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HYPERBARIA VERSUS HYPEROXIA
Increasing the pressure of ambient air, such as inside the mild hyperbaric chamber, is called hyperbaria. While this increases oxygen uptake, it’s not the same as breathing pure oxygen, which is called hyperoxia. While I’ve worked with hyperbaric chambers with and without added oxygen, I don’t think, in most situations, that additional oxygen is necessary. Some still contend that there is no difference between increased oxygen utilization from room air while in a hyperbaric chamber, and breathing pure oxygen without hyperbaria. But many professionals who have worked in this area agree that hyperbaria (increased pressure) and hyperoxia (increased oxygen) don’t have the same clinical effects. One important difference is the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels of the blood flow to the brain. Hyperoxia, breathing pure oxygen, actually lowers brain blood flow, and can even reduce oxygen utilization—not a healthy thing for any brain. In general, breathing high concentrations of oxygen can even lower oxygen levels throughout the rest of the body, and can create an oxygen toxicity, not to mention the dangers of free radical damage. Unlike breathing oxygen, the positive effects of mild hyperbaria can last several hours to days after one forty-five-minute period in a chamber, without the risk of breathing pure oxygen.
In a real sense, I used the hyperbaric chamber as another therapeutic tool in my health-care arsenal. Tom was a patient of mine. He was twenty-nine years old and very active with cycling, running, and swimming. He came to my office one morning the day after a bicycle accident that put him in the hospital emergency room. His range of motion in both shoulders was very restricted due to pain. He was also antalgic—a term that describes a severe distorted postural position of people with serious physical injuries. After an extensive examination, which was difficult to perform due to his pain, I had him lie in the hyperbaric chamber for forty-five minutes. His vital (lung) capacity significantly increased after being in the chamber—from 5,100 to 5,900 cubic centers. His temperature was a low 96.8°F before getting in the chamber, and was elevated to a near normal 98.0°F after. Also, several muscles in his lower back, shoulders, and legs that had tested very weak due to the accident were normal and without pain following his time in the chamber. This improved muscle function also resulted in a dramatic change in posture, with an almost normal stance and gait. And his shoulders improved significantly, with normal ranges of motion. Most remarkably, Tom successfully competed in a local three-mile openwater swimming race the following morning, finishing second in his age-group. All evaluations one week and again two weeks later showed continued improvement.
Mild hyperbaric chambers range in price considerably, from a few thousand to $10,000 or more for the newest devices. The fancy ones have more pressure and gadgets for additional comfort. But the low-end devices work quite well for athletes—those that go up to a pressure of 4 psi (pounds per square inch) are the ones I’ve used. Those with higher pressures increase oxygen uptake further, but not significantly more. As with other sports equipment, used chambers can be found by searching online.
