What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a literature review using PubMed, SCOPUS, and other medical databases to evaluate the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in various musculoskeletal disorders.
What They Found
They found that HBOT offers cellular and biochemical advantages, including allodynic, anti-inflammatory, and pro-oxygenatory effects in patients with musculoskeletal conditions. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) has defined 14 absolute indications for HBOT, with studies supporting its use in avascular necrosis and wound healing.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy could serve as a beneficial adjunct treatment for Canadian patients with certain orthopaedic conditions. However, current protocols need optimization, and further large-scale research is essential to establish its broader application.
Canadian Relevance
This review article has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The authors noted that existing HBOT protocols require optimization, and large-scale blinded randomised controlled trials are necessary to demonstrate a higher level of evidence for its use in musculoskeletal conditions.