Zac Efron turns to stem cell therapy after intense 'The Iron Claw' training impacts his health

Zac Efron's dramatic transformation for his role in The Iron Claw may have taken a toll on his body, but the actor has been working hard to recover from the extreme training he put himself through after filming.

In the film, Zac played pro wrestler Kevin Von Erich and bulked up significantly for the part, resulting in back issues that months of physical training couldn't easily resolve. In search of a solution, Zac turned to stem cell therapy. He reached out to Dr Adeel Khan at the Canada-based clinic, Eterna Health, who was able to answer all his questions and make him feel "confident" about moving forward with the treatment.

Now, having stepped away from his intense training regime and undergone the unique therapy, the High School Musical star says he's feeling better and is able to hit the gym again without much issue. Sharing an update on Instagram, Zac wrote: "Excited to explore the latest longevity technologies through the Eterna Membership Program - I'll keep you updated on my progress!"

READ MORE: Real reason 'distressed' Zac Efron was pulled from Ibiza pool and taken to hospital

Accompanying his post was a photo of Zac posing next to his doctor, casually dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans, white sneakers and a black baseball cap. His doctor, meanwhile, was seen in typical medical attire - light grey scrubs and white trainers.

They posed with cheery smiles by the reception area of the office, the Eterna logo glowing behind them, reported the Mirror US. Zac previously opened up about the gruelling training he underwent for the sports film.

Speaking to USA Today, he said: "You think you're getting the hang of it, and you speed up a few times and your confidence gets built up. Then you slam into one of those things just an inch too high and your rib is like gone. You can't breathe for a couple days. I don't know how these guys do it, man ... it's shocking that first time you do it. You're like, 'This is not as easy as it looks on TV.'"

Last month, Zac left his fans worried after a scare in a swimming pool in Ibiza led to his hospitalisation. The Hollywood heartthrob took to Instagram to reassure his followers, declaring he's "happy and healthy" following the accident. The Baywatch hunk was enjoying a getaway in Ibiza when the incident occurred at his villa's pool, prompting a swift hospital visit. He was discharged the following morning.

It's since been reported that Zac had been swimming with friends early in the morninn Ibiza when he decided to take a dive. According to TMZ, Zac "very early Saturday morning in Ibiza when he decided to take a dive" and the actor "showed signs of distress" as onsite security helped him out of the pool.

Sources told the American publication that "Zac was momentarily dazed and he was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure". Whilst at hospital, Zac reportedly had a chest X-ray to check the water had left his lungs. He was reportedly cleared to go home within hour but remained inside the hospital due to photographers waiting outside the hospital.

But Zac took to Instagram to reassure his followers following the scare, saying he was "happy and healthy" following a "minor" mishap while taking a dip. Breaking his silence, Zac is already back to his fitness regime. Flaunting his biceps on an Instagram story, he posed atop a Pilates ball with weights in hand, captioning it: "Happy and healthy - thanks for the well wishes."

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