro-rehabilitation center in California when I worked with my first service member — a Wounded Warrior recovering from a severe traumatic brain injury after his vehicle struck an IED in Iraq.
I didn’t know it at the time, but he would change the direction of my life.
What stayed with me wasn’t just his courage.
It was the discipline he brought to every therapy session.
The quiet determination.
And the unwavering presence of his wife, who stood beside him through every step of recovery.
They were a team — both carrying the weight of an injury sustained in service to others.
That experience shaped everything that followed.
I knew I wanted to serve those who serve. I went on to join the U.S. Air Force as an active-duty physical therapist, caring for service members in physically demanding, high-stakes roles. Later, I continued that work in the Air Force Reserve, volunteered for deployment, and served in government-contracted and embedded human performance roles — including with Special Operations units.
Over time, something became very clear...
I was finishing physical therapy school during a clinical rotation at a neuro-rehabilitation center in California when I worked with my first service member — a Wounded Warrior recovering from a severe traumatic brain injury after his vehicle struck an IED in Iraq.
I didn’t know it at the time, but he would change the direction of my life.
What stayed with me wasn’t just his courage.
It was the discipline he brought to every therapy session.
The quiet determination.
And the unwavering presence of his wife, who stood beside him through every step of recovery.
They were a team — both carrying the weight of an injury sustained in service to others.
That experience shaped everything that followed.
I knew I wanted to serve those who serve. I went on to join the U.S. Air Force as an active-duty physical therapist, caring for service members in physically demanding, high-stakes roles. Later, I continued that work in the Air Force Reserve, volunteered for deployment, and served in government-contracted and embedded human performance roles — including with Special Operations units.
Over time, something became very clear...
Dr. Karen Thomas, PT, DPT
Air Force Veteran | Physical Therapist | Founder of Venture Out Wellness™
On deployment in the Middle-East in 2019 - serving under my maiden name Hedenschoug.
Most of my patients called me "Dr. H" - a name that still holds a special place in my heart.
JUST THE BEGINNING JUST THE BEGINNING JUST THE BEGINNING JUST THE BEGINNING JUST THE BEGINNING JUST THE BEGINNING JUST THE BEGINNING JUST THE BEGINNING
The work wasn’t slowing down.
The missions weren’t slowing down.
And life certainly wasn’t slowing down.
Even when help was technically available, real barriers remained:
Unpredictable schedules
High operational tempo
Short-notice travel
Competing responsibilities
And sometimes, unspoken hesitation about seeking care
Getting help for pain shouldn’t be this complicated.
And I realized something else.
This wasn’t just a military problem.
The missions weren’t slowing down.
And life certainly wasn’t slowing down.
Even when help was technically available, real barriers remained:
Unpredictable schedules
High operational tempo
Short-notice travel
Competing responsibilities
And sometimes, unspoken hesitation about seeking care
Getting help for pain shouldn’t be this complicated.
And I realized something else.
This wasn’t just a military problem.
To your health and happiness on and off duty,
Frontline work isn’t limited to a uniform.
It’s the work you show up for every day — physically, mentally, emotionally.
Parenthood.
Long shifts.
Leadership roles.
Caregiving.
High-demand careers.
When pain shows up in real life, most people don’t need more appointments, referrals, or guesswork.
They need clarity.
They need a starting point.
They need something they can use now.
In 2022, I began transitioning away from traditional patient care to build something different — something accessible, practical, and aligned with real life.
That’s how Venture Out Wellness™ was born.
This isn’t about pushing through pain.
It’s about addressing it early — with clarity and confidence — so it doesn’t quietly take more than it should.
Because the work you show up for matters.
And so does your quality of life.
One of my earliest senior enlisted mentors once told me:
“We have to take care of the people, because it’s the people who take care of the mission.”
That lesson never left me.
No matter what your mission is, you deserve support that respects your life, your time, and your responsibilities.
Welcome to Venture Out Wellness™.
Welcome to a clearer path forward.
Welcome to overcoming frontline pain.
It’s the work you show up for every day — physically, mentally, emotionally.
Parenthood.
Long shifts.
Leadership roles.
Caregiving.
High-demand careers.
When pain shows up in real life, most people don’t need more appointments, referrals, or guesswork.
They need clarity.
They need a starting point.
They need something they can use now.
In 2022, I began transitioning away from traditional patient care to build something different — something accessible, practical, and aligned with real life.
That’s how Venture Out Wellness™ was born.
This isn’t about pushing through pain.
It’s about addressing it early — with clarity and confidence — so it doesn’t quietly take more than it should.
Because the work you show up for matters.
And so does your quality of life.
One of my earliest senior enlisted mentors once told me:
“We have to take care of the people, because it’s the people who take care of the mission.”
That lesson never left me.
No matter what your mission is, you deserve support that respects your life, your time, and your responsibilities.
Welcome to Venture Out Wellness™.
Welcome to a clearer path forward.
Welcome to overcoming frontline pain.
Dr. Karen Thomas, PT, DPT, OCS Emeritus
Founder & CEO of Venture Out Wellness, PLLC
Woman Veteran Owned & Operated
Grab your FREE Quick Wins Guide!
7 tactical, evidence-based strategies to reduce pain and restore movement — fast.
✔ Built for military service members & frontline workers
✔ Stigma-free, practical relief you can use anywhere
✔ Created by an Air Force Veteran & Doctor of Physical Therapy
Download the Quick Wins Guide and take your first step toward understanding your pain, taking confident action, and reclaiming your quality of life — on and off duty.
7 tactical, evidence-based strategies to reduce pain and restore movement — fast.
✔ Built for military service members & frontline workers
✔ Stigma-free, practical relief you can use anywhere
✔ Created by an Air Force Veteran & Doctor of Physical Therapy
Download the Quick Wins Guide and take your first step toward understanding your pain, taking confident action, and reclaiming your quality of life — on and off duty.
Low Back Hurting? You Need a Win.
