Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage in humans

Clin J Sport Med. 2002 May;12(3):139-50. doi: 10.1097/00042752-200205000-00001.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy could accelerate recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage in humans.

Design: Pretest-posttest design with random assignment to either a treatment (HBO) or placebo control (sham) group.

Setting: University of Alberta and Misericordia Hospital, Edmonton.

Participants: 12 healthy male students (24.2 +/- 3.2 years) who were unaccustomed to strenuous eccentric exercise of the calf muscles.

Interventions: All subjects performed a strenuous eccentric exercise protocol designed to elicit muscle damage within the right gastrocnemius muscle. Subjects subsequently received either HBO (100% oxygen at 253 kPa [2.5 ATA] for 60 min; n = 6) or sham (atmospheric air at 132 kPa [1.3 ATA] for 60 min; n = 6) treatment conditions. The first treatment was administered 3-4 hours after damage, with a second and third at 24 and 48 hours after the first, respectively.

Main outcome measures: Dependent variables included peak torque at 0.52 radians/s, peak isometric torque, and muscular endurance using isokinetic dynamometry; muscle cross-sectional area using magnetic resonance imaging; inorganic phosphate levels and T2 relaxation time using 31P and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy; pain sensation and unpleasantness using the Descriptor Differential Scale. These variables were assessed at baseline and until day 5 postdamage.

Results: There was little evidence of a difference in recovery rate between the HBO and sham groups. Faster recovery was observed in the HBO group only for isometric peak torque and pain sensation and unpleasantness.

Conclusions: HBO cannot be recommended as an effective method of treatment of this form of muscle injury.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Athletic Injuries / complications
  • Athletic Injuries / pathology
  • Athletic Injuries / therapy*
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Hyperbaric Oxygenation*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal / injuries*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Pain / etiology
  • Pain Management
  • Treatment Outcome