Advanced Regenerative Medicine Institute offers stem cell training for doctors looking to expand their primary care or orthopedic practices. Stem cell injections can be used to treat osteoarthritis, sports injuries, and musculoskeletal issues resulting in chronic pain. The treatments are so successful that athletes are embracing them in greater numbers.

With the Olympics coming up, athlete use of stem cell therapy got us to thinking about other things they might be doing. So, we did some looking around. Below are five alternative treatments being used alongside stem cell injections.

1. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

If you are familiar with the hyperbaric chamber, you should have a pretty good idea of what hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is all about. This therapy involves lying or sitting in a hyperbaric tube that’s roughly 7 to 8 feet long. The tube is an airtight chamber that is sealed and pressurized.

HBOT sessions last up to two hours. Patients can pass the time listening to music, reading, etc. While in the chamber, the increased pressure is said to encourage the growth of new blood vessels, accelerate wound healing, and support injury recovery by increasing the concentration of oxygen breathed.

2. Vestibular Stimulation

Sports medicine doctors, physical therapists, and trainers are using automated vestibular stimulation to improve balance and coordination. The therapy works by placing the patient in a rotating chair that acts a lot like a gyroscope. Computer software programed to account for the patient’s individual needs rotates the chair in multiple directions. This stimulates the vestibular system to compensate for existing deficiencies. The therapy is believed to tighten up coordination between balance and movement.

3. Cupping

Cupping is a form of acupuncture that utilizes vacuum sealed cups placed on various parts of the body to relieve muscle pain and stimulate blood flow. The treatment is also said to decrease inflammation. Cupping does not look all that comfortable, but there are some athletes who swear by it. As for its efficacy, practitioners of Eastern medicine have been using it for thousands of years.

4. Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is a therapy that seeks to address joint pain by exposing the body to extremely low temperatures for up to four minutes. We are talking temperatures between -200 and -300°F. This is a whole-body treatment using liquid nitrogen. The cryotherapy device allows for either standing or sitting, with the head protruding from the top of the chamber.

5. IRAP Therapy

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) is an anti-inflammatory protein naturally produced by the human body. IRAP therapy seeks to address joint pain by increasing the volume of this protein at the site of injury. The therapy is similar to PRP and stem cell therapies in that it starts with a blood draw and centrifuge. The resulting serum is injected into the painful joint over the course of several days.

Stem Cell Training at ARMI

We cannot say for sure whether any of the five treatments listed above actually work or not. There are limited studies to suggest that some do. Other studies indicate the opposite. In the end, the efficacy of the treatments is for you to decide based on the evidence you find. What we do know is that stem cell therapy is effective for many patients who use it to manage chronic pain and promote natural healing.

Advanced Regenerative Medicine Institute is thrilled to be able offer PRP and stem cell training courses to America’s doctors. We offer weekend courses in various locations around the country. If you have been looking for a way to expand your practice, we hope you’ll consider stem cell therapy training with us.