ST JOHN'S, Antigua and Barbuda — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is reportedly doing well after receiving stem cell treatment in the Caribbean this month.
Cousins landed in Antigua on Jan. 6 after tearing his Achilles back in October. He had surgery in the Twin Cities that November.
Sister islands Antigua and Barbuda are located about 1,000 miles east of Jamaica. Most people live in Antigua, which is known for its "365 beaches – one for every day of the year."
"I don't know what's coming, but I know my Achilles needs to be as healthy and strong as possible, as soon as possible," Cousins told Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Services (ABS), which shared footage with KARE 11 on Monday. "I'm here in Antigua as a way to not necessarily speed up the healing process but just make sure when I do come back that my Achilles is as strong as it can possibly be and that I have a lot more football, American football left in me."
ABS reports it was Cousins' second time in Antigua.
Dr. Chad Prodromos, medical director and CEO of the Prodromos Stem Cell Institute in Chicago, recommended the treatment.
"I've known Kirk for a while," Prodromos told KARE over Zoom. "The stem cells have the potential to enhance healing. They also have some benefits in enhancing overall health and recovery, which is why a lot of football players use them."
He says the cells are from Colorado-based tissue bank, Vitro Biopharma, and says they're safe and FDA approved. However, he says anyone seeking to use them needs individualized FDA approval, and that this process involves expensive clinical trials.
"They're extremely expensive to fund so they tend to be industry funded," Prodromos explained. "So for this kind of problem, there just isn't an FDA-approved trial study in the U.S. to do it. So we go to Antigua to an excellent clinic there."
Treatment occurred in the Antiguan offices of Dr. Joseph John.
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said Cousins' visit is contributing to the nation's growing medical tourism industry.
The contract between Cousins and the Vikings will expire this March, and Cousins could become a free agent for the first time in 6 years. However, he's indicated he'd like to return to the team.
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