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> Read Less

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> Read Less

Human Embryonic stem cells have gained wide acceptance for the potential benefit of many conditions. Type 1 Diabetes is one of these conditions where this procedure is being tested. However, these stem cells have consistently failed to generate meaningful numbers of mature, functional β cells. Since oxygen is a strong driver of differentiation, researchers of this animal study looked at applying hyperbaric oxygen therapy to a group of rats following transplanted cells and observed an increase in the maturation of these cells, leading to increased insulin production. The future of embryonic stem cells may be to drive the differentiation and maturation of these cell by following the procedure with a course of hyperbaric oxygenation therapy <view study>   Read Less

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> Read Less

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a widely used treatment for many elite athletes for recovery from muscle injuries. This study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology looked at this relationship by taking a group of rats and inducing injury to the leg muscles. They then followed up with a program of 10 hyperbaric oxygen sessions over a 2-week period. The results demonstrated an acceleration in healing and functional recovery, with greater expression of IGF-1 and other repair factors noted at days 3 to 5 <view study> Read Less