What Researchers Did
Researchers studied whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy could help people with myofascial pain syndrome, a condition causing muscle pain and tight bands in the muscles.
What They Found
Thirty patients with myofascial pain syndrome were divided into an HBO group (20 patients) and a control group (10 patients) that received placebo treatment in a hyperbaric chamber. In the HBO group, pain threshold increased and pain scale (VAS) scores decreased significantly right after treatment and again 3 months later. Pain Disability Index scores and both the mental and physical health scores on the SF-12 survey also improved significantly in the HBO group after 3 months compared to before treatment. In the control group, pain threshold, VAS scores, and mental health scores did not change, though physical health SF-12 scores did improve significantly.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The study had a small sample size (30 patients total, unevenly split between groups) and the authors themselves called for further randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled research to confirm HBO's possible role in this condition.