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Performance Training
4 Extreme Athletic Training Techniques
Steroids may get all the headlines, but athletes legally use full-body freezing, stem cells, and other high-tech fixes for fast recovery and optimal performance
By
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High-Tech Performance Fixes
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1
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
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2
Full-Body Cryotherapy
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3
Mild Hyperbaric Therapy
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4
Stem Cell Therapy
Mild Hyperbaric Therapy
What It Is: This therapy takes place in a podlike chamber and involves a combination of concentrated oxygen (usually 95%) and pressure (equivalent to being 11 feet under water) used to force the oxygen into the body to aid recovery in athletes. The technique has been around since the 16th century in various forms, but the therapy’s popularity has grown with the advent of smaller, more affordable units.
“Many athletes are using it for increased levels of ATP, [the main source of energy for cells in the body], more muscular endurance, energy, and stamina. Pressure enables oxygen to get into the blood and hard to reach areas of the body. The therapy is also used to aid soreness and recovery from workouts and injuries, says Bill Schindler, director of the Hyperbaric Therapy Center outside of Atlanta.
The Benefits: While the therapy has been in use and extensively researched for medical applications, the benefits to athletes for recovery from injury and exertion have been studied much less. Smaller studies have pointed to potential benefits from the pressurized environment and oxygen saturation. One such study of soccer players in Scotland showed 70% improvement in recovery times from soft-tissue injuries.
High-Profile Believers: Schindler says his center has provided more than 300 prescriptions for chambers to NFL players, and the center’s website displays photos and words of thanks from football players Brett Favre and Terrell Owens, and baseball pitcher John Smoltz.
Cost: $1,500 per month to rent and around $5,000 to $19,000 to buy a unit; $50 to $125 per treatment. Not covered by insurance. Prescription required for treatment or to purchase your own unit. Not covered by insurance.
Video: Build balance to fight injuries
“Many athletes are using it for increased levels of ATP, [the main source of energy for cells in the body], more muscular endurance, energy, and stamina. Pressure enables oxygen to get into the blood and hard to reach areas of the body. The therapy is also used to aid soreness and recovery from workouts and injuries, says Bill Schindler, director of the Hyperbaric Therapy Center outside of Atlanta.
The Benefits: While the therapy has been in use and extensively researched for medical applications, the benefits to athletes for recovery from injury and exertion have been studied much less. Smaller studies have pointed to potential benefits from the pressurized environment and oxygen saturation. One such study of soccer players in Scotland showed 70% improvement in recovery times from soft-tissue injuries.
High-Profile Believers: Schindler says his center has provided more than 300 prescriptions for chambers to NFL players, and the center’s website displays photos and words of thanks from football players Brett Favre and Terrell Owens, and baseball pitcher John Smoltz.
Cost: $1,500 per month to rent and around $5,000 to $19,000 to buy a unit; $50 to $125 per treatment. Not covered by insurance. Prescription required for treatment or to purchase your own unit. Not covered by insurance.
Video: Build balance to fight injuries
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