How Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Helps Injuries Heal Quickly

Mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps athletes at all levels heal quickly. Many sports injuries involve strains and sprains, which naturally cause swelling and oedema (accumulation of excess fluid in connective tissue). These natural reactions to injury compress blood vessels and restrict the vital flow of oxygen-carrying plasma and red blood cells to the injury site. Cells and tissues surrounding the injury site become starved for oxygen, which impedes healing. In extreme cases, cell and tissue death can occur.

 

Mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy saturates the blood plasma and hemoglobin with oxygen. The red blood cells become more malleable as well, increasing their ability to penetrate restricted blood vessels. Oxygen is therefore, able to reach the injury site so that cells can heal and the immune system can fully defend the body against harmful agents. Healing time is reduced significantly, and athletes get back into play faster.

 

How Oxygen Therapy Increases Endurance and Relieves Fatigue Oxygen is essential to athletic endeavors of any sort because it facilitates the production of glycogen, one of the main sources of muscle energy. In a process called glycolysis, a glucose (sugar) molecule is broken into two pyruvic acid molecules. A pyruvic acid molecule enters the muscle cell, where it combines with oxygen to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the source of muscle energy. When insufficient oxygen is present to create ATP, the pyruvic acid becomes lactic acid. This lactic acid naturally diffuses to the bloodstream, where it is carried away. However, during intense exercise, the lactic acid cannot be removed quickly enough, and it collects in the muscle cells, causing fatigue.

Mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides greatly increased oxygen saturation throughout the body, allowing the body to get the oxygen it needs to create ATP for energy and flush out the lactic acid that causes muscle fatigue. The elevated oxygen levels help athletes increase performance and recover more quickly after a workout. In addition, increased oxygen delivery to the brain facilitates brain function and enhances an athlete's ability to make the decisions that can make a difference in the outcome of the game.

 

Experience the Benefits of Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Athletes of any age or ability can benefit from mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy. We encourage you to visit our Hyp02 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Centre and experience benefits of this therapy.

Our state-of-the-art hyperbaric chambers are roomy and comfortable. If you have suffered an injury that is keeping you from your favourite sport, mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help your body heal more quickly and thoroughly so that you can get back in the game.