Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is gaining recognition and popularity as an adjunct therapeutic option in the rehabilitation of sports-related injuries. HBOT is the medical use of oxygen in a pressurized environment to treat a variety of acute and chronic conditions.

The pressurized delivery of pure oxygen to damaged tissues in the body accelerates the healing of wounds, injuries, infections, and certain other conditions by increasing the amount of oxygen your blood can carry and by stimulating the release of growth factors and stem cells.

Just as here in the office, multiple clinical studies have demonstrated HBOT’s ability to enhance the body’s innate repair and regeneration systems, making it a valuable tool in the healing of sports injuries, post-op recovery, as well as improving overall well-being by enabling better sleep and a reduction in stress.

On any given day, your body needs an adequate supply of oxygen to function optimally in normal conditions. When you have an injury, are recovering from surgery, or suffering from physical or mental stress, the tissues require even more oxygen for repair and recovery. HBOT not only increases the amount of oxygen your lungs can take in and push through the body to injured tissues, but it also provides many additional benefits that speed the healing time of a variety of sports-related injuries, including Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) tears, Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears and even Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI.)

HBOT offers many benefits when recovering from sports injuries, including

• Stimulating the release of stem cells,

• Reducing inflammation and associated pain,

• Encouraging the production of collagen,

• Stimulating angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels from existing ones)

• Offering improved healing and cognitive function after concussion by improving blood flow and oxygen saturation in damaged areas in the brain.

After surgery, HBOT can decrease time in the hospital by

• Promoting damaged tissue repair and the growth of new blood vessels,

• Increasing fibroblast activation, the production of collagen and other fibers by cells in connective tissues,

• Reducing inflammation for optimal pre- and post-op conditions, and

• Lowering the risk of post-op infection.

• Stimulating stem cell proliferation

HBOT can result in better overall well-being.

• Higher levels of oxygen to the brain and in the bloodstream allow for improved sleep by helping the brain to more easily enter and sustain a deactivated state of slow-wave sleep. This deep sleep is the most restorative stage of sleep.

• By increasing brain blood flow and metabolism, HBOT can improve cognitive function in older adults, as well as outcomes after stroke or other brain injury due to sustained lack of oxygen.

• Once thought of as a beneficial side effect of this therapy, stress reduction is now a common reason people seek HBOT. The reduced inflammation, better sleep potential, and enhanced oxygen supply can reduce anxiety levels and improve overall mood.

• HBOT can help your body function more effectively by enhancing the body’s immune systems and regulating hormone production.

HBOT is a valuable therapy proven to effectively increase oxygen levels to all parts of the body and help you recover from injury, infection, and illness in a variety of ways, as well as improve overall wellness.