Hyperbaric preconditioning and cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy

The results suggest that preconditioning with hyperbaric oxygen therapy can attenuate peripheral neuropathy caused by cisplatin in rats <view study>

Hyperbaric oxygen chambers and the treatment of sports injuries

“This review explains the rationale for the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and reports on the initial research in the area of hyperbaric oxygen in sports-induced injury.

The initial human and animal model studies have shown promising, and in some instances significant, acceleration of healing. The potential benefits for sports injuries appear to be a blunting of initial injury, possibly by controlling the neutrophil adhesion and release of oxygen free radicals as well as an enhancement of healing processes requiring oxygen-like collagen formation phagocytosis”. <view study>

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct for for athletes

“The best experience of HBO use as a recovery method from muscular fatigue occurred during the Nagano Winter Olympics with seven participating athletes. After physical activity, the athletes received HBO treatment for 30–40 minutes at 1.3 ATA, with a maximum of six times per athlete and an average of two times per athlete. An athlete who experienced tension and sharp pain of the abdominal muscles was able to play a game after HBO treatment with almost no pain. Another player who was experiencing anterior knee pain was treated within 2 days of injury and was able to perform afterwards with no difficulty. These test cases show that HBO treatments demonstrate high performance without adverse effects such as muscular pain and nerve paralysis. Players were also able to benefit from the conditioning effects of HBO treatment” <view study>

The influence of hyperbaric environment on the skeletal muscle mitochondrial energetic of rats after induced muscle contusion

“The present data suggest that hyperbaric exposure, particularly with oxygen, positively modulates the efficiency of skeletal muscle mitochondria after muscle contusion” <view study>

Effects of sprint interval training on cardiorespiratory fitness while in a hyperbaric oxygen environment

‘Exercise training and HBO2 exposure stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis, increase capillary density, and induce adaptive antioxidant mechanisms’

49 Healthy long-term intermediate-altitude residents were randomized into 2 groups: one performing six sessions of a SIT regimen over two weeks in a hyperbaric chamber (1.4 ATA); the other performing under ambient pressure conditions (0.85 ATA)

The results of this study demonstrated an improvement of cardiorespiratory fitness in the hyperbaric group, reflected by a a significantly higher increase in peak work rate and VE. <view study>

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy — A novel therapeutic intervention for Alzheimer’s Disease

The Neurobiology of Aging has just published a study supporting the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, they demonstrated the positive impact of HBOT on many of the commonly-found underlying pathologies that are observed in the AD brain. A key focus of this study was on HBOT’s ability to basically halt and reverse the neuro-inflammatory disease progression involved in AD <view study>

Multitasking now made easier with hyperbaric oxygen therapy

We all know how difficult it can be to multitask, whether it’s at work or in the home environment. For some of us, it comes easily and is almost like a natural instinct, while for the majority of us, this simple exercise is one that takes a lot of effort and becomes a continual and constant struggle to perform. The good news is that a new study has just shown us that we can improve both single task and multitask performance through the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

“The study’s findings indicate that even for healthy individuals, oxygen at normal conditions is a limiting factor for brain activity. The ability to perform cognitive and/or motor tasks as a single or a combined task (multitask) was evaluated at a normal air/oxygen environment and at HBO, a hyperbaric oxygen enriched environment. Increasing oxygenation using a HBO environment significantly enhanced both cognitive and motor performance. Significant improvements were found for both single tasks as well as simultaneous multiple tasks” <view study>

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for Alzheimer’s dementia

This case report followed a 58-year-old woman who had been experiencing cognitive decline for 5 years. After an 8 week course of 40 hyperbaric sessions (1.15 ATA/50 minute sessions), she reported improved memory and concentration, decreased disorientation, less frustration, and her anxiety was gone. These remarkable results were confirmed with brain imaging scans, which showed 6.5-38% improvement in overall brain metabolism <view study>

Stay focused — improve concentration, attention span, and process information quicker with hyperbaric oxygen

