Most patients suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are treated with commonly prescribed medications like methotrexate , leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine, and sulfasalazine, (DMRD's). These medications have been used to help to slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and save the joints and other tissues from permanent damage. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has also been experimentally  demonstrated to similarly help RA patients reduce disease progression and provide beneficial outcomes. Researchers in this study showed that adding HBOT to standard DRMD medications for RA patients were able to:

1. 1. 1. Reduce disease activity
      2. Improve histopathological outcomes
      3. Be a far more cost-effective and lower-risk treatment option

"Overall, these findings highlight the potential benefits of integrating DMARD and HBOT in the management of RA" <view study>   Read Less

This pilot study followed 9 patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis who each received 30 hyperbaric oxygen treatments over six to 10 weeks. Follow up MRI scans at both 3 months and at 6 months showed beneficial response to this procedure. These findings support an earlier pilot study that documented improvement in "disease activity and joint pain as determined by multiple, validated clinical measures".  The findings of this study suggest that "hyperbaric oxygen therapy  may be useful as an adjunctive or alternative treatment to disease-modifying drugs for rheumatoid arthritis" <view study> Read Less

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and joint damage. Synovial hypoxia (low oxygen) is a specific feature of RA and plays an important role in the formation and progression of this disease. “Hypoxia induces angiogenesis, inflammation, apoptosis, cartilage erosion, abnormal energy metabolism and oxidative damage” Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can reverse hypoxic conditions throughout the body and therefore can help effectively halt the pathogenesis of RA. In this study, the animal model of RA was evaluated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy; whereby, male mice received a total of 10 daily hyperbaric sessions at 2.4 ATA (90 minutes of pure oxygen and two 5 minute air breaks). This group of mice that received HBOT had a significant reduction in the mouse model of arthritis, along with the reduction in disease-progressive inflammatory markers. After evaluating all the data collected from this study, the researchers concluded that a 10 day course of hyperbaric therapy in 12 days can be “an alternative therapy that is considered successful in reducing morbidity and mortality of RA patients” <view study> In addition to the study above, a new pilot study published in the journal of Clinical Rheumatology on September 16, 2020 also found Hyperbaric oxygen therapy to be effective for joint pain in patients with RA <view this study> Read Less

This study was used to evaluate the effects of low-pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on fatigue, pain, endurance and functional capacity, physical performance and cortical excitability when compared with a physical exercise program in women with fibromyalgia. The hyperbaric protocol used was a 2 month course of daily 90 minute sessions (5 days per week for a total of 40 hours) at 1.45 ATA. During this time period, 60 minutes of low intensity exercises, twice weekly (for a total of 16 sessions), was included in the protocol. This group of participants showed improvements in pressure pain threshold, endurance and functional capacity, as well as physical performance. In addition, the HBOT group reported significant improvements in induced fatigue and perceived pain at rest. <view study> Read Less

During the various stages of arthritis, the joints and surrounding tissue are in constant attack from oxidation stressors and inflammatory reactions. This causes progressive damage and leads to the many debilities that are seen in arthritis sufferers. This study used 1.25 ATA (low pressure) hyperbaric therapy and discovered that a 3 week course of this hyperbaric dosage had a protective effect <view study> Read Less