It doesn’t matter if you’re a high school soccer player,
professional football quarterback, or Spartan race warrior on the
weekends suffering from an injury is common among athletes and can
affect your everyday quality of life if not immediately treated.
Many athletes forget what it's like to feel "normal" after dealing
with a slew of injuries. Consider how often football players suffer
from concussions, soccer players tear their anterior cruciate
ligaments (ACLs), swimmers suffer from swimmer’s shoulder, and
baseball players experience chronic shoulder or elbow pain. In order
to recover, athletes have to take care of themselves both mentally
and physically.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a powerful anti-inflammatory and
wound-healing accelerator that could help athletes recover from
sports-related injuries and stay healthy.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy For Athletes: A Way To Heal
Concussions?
There are a growing number of professional athletes who are
receiving HBOT to help them recover, specifically, from concussions.
Joe Namath, who played for the New York Jets for the majority of his
NFL career, suffered from multiple head injuries as an NFL
quarterback. As a result, he dealt with memory loss, focus issues,
and feelings of anxiousness and irritability before trying HBOT.
Now, not only have his symptoms subsided, but he is also an advocate
for HBOT and was recently a keynote speaker at the Long Island Head
Injury Association's Celebrity Sports Forum this past March, which
we participated in as a sponsor.
Bill Romanowski, a retired linebacker, also uses HBOT to help
address the lasting results of at least 20 concussions that he
suffered from during his 16 years in the NFL. Dr. Scott Sherr, HMS
Medical Advisor and Head of Innovation and Protocol Development,
treated Romanowski at a hyperbaric facility in California for his
condition, showing very positive results.
Other Sports-related Reasons Athletes Turn To Hyperbaric Oxygen
HBOT works by dramatically decreasing inflammation, improving
vascular flow, increasing stem cell release and activation,
regenerating bone and cartilage damage, and decreasing scarring. In
recent studies, HBOT also works in conjunction with platelet rich
plasma and stem cell injections for even greater healing potential
in other sports-related injuries besides concussions.
In a recent review, HBOT also has been shown to work in conjunction
with platelet rich plasma, stem cell injections, and other
treatments for even greater healing potential for all types of
sports-related injuries, including concussions.
Hyperbaric and Athletic Recovery
For example, studies have shown that when HBOT is used “as an
adjunctive therapy after primary repair of the injured ACL [it] is
likely to increase success” of recovery. Athletes recuperating from
muscle-stretch injuries could also obtain quicker results by using
HBOT.
Back in 2004, ESPN reported that Terrell Owens, the now retired NFL
wide receiver, incorporated HBOT into his recovery plan after
breaking his leg and tearing a ligament in his ankle as a
Philadelphia Eagle. However, Owens amazingly returned that season,
to the surprise of many, to play in Super Bowl XXXIX.
A 2014 study also found that HBOT could positively influence the
effectiveness of stem cell therapy a treatment that professional
athletes also use to recover from injuries. Another study from 2015
showed pairing HBOT and blood platelet injection therapy with
exercise rehabilitation actually decreased healing time specifically
for rugby players, getting them back on the field quicker.
Athletes Are Using Hypebaric Oxygen Not Just For Injuries
Some athletes use HBOT to stay in optimum condition, maximize their
performance, and prevent injuries. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps is
famous for his strict workout and recovery regiments, which are
highlighted in a recent Under Armour ad that features him climbing
into a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Phelps used HBOT to help his body
recover after tough workouts while training for the 2012 Summer
Olympics in London.
Retired baseball player Rafael Soriano also used this treatment to
relax after working out or playing in a game. He first heard about
HBOT while he was a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves from 2007 to
2009, but he didn't give it a try until 2012, when fellow pitcher
Jose Veras convinced him. Soriano reportedly said that since he
began incorporating HBOT into his recovery routine, he didn’t feel
as exhausted while in training. “It gets the toxins out of your body
and helps you with breathing, your blood," he said. "It helps.”
NFL running back Rashad Jennings, who most recently played for the
New York Giants, revealed some of his “out-of-the-ordinary”
post-game habits, which includes sleeping in a hyperbaric oxygen
chamber to help enhance his “body's natural healing process.” As he
explains, this practice is a bit “different” compared to other
therapies, but he’s “become accustomed” to it and continues to
include it in his routine.
Source
Before starting HBOT, you should always consult a medical
professional to confirm no contraindications...its benefits could be
just what you need to get back on the field at peak performance!
