Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Therapy: Magic Bullet or All Hype?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment in which a patient is placed in a sealed chamber and exposed to oxygen at several times the normal atmospheric pressure. Long used for the treatment of humans, the equine industry has been relatively slow to pick up on the therapy. There is evidence suggesting clinical human use dating back to a French surgeon in 1879; though its popularity caught on in the 1930s when it was tested and developed to be used in the treatment of decompression sickness for deep sea divers. Clinical trials later confirmed other benefits of exposure to the hyperbaric oxygen chamber to treat sports-related injuries. Professional athletes in the NHL, NFL, NBA, and MLS have long since used the treatment for a variety of applications. Human application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy includes the treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning, soft-tissue injuries, burns and deep infections. Concerned that human results were…