Sports injuries are characterized by swelling, bleeding, deformity, and loss of function that inhibits performance and return to play.

Sports injuries are wounds to the body. HBOT is a treatment for wounds in any location and of any duration. When delivered immediately before a sports performance, HBOT can minimize the effects of injury. When delivered as soon after injury as possible, HBOT acts on the injured tissue to repair the wounds and decrease inflammation. To maximize sports performance and recovery, HBOT is most beneficial immediately after intense workouts in which anaerobic metabolism is incurred (sprinting, intense weight-lifting, speed workouts, etc.) During these types of sports activities, the muscles burn fuel without oxygen and generate toxic byproducts, accumulating what is known as “oxygen debt.” When HBOT is delivered after intense workouts, the oxygen debt is lessened or erased, and the tissues are prepared for the next workout. This was most powerfully demonstrated by Dr. Keith Van Meter in the most severe oxygen debt condition, cardiac arrest. Dr. Van Meter was able to resuscitate pigs after 25 minutes of heart stoppage (cardiac arrest) and “irreversible” oxygen debt accumulation with a single HBOT session (see below). The Vancouver Canucks proved the effectiveness of HBOT for acute sports injuries in their 1993-4 season (reported in Sports Illustrated June, 1994). HBOT is finding widespread common use in athletes at all levels of competition and in all sports for both sports performance and recovery.