A muscle sprain or strain or a bone fracture sidelines everybody, and we all hope for a speedy recovery. For professional athletes, however, it’s more than a desire for rapid healing. Sports injuries and the time it takes to get back in the game can make or break a career. Professional sports organizations across the country rely on cutting-edge treatments to get their players healthy and back on the field as quickly as possible. And even though most of us aren’t pro athletes, at Whitaker Wellness, we use these same secrets to fast healing to help our patients get back in the game.
Say No to Dangerous Drugs
Head to any conventional medical facility after an injury and you’ll probably be told to follow the RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression, elevation). This advice is great. However, you’ll also likely find yourself with instructions to take prescription or over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), COX-2 inhibitors, or stronger painkillers.
Be wary. While sporadic use of these drugs is acceptable, using them long-term can be disastrous. NSAIDs are notorious for causing stomach problems, ulcers, and very serious bleeding that results in more than 16,000 deaths each year. In addition to GI problems, COX-2 inhibitors also increase risk of stroke and heart attack. One of these drugs, Vioxx, was removed from the market after being linked to more than 50,000 fatalities. And opioid painkillers are dangerous drugs that are highly addictive and carry a huge abuse potential.
But don’t despair. I’m going to tell you about a handful of safe and effective therapies that take speedy recovery and healing to a whole new level.
Oxygen Speeds Recovery
Many athletes have benefited tremendously from a therapy we use at the clinic: hyperbaric oxygen (HBOT). This treatment works by flooding the body with oxygen, which eradicates bacteria and potential infections, encourages the growth of new blood vessels, and promotes tissue regeneration. It’s safe, noninvasive, and effective for everything from sprains and strains to recovery from plastic surgery.
HBOT happens to be a personal favorite of mine. A number of years ago, I sprained my ankle pretty badly playing squash. It swelled up like a grapefruit, turned purple, and hurt like the dickens. Rather than turning to dangerous drugs, I spent a few hourly sessions in the hyperbaric chamber. Guess what? The inflammation and pain diminished dramatically. Rather than being benched for two to three weeks, I was back to my old self in about seven days.
I’m not the only “athlete” who takes advantage of HBOT. Terrell Owens is said to have used hyperbaric oxygen in conjunction with the next therapy we’ll discuss to speed recovery from a sprain and fracture in time to play in the 2005 Super Bowl.
Microcurrent: An Amazing Pain-Relieving Therapy
Microcurrent therapy, also called frequency specific microcurrent or FSM, is yet another secret to fast healing. This pain-relieving therapy uses very low-frequency currents that are customized to specific tissue types. When placed over the targeted area, these tiny currents help reduce sensitivity and inflammation, often resulting in profound pain relief. Microcurrent has demonstrated success in the treatment of tendonitis, fibromyalgia, and all types of musculoskeletal injuries.
As I mentioned earlier, Terrell Owens credits microcurrent (along with HBOT and a few other alternative therapies) for helping him get back in playing shape. One of my staff members also reported marked pain relief after she tweaked her hip lifting weights. After just a few sessions of microcurrent therapy, her discomfort disappeared.
Speed Recovery With the Power of Light
You’ve probably heard me sing the praises of infrared light and its amazing restorative and healing powers. It works by delivering specific wavelengths of light painlessly through the skin. This invisible light generates the production of nitric oxide (NO), which in turn boosts blood flow, reduces inflammation and pain, and speeds recovery of soft-tissue injuries.
Infrared light is ideal for sprains and strains, but it also has a remarkable track record as a pain-relieving therapy. It is particularly helpful for alleviating chronic pain and older injuries. Vietnam veteran Tom Ryan suffered for nearly 40 years with debilitating pain in his right arm and left leg caused by injuries he sustained in combat. Multiple surgeries couldn’t correct the problem and it wasn’t until he came to the clinic for a course of infrared light therapy that his pain began to subside. After treatment he said, “I’m totally pain free. It’s almost as if I’ve been given a second chance at life.”
Prolo to the Rescue
Musculoskeletal injuries often weaken the ligaments that hold joints in proper alignment. In these cases, prolotherapy may be the answer. A slightly irritating solution is injected into the affected ligaments. This triggers the body’s normal healing response, corrects the underlying problem by helping the joints and ligaments regain their strength and stability, and relieves pressure from pinched nerves.
Just ask Toni, a world-champion ballroom dancer. A car accident left her with a terrible case of whiplash. Not only was her neck killing her, she was unable to perform. Just three sessions of this pain-relieving therapy put a stop to her discomfort and allowed her to get back on the dance floor in no time at all.
Secrets to Fast Healing Recap
Whether you’re a professional athlete or an “armchair quarterback,” these therapies can help speed up the healing process, put an end to pain, and keep you in the action. To receive any of the treatments discussed above, call the Whitaker Wellness Institute at (866) 632-8890 .
