Summary of Study
The study, “Effects of Pre-, Post- and Intra-Exercise Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Performance and Recovery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” evaluates the impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2) on exercise performance and recovery. The review specifically examines the use of HBOT or HBO2 therapy before, during, and after exercise to understand its effects on improving athletic performance and post-exercise recovery. Researchers aimed to determine whether HBO2 therapy could improve muscle endurance, reduce fatigue, or enhance recovery in physically active adults.
Methodology
The researchers reviewed data from five major databases, including PubMed and Web of Science, up until May 2021. They analyzed 1,712 studies, narrowing the selection down to 10 studies with 166 participants for qualitative analysis and six studies with 69 participants for meta-analysis. To be included, studies had to evaluate healthy, physically active adults undergoing hyperbaric therapy compared to a control group in normal oxygen conditions. The researchers examined performance metrics such as blood lactate concentration, muscle power, oxygen uptake, and recovery markers. Statistical tools, like the Cochrane risk of bias assessment and I2 statistic, were used to ensure accurate comparisons.
Results
The analysis revealed that pre-exercise hyperbaric treatments did not significantly enhance performance. Post-exercise HBO2 therapy showed no significant improvements in recovery either. However, some individual studies demonstrated that HBO2 therapy administered during exercise improved muscle endurance. Despite these findings, limitations like varied oxygen doses, study designs, and small sample sizes affected the overall conclusions. The inability to perform meta-analyses for all parameters further highlights the need for more standardized research.
Conclusion
While pre- and post-exercise hyperbaric oxygen treatments showed limited benefits, administering HBO2 therapy during exercise holds potential for improving muscle endurance. These findings emphasize the need for larger, more standardized studies to confirm the benefits of hyperbaric therapy in athletic performance and recovery. Athletes and trainers should approach these findings cautiously until more robust evidence becomes available. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy during exercise may be a promising area for further exploration.
Source: Effects of Pre-, Post- and Intra-Exercise Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Performance and Recovery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | Xizhang Huang, Ran Wang, Zhang Zheng, Gang Wang, Binghong Gao | DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.791872