Injury & Performance Scientific Evidence

HBOT has been proposed as a potential treatment for sports injuries and rehabilitation. By increasing the amount of oxygen in the body, in particular damaged tissue, it can promote healing.

A study from 2020 shows that HBOT treatment may be effective in alleviating exercise-induced inflammatory responses and muscle damage. (1)

The positive effects of using HBOT on injury recovery, focussing on professional and semi-professional rugby players' knees (2)

Recently, the use of HBOT treatments by elite athletes to accelerate recovery from muscle injuries has become increasingly popular (3)

Overall, the studies suggest that HBOT may be beneficial in the treatment of sports injuries and rehabilitation, and may have the potential to accelerate healing, reduce pain and improve function. More research is needed to fully understand and determine the use of HBOT in sports medicine.

Links to the studies:

1. Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Inflammation, Oxidative/Antioxidant Balance, and Muscle Damage after Acute Exercise in Normobaric, Normoxic and Hypobaric, Hypoxic Environments: A Pilot Study - PMC

2. Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on recovery acceleration in Japanese professional or semi-professional rugby players with grade 2 medial collateral ligament injury of the knee: A comparative non-randomized study

3. Enhancement of satellite cell differentiation and functional recovery in injured skeletal muscle by hyperbaric oxygen treatment