Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an easy, comfortable therapy method used to treat a variety of conditions.
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
For many athletes, muscle strains and inflammation are common occurrences. In recent years, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has gained traction as therapy to help accelerate recovery. Also known as HBOT, hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides a patient with pure, enriched oxygen in a pressurized environment.
Why HBOT?
The goal of HBOT is to deliver more oxygen to damaged tissues. It’s a noninvasive treatment that delivers enriched oxygen to the body, suppressing inflammation and improving the distribution of oxygen to cells, promoting recovery. A 2015 study found HBOT may have positive effects on muscle endurance and could reduce exercise-induced edema (swelling caused by fluid buildup), and a 2020 study found that undergoing HBOT after exercise reduced participants’ inflammation that could contribute to exercise-induced muscle damage. While research is still underway, HBOT has the potential to treat a wide range of ailments and conditions.
What to Expect
During HBOT, the patient lays inside a chamber, either by themselves or with others, and receives pure oxygen in a pressurized environment similar to an airplane cabin. Treatment lasts between one to two hours, and there is typically no discomfort, outside of some possible ear pressure or popping.
An Expert Weighs In
Meet the Author
Kristen Dee, BS, MA, Summa Cum Laude
Kristen Dee is a graduate of Winthrop University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications. Following Winthrop, she earned a Master of Arts in Communication from Wake Forest University. Prior to joining CMC Media & Marketing Group, Kristen successfully fulfilled roles involving internal corporate communications. Today, she supports ideation, conceptualization, and development of numerous health & wellness, business, sports, and lifestyle articles published in print and online for HealthScope® and CityScope® magazines as well as Choose Chattanooga® and Choose Huntsville® – premier publications serving Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia, and North Alabama. She also contributes to the development of blogs and other content shared on the publications’ digital platforms. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and spending time with her husband and two dogs, Cooper and Rocky.
