Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on exercise-induced muscle damage

Purpose: To perform a literature review on hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) therapy as a treatment for exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Methods: PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched for articles related to HBO₂ therapy as a treatment for exercise-induced muscle damage. Inclusion criteria included HBO₂ therapy as the primary intervention to treat EIMD. Articles used in this review ranged from 1995-2021. Conclusion: Current literature on the effectiveness of HBO₂ therapy to treat EIMD is mixed. Early and frequent treatments seem to be important factors when it comes to the success of HBO₂ therapy. Additional research is needed to determine if HBO₂ therapy has potential to treat more severe forms of EIMD and the role HBO₂ therapy has on inflammation and satellite cell function after EIMD.