6 Ways Hyperbaric Chambers Upgrade Athletes’ Performance

The world of sports has witnessed a sea of change.

Today, athletes have to cope with neck-breaking schedules that demand staying at the peak of their fitness. Reportedly, they are increasingly using hyperbaric chambers to regain lost stamina, get better sleep, and boost field performance.

Here’s a look at six compelling reasons why hyperbaric chambers for athletes could be a game changer.

1. It Helps Restore Stamina Faster

   Athletics demand peak energy levels to stay at the top of your game.

   Whether running, cycling, weight lifting, or gymnastics, physiological fatigue is a significant concern. In turn, it leads to the accumulation of lactic acid within muscles and the malfunctioning of metabolism. Thus, a little movement can tire an athlete easily. Naturally, the body demands more oxygen to combat fatigue. This is where hyperbaric chambers for athletes come into the picture.

   When an athlete breathes pure, unadulterated oxygen within the chamber, it gets picked up fast via the blood and reaches deprived cells and tissues. As a result, the individual can regain stamina a lot faster.

2. It Bolsters Physical Performance

   Training at higher altitudes is quite a common practice among athletes to boost the production of RBCs and, thus, oxygen-rich blood. No wonder they have the Olympic training facility in Colorado Springs situated at 6,035 feet above sea level.

   While that’s there, an HBOT chamber can effortlessly mimic such training environments. Normally, an athlete would spend time inside the hyperbaric chamber breathing in pure oxygen after a rigorous training session. It makes sense, as the SPO2 requirement is higher when one is tired. It helps an individual regain lost energy and dramatically improves performance when back on the tracks.

   Reportedly, a 1998 study comprising over twenty athletes from the Nagano Winter Olympics in Japan established the efficacy of HBOT. Undeniably, the Nagano Olympics was quite a test for athletes facing extreme weather. Using a hyperbaric chamber showed a marked difference in performance for almost seventy percent of athletes participating in the study.

3. It Heals Wounds And Accelerates Recovery

   Training and recovery go hand-in-hand to boost athletic performance. Due to rigorous training, athletes witness muscle breakage, and while resting, the muscles are rebuilt and strength regained.

   Research studies have shown how HBOT contributes towards active recovery and boosts the processes by over 30%. In other words, using hyperbaric chambers for athletes can help them recover from tiredness and regain strength much faster.

   Another aspect of an athlete’s life is injuries. We’ve witnessed how athletes can get sidetracked following severe injuries; some even take long breaks in their careers. Sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber can significantly help heal wounds by releasing stem cells. As the injured tissue gets repaired, it reduces the inflammatory response and creates more WBCs to prevent further infection.

4. It Dramatically Brings Down Post Wound Swelling

   When an athlete is hurt, WBCs and fluids move to the affected site as a part of the body’s natural protective system. While it can protect from further injuries, at times, there’s excessive swelling. Using hyperbaric chambers for athletes can significantly lower the inflammation at the swelling site.

   HBOT has long been used to reduce post-surgical inflammation. Researchers found that the influx of oxygen reduced proteins and other substances that lead to swelling. HBOT readily stimulates the production of collagen, which also minimizes scarring.

5. It Can Boost Mental Clarity and Focus

   Human brains need an abundant supply of oxygen to function better. Hyperbaric chambers for athletes have been found to improve focus and mental clarity by charging inactive neurons with a steady flow of oxygen.

   Several incidents where athletes were hurt in the head and reported concussions and brain fog later were subjected to CT scans. The images revealed how neurons can turn inactive following an injury. With hyperbaric oxygen therapy, these neurons can be brought back to life, thereby helping a person regain clarity and focus.

   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports more than three million cases of TBIs, out of which 10% occur during sports. And while HBOT has been increasingly researched for its effectiveness, it failed to gain ground due to FDA disapproval.

6. It Improves Sleep Patterns

   Good-quality sleep is imperative to a healthy mind and body, especially for athletes who undergo rigorous training. However, there are times when people find it hard to fall asleep. Even if they do, it’s low-quality sleep that does no good. An athlete is recommended to get at least 8-9 hours of sleep every night to recharge their body.

   Research studies indicate hyperbaric oxygen therapy can not only initiate good sleep but also dramatically improve sleeping patterns. In other words, it ensures one falls into deep slumber every night and wakes up refreshed and ready to take on new challenges. Sleep is imperative for athletes engaged in sports like swimming, tennis, and football to reduce fatigue and improve stamina.

The Bottom Line

Originally discovered to help deep-sea divers, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has come a long way to address a multitude of disorders. Using a hyperbaric chamber for athletes helps sports professionals bring out the best version of themselves. From increased stamina to undeterred focus and good sleep to enhanced field performance, HBOT is the best way to harness the power of pure oxygen.