The results of this study showed a synergistic effect of HBO and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) on knee cartilage regeneration. “The aggregation and activation of growth factors released from platelets whose activation is increased in the hyperbaric environment may explain this synergistic effect. This may result in a better regeneration than the effect of PRP or HBO alone” <view study> Read Less

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> 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

The benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy during reconstructive surgery has been confirmed both clinically, and through experimental data, but still widely underutilized by plastic surgeons. This review study details the benefits and role that hyperbaric oxygen plays within the discipline of plastic and reconstructive surgery. <view study> Read Less

Two male patients ages 57 and 64 years old were treated with a 1 week course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy at 1.5 ATA (60 minutes per session) Shortness of breath subsided immediately with both patients after the first hyperbaric session and resolved by the end of the 7 days. More notably, neither patient became critically ill and the lung CT scans showed remarkable improvement in lung pathology. The authors of this study concluded this report by suggesting that “hyperbaric oxygen therapy may promptly improve the progressive hypoxemia of patients with COVID-2019 pneumonia” <view study> Read Less