Hyperbaric Chamber

Recently, I was having a discussion with a strength and conditioning coach and the conversation turned to non-traditional methods people are using to improve their recovery.  Given the number of competitive athletes here in the MetroWest area, I thought I’d explore the various options to better understand the associated benefits.    One in particular gained my attention.

Many professional athletes, some of whom, without naming any names, continued to perform at a very high level well into their forties, have leveraged oxygen therapy.  Sure, we’re all somewhat aware of oxygen therapy because we’ve heard of it being used by famous people but is it really accessible to us mere mortals?  In a word, yes!

First, allow me to delve into what oxygen therapy is and why its benefits are pursued by elite athletes.  In a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, the air pressure is increased 2 to 3 times higher than normal air pressure. Under these conditions, your lungs can gather much more oxygen than would be possible breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure.  This extra oxygen helps fight bacteria and triggers the release of substances called growth factors and stem cells, which can promote healing.  

I learned there are various types of hyperbaric chambers and pressure levels available and the one I saw is a comfortable, soft-sided capsule.  This is known as a “Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber”.  A Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber is primarily used to enhance your body's natural healing processes. Specific benefits include optimized sleep, athletic recovery, muscle repair and mental clarity. 

While it sounds intriguing, admittedly it’s a bit intimidating.  But, like most things, the more we understand about the process, the better we feel about it.  So, to learn more, I stopped in to meet with the team at Restore Hyper Wellness in Newton.  I applaud them for putting up with my many questions but they assured me that they weee there to do exactly that.  

I was told that the pressurization is similar to what you feel when flying in a pressurized cabin.  Your ears may pop as the system is pressurized but once set “at altitude” it will stabilize for the treatment.  One thing I came away with, like most therapies, it’s not a one stop fix but rather requires multiple sessions depending on what you’re trying to address.  By using hyperbaric oxygen on a daily basis, researchers have found that new, microscopic blood vessels start to grow after six to eight sessions. But, as I was told, this is not for everyone and the trained staff conducts a thorough review of your medical history to rule out conditions that might present problems when using oxygen therapy.

I would guess you’ll see a growing number of area service providers offering this Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment but if you want to see it for yourself as I did, Restore Hyper Wellness has a few nearby locations in Newton, in Dedham and in Hingham.  While there, be sure to also ask them about their other cool treatments like IV Drip Therapy and Red Light Therapy.