What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a cohort study with 80 patients experiencing muscle stiffness due to spinal cord injury, dividing them into a treatment group receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), rehabilitation, and medication, and a control group receiving only rehabilitation and medication.
What They Found
After three courses of treatment, there was no significant difference in effectiveness between the groups. However, after six courses, 72.5% (29 out of 40) of patients in the HBOT group showed improvement compared to 40% (16 out of 40) in the control group, indicating a better clinical effect for the HBOT group. The HBOT protocol involved daily sessions at 2 ATA, with 20 minutes of oxygen followed by 5 minutes of rest, repeated three times, for a total of six courses.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The study involved a relatively small number of participants and a limited follow-up period.