Hyperbaric chambers for athletes have many health benefits. Athletes use them to improve physical performance and reduce injuries. Hyperbaric oxygen therapies have been used to alleviate some of the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as Chronic Fatigue Reinforcement. Patients who suffer from CFS often report an increase in energy. Hyperbaric chambers have also been found to relieve many of the symptoms in those who suffer from CFS.
Most athletes will endure some kind of injury at one time or another. Whether it is a repetitive stress injury or a sudden, catastrophic injury, most athletes will experience some amount of pain and discomfort. As we age, our bodies generally recover from such injuries. However, athletes are often required to play through serious injury. During this recovery period, athletes may notice a decrease in physical performance and an increase in body pain.
When an athlete suffers an injury, the typical medical treatment consists of post-exercise ice therapy to relieve the inflammation. Once the swelling has begun to subside, usually the trainer will provide advice to the athlete about ways to prevent further injury. Often, these recommendations include rest, compression, and elevation. Most athletes take these procedures quite seriously. However, even with these precautions, athletes still notice a decrease in performance and body pain after exercise.
The reason for this is because oxygen therapy causes the tissues to rapidly recover from any injury or trauma. The hyperbaric chamber creates a hyperbaric environment where the temperature is almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Because the temperature is so high, there is absolutely no chance for the tissues to lose moisture, which can speed up the recovery process. Also, since there is no humidity, there is no possibility of bacterial or fungal infections. This allows the athletes to concentrate on their training and pushing themselves to the max without worry of any sort of injury occurring.
Other benefits of the hyperbaric chamber for athletes is that there is a reduction in the amount of time needed for recovery following a traumatic brain injury. Players will not be sitting in a chair for long periods of time, which is necessary to avoid swelling. If a trainer wants to get his or her athlete back out on the field quickly, the use of the hyperbaric chamber can make a big difference.
Unlike other forms of therapy, the hyperbaric chamber has been shown to increase the oxygenation of the human body. There have been numerous studies conducted to show the increased oxygenation, vital organs and cellular function. These include improvements in heart function, enhanced circulation of blood, enhancement of lymph flow, an increase in the number of white blood cells, an increase in the number of red blood cells, improved kidney function, enhanced immune function, and the oxygenation of the cerebrospinal fluid, which is essential for neurological functions.
As far as return-on-time for athletes using the hyperbaric chamber for athletes is concerned, it has been measured and is very good at improving performance, especially as compared to the placebo. In one study, 95% of the subjects who underwent the hyperbaric chamber therapy showed a significant improvement in physical performance after the therapy compared to the placebo group. The improvements were very great and profound, and the improvements were not only evident in the athletic group but in the nonathlete group as well. It is also worth noting that there was no significant change in the blood pressure or heart rate in the athletes who underwent the therapy.
As we have seen, there are numerous benefits of hyperbaric chamber for athletes when compared with the traditional methods of treating sports injuries. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has the additional benefit of being very safe, noninvasive, and effective in the treatment of almost all types of sports injuries, not just traumatic brain injury. This can be used either before the athlete has his/her accident or on a daily basis when playing contact sports. The hyperbaric chamber for athletes can also be used in the post-concussion period to rehabilitate the brain and the tissues.
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