What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted four experimental runs with 30 test subjects to investigate how hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) affects the human body's tolerance to conditions similar to space flight.
What They Found
They found that 7-8 HBO sessions, each lasting an hour at 2 ATA over 10-12 days, improved altitude tolerance. Subjects with poor altitude tolerance increased their altitude ceiling by 1 km and their reserve time at 6-7 km by 3-4 minutes, with effects lasting 2-3 months. Statokinetic tolerance for those prone to motion sickness grew 2-2.5 times, and HBO treatment shortened recovery time after stressful work by half, while increasing repeated work time before failure by 15-20%.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This study, conducted in 1990 with a small group of 30 subjects, focuses on a highly specialized context of space flight and altitude tolerance, limiting its general applicability.