Hyperbaric oxygen therapy does not affect recovery from delayed onset muscle soreness

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Physiology
• Therapeutic Interventions

Background:

• Exercise-induced muscle injury, commonly causing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), impacts athletic performance.
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, with potential applications in tissue repair.
• The efficacy of HBOT for treating DOMS remains under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) enhances recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage.
• To compare the recovery rates of muscle strength, soreness, and swelling in subjects receiving HBOT versus a placebo.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-four healthy males were randomized into HBOT or placebo groups.
• DOMS was induced via eccentric exercise of elbow flexor muscles.
• Subjects underwent daily HBOT or placebo sessions for seven days, with strength, arm circumference, and soreness measured over 10 days.

Main Results:

• Both groups experienced significant decreases in isometric strength post-exercise.
• No significant differences in the rate of muscle strength recovery were observed between the HBOT and placebo groups.
• Perceived muscle soreness and increases in arm circumference were comparable between groups.

Conclusions:

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) does not appear to be an effective treatment for exercise-induced muscle injury and DOMS.
• Current evidence suggests HBOT offers no significant advantage over placebo for muscle recovery in this context.