What Researchers Did
Chinese researchers ran a randomised crossover trial with 14 healthy young men to test whether a single 60-minute mild HBOT session (1.3 ATA, 100% oxygen) improved exercise performance, heart function, or lung function.
What They Found
HBOT significantly reduced resting heart rate from 63.6 to 58.8 bpm (a 7.2% decrease, p = 0.009) and improved heart rate variability markers of parasympathetic (rest-and-recovery) activity. However, HBOT did not significantly improve aerobic endurance capacity (VO₂ peak), time to exhaustion, or pulmonary function in a single session. The improvements were in recovery-related heart rate measures only.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The study used only 14 healthy young men and tested only a single HBOT session, so results cannot be generalized to patients with heart or lung conditions or to longer treatment protocols.