Sports and Regenerative Medicine facility helps others stay active
Dr. Stan Schooler is all about helping his patients avoid surgery when possible and live healthy, active lives.
Schooler’s list of credentials is overwhelming, having served as the medical director and staff physician at Kosair ER, having 33 years of ER practice at Floyd Memorial Hospital, an Air Force pediatric practice, being board-certified in pediatric and adult sports medicine, and even more.
After retiring from the ER, Schooler knew he wanted to continue practicing and using his skill set. He has since opened a practice in Floyds Knobs focused on sports and regenerative medicine: Stay Active of Southern Indiana.
Regenerative medicine is defined by the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies as “the process of replacing or ‘regenerating’ human cells, tissues, or organs to restore or establish normal function.”
“I’m using techniques to allow for non-surgical treatments for bone, joint and spine conditions. And also, treatment of painful nerves that may be associated with the above (bone, joint and spine).” – Dr. Stan Schooler
“I’m using techniques to allow for non-surgical treatments for bone, joint and spine conditions,” Schooler said. “And also, treatment of painful nerves that may be associated with the above (bone, joint and spine).”
Schooler said he uses ultrasound technology to see areas of painful nerves or areas where tissue could be breaking down.
Several treatment methods are used, including PRP (platelet-rich plasma), which uses a patient’s own blood products from a same-day office draw and injection treatment to painful areas of joints or tendons. This promotes healing of those areas.
Another treatment method is painful nerve injections, which use an ultrasound to determine exactly where the nerves are affected.
A third method is shockwave treatment. Schooler said this has been used in the United States for the past 30 years for plantar fasciitis and tennis elbow. It is now being used for many common musculoskeletal conditions to encourage healing.
“Inflammation is the primary cause for this (pain), so we discuss lifestyle changes — diet, supplements, exercise, hormones, activity — to try to decrease the inflammation to help the joints and nerves and to promote functional movement.” – Dr. Stan Schooler
“Inflammation is the primary cause for this (pain), so we discuss lifestyle changes — diet, supplements, exercise, hormones, activity — to try to decrease the inflammation to help the joints and nerves and to promote functional movement,” Schooler said.
One of Schooler’s goals is to get people active in some way. He and his wife used to own a fitness center in New Albany and have always been interested in exercise as a form of medicine. He said he recognizes that everyone has a different starting point. “They don’t have to be an athlete,” he said.
Schooler’s background allows him to work with all ages. “Coming from a pediatric and adult background, I can see (kids), adults, and seniors who have problem joints or what they think is a painful nerve.”
His office can do X-rays, MRIs and bloodwork based on the patient’s reason for scheduling an appointment.
Schooler said he’s seen great success with regenerative treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee, Achilles tendon pain, and other areas causing discomfort or pain.
“People that thought they were going to go for surgery can postpone that for some time in the future, if necessary, at all. That’s why we try to implement the lifestyle changes and decrease the inflammation so they can continue on with normal life without being dependent on wheelchairs, walkers, etc.” – Dr. Stan Schooler
“People that thought they were going to go for surgery can postpone that for some time in the future, if necessary, at all,” he said. “That’s why we try to implement the lifestyle changes and decrease the inflammation so they can continue on with normal life without being dependent on wheelchairs, walkers, etc.”
The practice tries to promote healing through non-opioid paths and commonly sees knees, hips and lower backs as sources of pain benefiting from treatment, among other areas already mentioned.
“We changed our name from sports medicine only to doing this regenerative treatment that is being used pretty much all over,” Schooler said. “People are looking for non-surgical options to restore health, and that’s what our focus is.”
Schooler said he’s proud of his new location and of being so central for the community.
“Having been the urgent care director for 20 years there, I kind of feel like I’m going back to my home base of sorts,” he said.
Schooler also said he enjoys the problem-solving aspect of medicine and working with each individual patient’s mind, body and spirit.
Schooler also said he enjoys the problem-solving aspect of medicine and working with each individual patient’s mind, body and spirit.
“I try to understand where they’re coming from. They won’t be on a timer or worry about me rushing for the next patient,” he said.
Facebook reviews mention just this, saying Schooler “took a significant amount of time to diagnose my problem with my knee injury and ultimately recommended the PRP procedure, which prevented me from undergoing knee surgery.”
Another review said, “Dr. Schooler really took his time and made my daughter and I feel like a priority. He did not just want to make her pain go away with a shot or medicine. He really wanted to get to the root of the problem and find solutions to make it go away.” •
Story by Darian Decker // Photos by Michelle Hockman
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