Can hyperbaric chamber therapy accelerate healing?
With promises of improved mental wellbeing and increased energy levels, hyperbaric chamber therapy is a wellness trend back on the radar. But is it worth the hype?
Oxygen is vital for life – as it is fundamental for sustaining our breath and providing the body with energy.
It plays an important role in muscle contraction, antioxidant protection and oxidative repair.
When suffering from an injury or recovering from a workout, boosting oxygen in your bloodstream may help you recover faster and more effectively – and that’s where a hyperbaric chamber may help.
What is hyperbaric chamber therapy?
Hyperbaric chamber therapy, technically known as hyperbaric-oxygen therapy (HBOT), is a treatment involving increased atmospheric pressure, usually found in wellness clinics and hospitals.
Users will lie in a hyperbaric chamber alone or with another person with an oxygen mask on their face for anywhere from 60 minutes to two hours.
In this chamber, oxygen levels are pressurised with 95-100 per cent oxygen, the equivalent of diving 10 to 13 metres below sea level.
For comparison, the air we breathe daily contains roughly 21 per cent oxygen (with the remaining 79 per cent made up of nitrogen and other gases).
“This pressure pushes more oxygen into your bloodstream,” director of Melbourne Wellness Jack De Leeuw tells The House of Wellness TV.
“That can be used for energy production, healing and recovery.”
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What are the benefits of hyperbaric chamber therapy?
Hyperbaric chamber therapy may be useful for managing sports injuries, as well as wounds that do not heal, burns, radiation damage, diabetic ulcers, or gas poisoning.
Jack says many of his clients finish their sessions with better mental acuity and the ability to breathe easier, plus it may assist recovery from injury.
“People with injuries, they’ll get a lot better recovery on their soft tissue injury, just because they’re getting more oxygen into the area,” he explains.
“When you have a soft-tissue injury you tend to have restricted blood flow, but just having more oxygen in the bloodstream can help that recovery.”
Hyperbaric chamber therapy may also be an effective method of reducing harmful bacteria, preventing further infection, building and repairing blood cells, and boosting collagen production.
There is also some evidence suggesting hyperbaric chamber therapy may curb the growth of tumours in cancer patients and assist in the recovery from the effects of chemotherapy.
What are the risks of hyperbaric chamber therapy?
As with all treatments, there are some rare-but-possible risks associated with HBOT.
Some of the potential side effects include:
- Temporary shortsightedness
- Middle ear injuries
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Damage to sinus and lungs
- Increase in blood pressure
Doctors recommend those with respiratory problems or emphysema avoid HBOT, as it can put their lungs in further distress.
Anyone who experiences claustrophobia may find the chamber itself intimidating, as the client is unable to open the door from the inside.
However, Jack encourages you to surrender to the experience, breathe deeply and relax as much as possible.
There is also a phone attached to the chamber, allowing users to call the supervisor if necessary.
For more topical health and lifestyle content, tune into The House of Wellness TV Fridays at 2pm and Sundays at noon on the Seven Network.
Words by Alexandra Feiam.
