EP. 19 Healing Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Injuries & Conditions
It’s Dr. Jay Bowen here!
Last week, we took a break from the series to post my recent podcast episode with Dr. Adam Nessim. It’s a great video, and if you haven’t already be sure to check it out! I loved getting a chance to talk with a resident and answering his questions about this new disruptive field of medicine and his followers may be exposed to new information. It’s currently a lot different now with social media, Youtube, etc. compared to when I was searching for information in medical school especially when I didn’t even know something existed.
Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s been gaining a lot of interest: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, or HBOT. If you follow us on our socials, which you should! You might have seen that we recently signed a partnership with MD Hyperbarics.
That’s right, in February of 2025 we will have a hyperbaric oxygen tank! So, let’s explore the science of what this actually is….
So, what exactly is HBOT?
In simple terms, it’s a treatment that involves breathing 100% pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. This might sound straightforward, but the science behind it is pretty fascinating. By increasing the oxygen levels in the blood, HBOT enables oxygen to travel more efficiently through the body and reach areas that may not get adequate oxygen in normal conditions. During a typical HBOT session, which is usually 60-90 minutes, but can last anywhere from three minutes to two hours, patients breathe in pure oxygen within a specialized chamber. Due to the extreme pressure, some people may have discomfort while in the chamber. This is usually as the tank pressurizes. It’s common to have ear pain or a popping feeling in your ears. However, the oxygen dosage is customized to each patient and providers take into account your risk for side effects and pain tolerance for these side effects before prescribing as well as initiating the treatment.
There are two main types of chambers: a monoplace chamber for individual treatments, and a multiplace chamber for multiple patients. The pressurized environment of these chambers enhances the amount of oxygen that dissolves in the blood plasma, allowing it to penetrate tissues more deeply. In February, we will have a large individual hard chamber.
How does this all work? Well, because of the pressurized chamber, oxygen dissolves more readily in our blood. This isn’t just any ordinary oxygen boost; HBOT achieves oxygen saturation that just isn’t possible through normal breathing.
This increased oxygen helps repair tissues, reduces inflammation, stimulates the immune system, and encourages the growth of new blood vessels.
1) Repair Tissues
2) Redueduce Inflammation
3) Stimulate Immune System
4) Grows New Blood Vessels
More “Good” about HBOT is that it has some exciting applications, especially in sports and recovery!! For orthopedic recovery, HBOT shows promise in helping patients bounce back faster from fractures, surgeries, and soft tissue injuries. It’s even being explored for chronic conditions like tendinopathies, helping these tissues heal by improving oxygenation. We will also be exploring and researching its additive or synergistic effects on regenerative treatments such as bone marrow aspirate concentrate or BMAC and microfractured adipose tissue or MFAT.
Then we have brain injuries. While the truth is that HBOT isn’t an approved treatment for brain injuries, it has been tested with concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries or persistent post concussive syndrome. It’s believed to aid recovery by reducing brain inflammation and providing oxygen-rich blood to the brain, which can potentially speed up cognitive recovery. Research is ongoing, but early results are promising.
Again, this is another area where our partnership with DataBiologics will help to increase research around HBOT and TBI treatment.
HBOT isn’t limited to acute injuries—it’s also shown benefits for chronic and autoimmune conditions. It’s well-established for treating non-healing wounds, like diabetic foot ulcers or radiation injuries. How so? Well, wound injuries damage the body’s blood vessels, They release fluid that leaks into the tissues and causes swelling. This swelling deprives the damaged cells of oxygen, and tissue starts to die. HBOT helps by reducing swelling while flooding the tissues with oxygen. The higher pressure in the chamber increases the amount of oxygen in the blood. HBOT aims to break the cycle of swelling, oxygen starvation, and overall tissue death – resulting in healing to these hard to heal wounds!
In addition, recently HBOT has been getting attention for immune modulation in autoimmune conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease and fibromyalgia. By delivering oxygen more effectively, it may help reduce chronic inflammation and improve immune function.
At the New Jersey Regenerative Institute, we’re excited to partner with MD Hyperbaric to offer HBOT. We’ll soon be launching a pilot program with DataBiologics to evaluate HBOT’s effectiveness for various conditions. By analyzing real-world data, we hope to refine our HBOT protocols, making sure they provide the best possible outcomes for complex issues, from orthopedic injuries to concussions to chronic inflammation. The initial information will help us to shed more light on the TRUTH about the effectiveness of HBOT. This will allow us to be more personalized with the recommendations we make and treatment provided.
Now, while I’m amped for this partnership, HBOT isn’t the magic fix for everything. The “bad” is that some patients can’t use the treatment. This includes those who have a cold or fever, some lung diseases, and those recovering from ear surgery. However, the GOOD is that this isn’t a super restrictive list and even if at some points you can’t use HBOT, you may be able to just a few weeks later! If this seems interesting or informative, please LIKE the video and don’t forget to hit the BELL notification so you won’t miss anything as we get closer to the launch. Please subscribe as it helps us and does not cost you anything. It also helps others hear about these options for a healthier life.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy offers real promise, but it’s not a cure-all. Like with any treatment, there are pros, cons, and nuances. So, if you or someone you know is considering HBOT, make sure to consult a specialist who understands the treatment and your unique needs. Here at NJRI, we’d be happy to evaluate you and talk through if HBOT treatment could be beneficial!
Stay tuned in the coming weeks and months as my team and I roll out more information on hyperbaric oxygen treatments and what our treatments. I will also have a discussion with MD Hyperbaric’s CEO Chris Neal NEXT WEEK.
Be sure to follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok so you stay up to date!
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Thanks for tuning in to The Good, The Bad, and The Truth About Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments. See you next week when we’ll be posting part 1 of a special interview with DataBiologics CEO Leah Braddell.