Declining cognitive abilities is one of the key concerns for those individuals 60 years and older. Though not limited to this age group, this concern is on the rise and efforts are being made to better understand and treat age-related cognitive impairment. One treatment currently showing great promise is hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

In this study, 63 healthy adults were evaluated with a 3-month course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. During this 3 month time period, each subject was given 60 hyperbaric sessions (90 minutes with 5 min air every 20 minutes) at 2.0 ATA.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy “was shown to induce cognitive enhancements in healthy aging adults via mechanisms involving regional changes in CBF. The main improvements include attention, information processing speed, and executive functions, which normally decline with aging”. <view study>

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Sports-Related TBI

For decades now, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been an off-label use for traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s). More and more, private clinics are opening up to provide this therapy for those suffering from TBI’s (both acute and chronic victims) and documenting success. Now, a recent article has just been published showing two football players that were successfully treated for TBI. Both were documented with their improvements by functional brain imaging concomitantly with neurological examinations. Of important note, one player was suffering from symptoms of TBI for more than 10 years and still showed benefits from HBOT. With more professional athletes being diagnosed with concussions and putting their career at risk, the implications for timely hyperbaric therapy are enormous <view study>

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy improves post-concussion syndrome

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has received a lot of attention over the past 20 years for helping patients following traumatic events. Though this therapy is not part of the approved medical treatments for traumatic brain injuries, both clinical research data and case reports have documented that there is a potential benefit from this procedure. Of late, mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI’s) have been in the news, due to the increasing understanding and concerns with concussions, particularly with athletes in sporting events. This study took 56 patients who had prolonged post-concussion syndrome following 1-5 years post mTBI. A “typical” program of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (this HBOT protocol included 40 treatment sessions (5 days/week), 60 minutes each, with 100% oxygen at 1.5 ATA ) was given to the treatment group, which demonstrated significant improvements. These results led the researchers of this study to conclude that “HBOT can induce neuroplasticity leading to repair of chronically impaired brain functions and improved quality of life in mTBI patients with prolonged PCS at late chronic stage” <view stage>

Benefits from hyperbaric pressure alone!

This study looked at both pressure and oxygen and their effects on genetic expression. 183 genes were identified that were significantly altered through pressure and/or oxygen. Fascinatingly, more genes were altered in response to hyperbaric air than HBOT. This study supports the notion that pressure has the greatest effect (more than oxygen), when relating to hyperbaric oxygen therapy <view study>

Even very slight hyperbaric pressures will produce benefits

For many years, hyperbaric pressures of only 1.04 ATA were considered to be insignificant in the hyperbaric field. Moreover, pressures as high as 1.3 ATA were considered to have no extra therapeutic value and even deemed to be the “placebo dose” in many studies trying to determine the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. We now have convincing evidence that this information is completely wrong!

Over the past 2 decades, research has confirmed that these lower pressures actually can have large physiological benefits. From theory to animal studies, and now to human studies; we can confirm that any pressures between 1.0 ATA and 1.3 ATA should all be considered hyperbaric therapy, delivering ‘higher than normal oxygen levels into the body. By obeying the gas-pressure laws of physics, any pressure above 1.0 ATA will allow extra oxygen to easily enter into the body. Therefore, any extra pressure is an extra dose of oxygen, and as the pressure increases, so does the extra dose of oxygen entering the body!

Quite simply put, the purpose of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is to provide extra oxygen at levels above and beyond the body’s natural means of getting this nutrient. Think of it as an “oxygen supplement.” Every time you breathe inside an oxygen chamber, you are continuously taking another dose of the extra oxygen. This then is a real dose of extra oxygen, and therefore cannot be considered a placebo!

