What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT for short, is a treatment that involves breathing 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber. It’s an entirely natural, non-invasive, and pain-free way to help the body heal. And the way it works is pretty incredible. Just by breathing pure oxygen, your body is able to deliver oxygen-rich blood to every inch of your body, thus reducing inflammation, healing tissue, repairing muscle, and promoting the production of new stem cells.
How HBOT best benefits athletes
HBOT can benefit just about anyone, but athletes, in particular, can benefit greatly from this therapy in the following ways:
1. Reduced recovery times
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy speeds up the body’s natural healing and recovery processes by increasing tissue oxygen levels in areas that are inflamed or injured. After an intense workout, the increased oxygen levels throughout the body help promote the production of ATP while simultaneously removing lactic acid, which is known for causing muscle fatigue.
2. Aids in injury healing
Just about every athlete will experience an injury at some point throughout their career, many of which will require surgery. And even those that don’t need surgery can be time-consuming and challenging to heal.
Typically, when an injury occurs, circulation suffers. And without enough blood flow to give injured areas the oxygen they need to heal, the healing process can be long and difficult. HBOT helps heal injuries, whether they’ve affected your muscles, tendons, tissue, and/or bones.
3. HBOT reduces inflammation
After a strenuous workout, your body has an inflammatory response. In doing so, it helps your muscles recover but it also makes you sore, which isn’t ideal if you need to perform soon after. Inflammation also makes your cells swell and become oxygen-starved. HBOT can dramatically reduce inflammation, swelling, and even post-surgical bruising.
4. Improved performance
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy doesn’t just help your body recover faster and reduce inflammation; it also improves your performance too. As oxygen travels to the brain, it improves cognitive performance and helps enhance your ability to make split-second decisions.
5. Heal concussions
Many athletes (especially those who compete in contact sports) will sustain head injuries at some point throughout their careers. This causes the brain to swell, which makes it difficult for oxygen to reach injured areas. As a result, your brain cells start to die. But with HBOT, the brain is able to get an ample amount of concentrated oxygen, which can help heal the brain at a much faster rate.
HBOT can even help improve the quality of life for individuals who are suffering from post-concussion syndrome years after the injury occurred.
Learn more about a hyperbaric chamber for athletes
If you’re interested in learning more about a hyperbaric chamber for athletes in Denver, reach out to us today at McWhorter CNR. Our top-of-the-line hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help take your game to the next level, and then some.
Contact us today to learn more about HBOT for athletes.