Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has long been understood to improve wound healing. Many patients who experience slow healing wounds, whether after surgical procedures or due to difficult areas with excessive movement such as the knee, foot or hand, can benefit tremendously from HBOT.
HBOT improves circulation, reduces inflammation, reduces infection, stimulates fibroblast production by increasing collagen factors, stimulates stem cells, and improves oxygenation to tissue, all of which are essential for healing. HBOT acts as a super stimulator of all of these functions, enhancing the effects of healing beyond normal measures. It also reduces fibrosis, or scarring, while also improving flexibility of joints and ligaments through the hydroxylation of proline and lysine.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is particularly useful in its ability to heal skin wounds because it stimulates growth hormones associated with skin and tissue healing and promotes collagen production within the skin. These same growth hormones also are involved with angiogenesis, or new blood vessel formation, further improving wound healing.
Bone fracture healing is expedited through similar mechanisms, but with the stimulation of osteoblasts, blood flow, and oxygen being very highly involved in the ability for bones to heal quickly.
