What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy utilizes a pressurized chamber to create an oxygen-rich environment, which allows higher levels of oxygen absorption throughout the body. It is a painless and safe procedure that can help injured and inflamed tissues to heal faster.

Oxygen is vital to our bodies’ ability to heal itself, and oxygen is carried throughout the body by blood – specifically blood plasma. The pressurized environment created by the hyperbaric chamber increases the amount of oxygen your plasma can absorb. In turn, this means your blood can carry more oxygen to injured and inflamed tissues, speeding up their natural recovery process.

The reason this process works is due to Henry’s Law of Physics. Simply stated, more atmospheric pressure allows for more gas to be dissolved in a liquid. In this case, the gas is oxygen, and the liquid is blood plasma. By increasing the atmospheric pressure even by a small amount, your body can absorb more of the oxygen present in ambient air.

Mild Hyperbaric Therapy (mHBT)

Wakeman Chiropractic and Healing Center is proud to offer Mild Hyperbaric Therapy to our clients. Similar to the therapy available at hospitals, mHBT is performed inside an inflatable chamber at a lower pressure than in hard-sided, hospital-grade chambers.

The chambers at our office are pressurized to between 1.1 and 1.5 ATA, which is about three to six pounds per square inch (PSI). This gentle and effective pressurization allows for many of the same benefits as hospital-grade hyperbaric chambers with minimal risk.

Rather than using pure oxygen, mHBT utilizes filtered, compressed, ambient air. Even though you are not exposed to more oxygen, the pressurized environment aids in your body’s absorption of the oxygen available to it.

What To Expect During Your Session

Some patients report mild discomfort in their ears while the chamber pressurizes, similar to ascending during a flight. We recommend equalizing this pressure in your ears by doing one of the following:

  • Yawning
  • Chewing
  • Closing your mouth and firmly clamping your nose shut while gently blowing out as if you were attempting to blow your nose. Keeping your nose and mouth shut during this will cause the pressure in your ears to equalize

It is advised that you do not drink large amounts of fluid immediately before your appointment, nor should you wear perfume or cologne. We recommend wearing loose-fitting, comfortable clothing. After your appointment, you may feel slightly fatigued as a result of the toxins and inflammation leaving your body.

If you have questions about Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at (404) 364-0900.