Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may alleviate long-term spinal cord damage

Long-term disabilities from spinal cord injuries are linked with the extent of secondary injury from the inflammation that immediately follows the injury. This natural body body response of inflammation, limits the amount of blood and oxygen getting to the area, and thus poses greater problem. Hyperbaric oxygen has been used as an off-label treatment for spinal cord injuries for many years now, with many positive reports by both patients and treating physicians. This study showed that applying hyperbaric therapy may reduce secondary damage by reducing the inflammatory factors produced by the body. This gives good rationale for using HBOT following spinal cord injuries, not only to reduce secondary damage due to inflammation, but for also getting extra oxygen into the area and promote further repair, while not losing functional capacity <view study>