In a recent publication, Paul Harch was able to very eloquently present these misconceptions in a detailed report rebutting a very poorly designed study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma. He was able to site numerous scientific documents validating the use of both low and very low pressures, clearly demonstrating that even pressures as low as 1.04 ATA had physiological effects. <view study>

Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy helps 2 year old make a full recovery

A Near Drowning accident left this 2 year old girl in critical condition. After being intensively treated in the hospital, she was finally discharged 35 days following the accident, but still unresponsive to all stimuli. Fortunately, she was able to have access to hyperbaric oxygen therapy and began a series of 40 sessions over 38 days (a total of 78 days following the near drowning). Her recovery was immediate, and the MRI that was previously taken before being discharged from the hospital was nearly completely reversed following the short course of hyperbaric therapy. Most notably for hyperbaric physicians was the dosage of oxygen that was used to achieve these remarkable results.Each session consisted of 45 minutes at 1.3 ATA (mild hyperbaric therapy — mHBOT). Not only was the pressure a lower pressure protocol, but there was no other breathing apparatus used in the treatment, just regular air breathing. This case report is consistent with many others who have had ‘miraculous recovery’ following hyperbaric oxygen therapy. However, this particular case is an excellent one to give the hyperbaric community a wake up and clearly demonstrates the power of mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The powerful reversal of severe brain damage demonstrates the effectiveness of mHBOT, as seen in this case (New York Post release)

“The brain is very sensitive to even slight changes in oxygen tension and this is one key reason why so many neurological conditions are positively affected by m-HBOT.”

Another key factor for this girl’s quick and nearly complete recovery is that she had quick access to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (within 3 months). Timing is everything and generally speaking, the quicker the access, the better the outcome, particularly if this procedure is applied within the first 2 years following brain trauma. Longer courses of hyperbaric therapy may need to be applied for injuries that have exceeded 2 years, as hyperbaric oxygen therapy is gaining widespread publicity for its neurological regenerative effects and stem cell release. The end result of “new brain tissue” now gives new hope for both recent and long-term brain injury survivors <view study>

Endurance performance is enhanced by intermittent hyperbaric exposure via up-regulation of proteins involved in mitochondrial biogenesis in mice

This study was focused on exercise training and evaluated the effects of 1.3 ATA (ambient air) hyperbaric exposure during the training regimen. The researchers were able to see positive changes in cellular processes and protein levels, allowing them to conclude the following: “The results showed that intermittent exposure of 1.3 ATA was able to enhance endurance performance.” <view study>

Effects of intermittent hyperbaric exposure on endurance and interval exercise performance in well-trained mice

This study was designed to clarify the mechanisms by which 1.3 ATA (ambient air) hyperbaric therapy&nbsp; improves endurance and interval exercise capacities in highly trained mice.

During sprint interval training, the results showed an increase in the proportion of type 1 muscle fibers and promoted the growth of blood vessels and muscle fibers.

These results may lead to a new strategy for enhancing exercise capacity in well-trained mice.” <view study>

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduces pain associated with inflammation

This study published in the Journal of Pain, recognizes past clinical data for the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in models of pain. Here they looked at daily application of hyperbaric oxygen for 1 week and evaluated physiological changes that may explain the analgesic effects of hyperbaric therapy. The results showed a reduction in numerous inflammatory markers, along with pain relief. By understanding the mechanism, HBOT may get more wide use for being a safe and effective way to reduce inflammatory pain <view study>

Hyperbaric Therapy reduces pain following nerve injury

This animal study induced sciatic nerve injury through chronic constriction. They measured inflammatory markers and then followed up with Hyperbaric oxygenation therapy. The results demonstrated an immediate pain relief following the procedure with repetitive applications giving more long-acting relief. These results correlated with the positive changes seen in inflammatory markers and reinforce the use of hyperbaric therapy for pain and inflammation, following nerve injury <view study>

Opioid Receptors shown to be part of Hyperbaric oxygen’s pain-relieving effects

Recent research has shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can help alleviate pain both in acute and chronic cases. Much attention has focused on the anti-inflammatory effects of HBOT and associated reductions in pain. This study, published in the European Journal of Pain in 2014, showed that opioid receptors may also have a big role in the positive effects of HBOT <view study>

Reducing pain and inflammation with hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Chronic pain is a hot topic in hyperbaric medicine, leading to numerous citations in many prestigious medical journals documenting the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This study, not only demonstrates support for this procedure, but also gives us new insights to the mechanisms of action <view study>