Zac Efron has revealed that he is undergoing stem cell therapy to treat a back injury he sustained while filming The Iron Claw.
The 36-year-old star opened up about the treatment on Instagram, sharing how he sought help from stem cell specialists after months of physical therapy failed to fully heal his injury.
In the post, Efron shared a photo of himself with Dr. Adeel Khan at Eterna Health, a clinic specializing in regenerative medicine.
‘I fully commit to my roles, which I love, but it takes a toll,’ Efron wrote.
‘My back was messed up after The Iron Claw, even after months of PT (physical therapy). Curious about stem cell therapy, I reached out to @dr.akhan at @eterna.health who answered all my questions and made me feel confident.’
The injury occurred on the set of The Iron Claw, a wrestling drama released in 2023.
Efron had to endure intense physical demands for the film. In the film, Efron portrays Kevin Von Erich, a member of the famous wrestling dynasty, the Von Erich family, requiring him to put on pounds of muscle in preparation for the role.
Despite physical therapy, Efron still experienced ongoing pain, leading him to explore alternative treatments.
He turned to stem cell therapy, which has gained popularity in recent years for its potential to aid in injury recovery and tissue regeneration – though the treatment remains controversial.
According to Eterna Health’s website, the clinic uses mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are engineered to enhance their regenerative properties and evade detection by the immune system, improving their ability to repair damaged tissues.
Now, six months after receiving the treatment, Efron says he’s seeing real improvement.
‘I’m back in the gym and already seeing improvements,’ he posted.
The actor also expressed his excitement about exploring other cutting-edge longevity technologies, promising fans he would keep them updated on his progress.
This isn’t the first time Efron has dealt with serious health issues. In 2013, the High School Musical star had his jaw wired shut after breaking it in a fall, an injury that required extensive surgery.
Then, in 2019, while filming a survival show in Papua New Guinea, he contracted a life-threatening bacterial infection and had to be flown to Australia for emergency treatment.
In August of that same year, Efron experienced another close call when he was found unconscious in a swimming pool in Ibiza.
After breathing in a significant amount of water, he was rushed to the hospital but quickly recovered and was discharged the following day.