What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated whether 40 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) could improve symptoms and brain function in 30 patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
What They Found
Patients experienced significant improvements in physical functioning (SF-36 PF, g=0.71) and clinically meaningful reductions in pain (p=0.002) and fatigue (p<0.001). Exercise capacity (g=0.66), muscle strength (g=0.40), and information processing speed (g=0.52) also improved significantly after treatment. Functional MRI scans showed changes in thalamic connectivity in ME/CFS patients following HBOT.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This was a prospective cohort study with a relatively small sample size, which limits the generalizability of the findings.