Hyperbaric oxygen therapy does not affect recovery from delayed onset muscle soreness

• Published in: Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2000-03, Vol.32 (3), p.558-563
• Main Authors: MEKJAVIC, I. B, EXNER, J. A, TESCH, P. A, EIKEN, O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Double-Blind Method; ECCENTRIC EXERCISE; Emergency and intensive care: techniques, logistics; Exercise - physiology; Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; HYPEROXIA; Intensive care medicine; ISOMETRIC STRENGTH; Male; Medical sciences; MUSCLE EDEMA; Muscle Fatigue; Muscle, Skeletal - injuries; Pain; Perfusions. Catheterizations. Hyperbaric oxygenotherapy; SORENESS; Space life sciences; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0195-9131; 1530-0315; 1530-0315
• DOI: 10.1097/00005768-200003000-00002

This study investigated whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) improves recovery after exercise-induced muscle injury. Healthy male subjects (N = 24) were randomly assigned to either a placebo group or a HBOT group. Subjects were tested for maximal isometric strength (preexercise) of their right elbow flexors. Each subject then completed a high-force eccentric workout of the elbow flexor muscle group to induce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). On the seven successive days after this workout, the subjects were exposed to a hyperbaric environment of 2.5 ATA for 60 min, inspiring either a normoxic mixture (P(I)O2 = 0.2 ATA; placebo group) or a hyperoxic gas mixture (P(I)O2 = 2.5 ATA; HBOT group). Before the eccentric workout and daily for the next 10 d, measurements were obtained regarding: maximal isometric muscle strength of the elbow flexor muscles, right upper arm circumferences, and rating of the perceived muscle soreness. Isometric strength decreased significantly from preexercise levels of 25.1 +/- 3.8 kp to postexercise levels of 12.0 +/- 4.6 kp, for the HBOT group, and from 24.6 +/- 3.4 kp to 12.5 +/- 3.7 kp, respectively, for the placebo group. Over the 10-d recovery period, there was no difference in the rate of recovery of muscle strength between the two groups. Perceived soreness peaked at about 48 h after exercise with no difference between groups. Also, the exercise-induced increases in arm circumference were similar in the two groups. These results indicate that HBOT is not an effective therapy for the treatment of DOMS.