Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is hugely popular today. You’ll hear HBOT mentioned on podcasts by athletes and influencers.
But is HBOT a reliable treatment for serious conditions like traumatic brain injury?
HBOT is FDA-approved to treat 13 medical disorders including wound healing and burns. Yet, beyond the FDA-approved list, many other conditions respond well to oxygen therapy.
One of those conditions is traumatic brain injury (TBI).
In clinical and animal trials, HBOT has improved symptoms of chronic TBI. In some cases, HBOT has been effective years after the injury. Beyond TBI, oxygen therapy also shows promise for treating symptoms of stroke and concussion.
Ultimately, HBOT isn’t a stand-alone treatment for traumatic brain injury. However, it is being increasingly used as a complementary treatment for symptom management and rehabilitation.
How does hyperbaric oxygen therapy work for TBI? This guide explores the mechanisms for HBOT for TBI with a look at relevant research.
Overview of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the Potential Effectiveness of HBOT
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a brain injury caused by an external hit, bump or jolt to the head. These hard hits disrupt normal brain function, such as a head injury caused by a car accident.
Today, there are medical treatments for TBI. However, researchers are also working on a non-surgical and natural healing treatment, and one such treatment is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
HBOT involves breathing 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber that stimulates the body’s natural healing process. Oxygen, for example, is important for many natural healing processes. Therefore, researchers theorize that increasing the body’s oxygen saturation helps facilitate faster, stronger healing.
In terms of treating TBI with HBOT, studies have shown promising results. These results suggest that HBOT may play a role in mitigating the long-term effects of TBI and improving the overall quality of life for affected individuals.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
There are mainly three main types of traumatic brain injury:
Mild TBI (Concussion): Mild concussions have a relatively rapid recovery. Concussions are a common sports injury, for example.
Moderate TBI: Moderate TBI includes an extended period of unconsciousness and may also lead to potential cognitive and physical damage. Moderate brain injuries are often caused by falls or injuries caused by firearms.
Severe TBI: Severe cases involve an extended period of unconsciousness and severe mental and physical challenges. Severe TBI cases may be caused by car or motorcycle accidents, for example.
What Causes Traumatic Brain Injury?
Here’s a broad overview of what happens to the brain following an injury:
- Traumatic brain injuries cause bruising on the brain.
- This bruising may be (and is often) accompanied by bleeding or tissue death.
- After the initial injury, the area becomes inflamed and swells.
- Swelling within the skull increases pressure and restricts blood flow in the brain.
- As a result, tissue damage spreads.
In summary, traumatic brain injury reduces the brain’s ability to heal due to restricted blood flow and tissue damage. A brain injury may also affect neurons in the penumbra, reducing their ability to send neural impulses.
HBOT is a treatment that works on regaining this ability. It helps in potentially improving the body’s natural healing ability for a quick recovery.
In effect, this neurological damage causes common TBI symptoms like:
- Brain fog
- Difficulty remembering
- Issues with focus
- Fatigue
- Photophobia
Further, oxygen therapy may reduce these symptoms by stimulating regrowth and the brain’s healing response.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for Brain Injury
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy exposes patients to 100% pure oxygen at high pressure in a hyperbaric chamber. Under pressure, the body’s tissue absorbs more oxygen, which triggers a healing response.
Here’s a closer look at this process:
HBOT temporarily hyper-oxygenates body tissues, i.e., it exposes the body to higher-than-normal oxygen levels for cell regeneration.
In some cases, it can increase dissolved oxygen levels by a factor of 15 or more. This extra oxygen in the body provides a range of benefits, including:
- Anti-inflammation
- Reduced swelling
- Stimulating immune responses
- Mobilization of stem cells
- Axonal regrowth
HBOT and TBI: 5 Mechanisms at Play
Let’s take a closer look at the healing response that HBOT triggers:
1. Increased Oxygen Delivery
Oxygen is fundamental to cellular metabolism. It plays a crucial role in energy production and cellular repair processes.
With TBI, the heightened oxygen levels generated by HBOT may stimulate cellular recovery. This, in turn, triggers a natural healing response.
2. Reduced Inflammation
Brain injuries can lead to a series of responses in the body that cause inflammation. This inflammation has the potential to worsen the damage to the brain.
HBOT has shown promise in modulating inflammation. In particular, the treatment affects immune cell behavior and cytokine response. Ultimately, these responses could potentially mitigate brain tissue inflammation.
3. Stimulating Angiogenesis
Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels. And it is critical for delivering nutrients and oxygen to damaged tissues. Trials have shown HBOT may stimulate angiogenesis. This is especially true in injuries that cause restricted blood flow.
By stimulating angiogenesis, HBOT may increase blood supply to the injured brain regions. This, in turn, promotes healing, tissue regeneration, and recovery.
4. Neuroplasticity Enhancement
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt to the following injury. HBOT may induce neuroplasticity by stimulating neural regrowth and rewiring. This could aid in the recovery of lost functions and the adaptation to new neural pathways.
5. Preservation of Mitochondrial Function
Mitochondria, ‘the powerhouse of cells’, plays a crucial role in energy production and cellular resilience. Lack of enough power cells can cause damage to the brain tissues. HBOT can potentially help improve the energy cells by administering and circulating 100% pure oxygen to the patient.
Further, helping to heal the compromised areas and potentially reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.
Benefits Of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Brain Injury
Evidence of the Success of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Although HBOT’s theoretical mechanisms are compelling, reviewing research is critical. Animal and clinical trials have shown promise for HBOT therapy.
Animal studies have demonstrated positive outcomes. For instance, improved cognitive function and reduced brain damage have both been observed.
