What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing 40 hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) sessions to 40 sham sessions over 12 weeks in 71 military service members with persistent post-concussive symptoms, measuring balance and neuropsychological function.
What They Found
In this study, the military service members with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) initially showed worse balance and gait and reported more affective symptoms compared to 75 healthy adults. While overall differences between HBO2 and sham groups were minimal, HBO2 generally favored postural control, with those experiencing affective symptoms, especially PTSD, showing the most improvement in postural control and otolith function after 13 weeks.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients experiencing persistent balance issues and affective symptoms after a mild traumatic brain injury, hyperbaric oxygen therapy might offer a potential treatment option to improve postural control. This could lead to better daily function and quality of life, particularly for those also struggling with conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this study is its focus on military service members, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to the broader civilian population.