title: Hyperbaric oxygen as an adjuvant for athletes.
abstract: There has recently been a resurgence in interest in hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment in sports therapy, especially in Japan. Oxygen naturally plays a crucial role in recovery from injury and physiological fatigue. By performing HBO treatment, more oxygen is dissolved in the plasma of the pulmonary vein via the alveolar, increasing the oxygen reaching the peripheral tissues. HBO treatment is therefore expected to improve recovery from injury and fatigue. HBO treatment has been reported to reduce post-injury swelling in animals, and in humans; swelling was also mitigated, but to a lesser extent. Positive results have also been reported regarding tissue remodelling after injury, with injuries involving bones, muscles and ligaments showing improved recovery. Furthermore, HBO treatment has effectively increased recovery from fatigue. This was clearly seen at the Nagano Winter Olympics, where sports players experiencing fatigue were successfully treated, enabling the players to continue performing in the games. Despite its potential, HBO treatment does have its risks. Increasing oxygen levels in tissues poses a risk to DNA through oxidative damage, which can lead to pathological changes in the CNS and the lungs. Regarding the operating of HBO systems, safer administration should be advised. Further research into HBO treatment is required if this therapy is to become more widespread. It should become possible to tailor treatment to an individual's condition in order to use HBO treatment efficiently.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan. yoishii@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deie
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasunaga
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharman
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyanaga
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ochi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008022:Ligaments / Q000293:injuries; D010809:Physical Fitness