A systematic review of research showed a range of results in clinical trials:
- Reductions in lesion size
- Improved cognitive function
- Improvements in quality of life
In some cases, the results have been less conclusive. However, there’s a growing body of research that shows HBOT’s potential impact.
Additional HBOT Research
- HBOT shows better results than Normobaric Hyperoxia (NBH) in treating TBI.
- HBOT was used to treat mild traumatic brain injury of 39 US veterans. The results found “significant improvement in brain perfusion” and participants reported reduced pain, improved mood and better sleep.
- HBOT for post-concussion after mild traumatic brain injury. This study suggested HBOT can “induce neuroplasticity” leading to repair of chronically impaired brain functions.
HBOT and TBI: A Complementary Treatment
HBOT is not a standalone treatment solution. It remains a palliative option that offers promise as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.
Generally, HBOT fits in conjunction with traditional TBI treatments, including:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Psychiatric care
- Psychological care
Addressing Specific Conditions: Cerebral Palsy, Stroke, and Hypoxic Brain Injury
HBOT can be beneficial for:
1. Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormality in the brain development. CP mainly affects the muscular, developmental, and speech and, in most cases, appears in early childhood. It limits the usage of muscles and reflexes, along with learning disability or speech disorder.
HBOT can potentially increase the oxygen levels in the bloodstream, promoting tissue and cell repairs. Some researchers believe that the dormant and inactive cells may carry the potential to recover. Thus, using HBOT and regenerating those damaged cells may benefit children with cerebral palsy.
NOTE: No compelling research supports the theory that HBOT can help in treating cerebral palsy. Trials are ongoing.
2. Stroke Recovery
In stroke recovery, HBOT aims to deliver pure oxygen to regain blood flow and repair damaged brain tissue. This may help improve cognitive behavior and encourage healing in neurological-damaged areas.
However, more research is needed to understand HBOT’s efficacy, indicating a positive outcome in terms of motor function.
3. Hypoxic Brain Injury
Hypoxic brain injury is caused when the brain does not receive sufficient oxygen. As hyperbaric oxygen therapy’s primary role is to deliver 100% pure oxygen throughout the body, this therapy is considered in cases of hypoxic brain injury.
HBOT supplies the brain with increased oxygen and may support cellular recovery, relieve brain anoxia, reduce inflammation, and improve cognitive functions.
Considerations for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in Brain Injury
Before undertaking HBOT treatment, first consult with your physician. Then, you may seek out providers, but consider these factors:
1. Accreditation and Certification of Facilities
- Ensure that the HBOT facility is accredited and certified
- Check it is in adherence to safety and quality standards
2. Professional Qualifications of Staff
- Ensure the staff administering HBOT are qualified healthcare professionals
- For example, healthcare physicians, hyperbaric technologists, nurses, ground staff, etc.
- Confirm that they have received training in hyperbaric medicine
- Ensure the staff has sufficient knowledge about the patient’s treatment plan for brain injuries
3. Safety Protocols and Equipment
- Ensure the facility adheres to emergency and safety protocols
- Check if there are always trained personnel in case of complications
- Ensure the equipment meets safety standards and undergoes regular maintenance
4. Patient Screening and Evaluation
- Ensure the staff is taking complete patient information before starting the treatment
- Always disclose any prior medical history and TBI severity before the sessions
- Collaborate closely with your medical professionals to determine the appropriateness of HBOT for individual cases
5. Treatment Plans and Monitoring
- Discuss the treatment plan with your physician before starting the therapy
- Take notes of your progress during and after HBOT sessions, for example, MRI scans, body temperature, pain, etc.
6. Communication and Informed Consent
- Ensure effective communication with the staff, patient, and family members to ensure transparency
- Ensure the healthcare center addresses all the concerns and obtain signed consent before moving further
7. Follow-up and Evaluation
- Prepare a structured follow-up plan to assess the long-term effects of HBOT
- Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of HBOT during the treatment and adjust the approach as needed
Timing and Frequency of HBOT Sessions for Optimal Results
The timing and frequency of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) sessions for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can vary based on:
1. Patient Information
The treatment plan may vary based on the patient’s needs and the specific nature of the injury.
2. Early-Stage TBI
Timing: It is best to start with HBOT as early as possible. If the initial diagnosis is acute TBI, HBOT treatments may be more beneficial.
Frequency: Typically, sessions should be between daily or multiple times per week, depending on your physician’s recommendations. During the acute phase, frequent sessions may be recommended for better results.
3. Chronic Phase
Timing: Although it is slightly difficult compared to acute detection, HBOT can still be effective during the chronic phases of TBI.
Frequency: The treatment may start with a couple of weekly sessions and extend beyond the initial weeks to months. The timeline depends on the patient’s condition and progress.
4. Response and Progress
Timing: HBOT, being a natural healing therapy, takes time for the results to reflect. Moreover, the response to the treatment can vary among individuals. Thus, the treatment plan, timing, and response can be determined only after regular patient progress assessments. One can make necessary adjustments to the treatment plan based on the plan.
Frequency: The frequency of sessions can be tailored based on the patient’s response to the ongoing treatment.
Conclusion
HBOT isn’t a magic fix for traumatic brain injury. However, it is a natural, research-backed complementary approach. Many studies have shown HBOT’s potential for treating inflammation and triggering cellular repair.
Ultimately, talk with your physician for options for using HBOT within your existing treatment plan. Generally, HBOT is safe for most patients, and it works best as a complementary treatment alongside physical rehabilitation and other interventions.
Hue Light USA is a distributor of hyperbaric oxygen chambers. Contact our team today to learn more about bringing HBOT devices to your wellness center.