HBOT
may improve symptomatic but not objective measures of recovery from
exercise-induced muscle damage.
Clinical
Bottom Line:
1.
Some evidence of more rapid resolution of subjective pain and unpleasantness
with HBOT at 5 days after exercise -induced muscle injury.
2.
No objective evidence that HBOT accelerated recovery as indicated by a range of
tests including strength and MRI findings.
Citation/s:
Webster
AL, Syrotuik DG, Bell GJ, Jones RL, Hanstock CC. Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on
recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage in humans. Clinical Journal of
Sport Medicine 2002; 12:139-150
Lead
author's name and fax: Anthony L
Webster, Daniel G Syrotuik. E-mail: dan.syrotuik@ualberta.ca
Three-part
Clinical Question: For patients with exercise-induced muscle damage does
hyperbaric oxygen therapy, compared to a sham treatment, result in a more rapid
recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage?
Search
Terms:
Athletic injuries, exercise recovery
The
Study:
Double-blinded
randomised controlled trial with intention-to-treat.
The
Study Patients:
Healthy male students, not on anti-inflammatory medication and with no
history of severe injury, recent pain or weight training in the gastrocnemius
muscle. All underwent an exercise regimen designed to cause damage in the right
gastrocnemius muscle.
Control
group
(N = 6; 6 analysed): 3 sham treatments in monoplace chamber (atmospheric air at
1.3 ATA for 60 minutes) at 3 to 4,
24 and 48 hours after muscle damage.
Experimental
group
(N = 6; 6 analysed): HBOT in monoplace chamber (100% oxygen at 2.5 ATA for 60
minutes) at same times as sham.
The
Evidence:
|
Measure |
Sham
Group Mean |
SD |
Experimental
Group Mean |
SD |
Difference |
95%
CI |
|
Pain/unpleasantness score at
day 5 (% maximal) |
56 |
27 |
23 |
17 |
33 |
3.41
to 62.59 |
|
Peak isometric torque at day 1
(% baseline) |
-16 |
8 |
-4 |
5 |
-12 |
-21
to -3 |
|
Gastrocnemius cross sectional
area (% baseline) |
5 |
2.5 |
6 |
3.5 |
-1 |
-4.91
to 2.91 |
Comments:
1.
Methodologically sound but difficult to interpret all outcomes.
2.
Many results are expressed as percentage change from a baseline measurement
taken prior to muscle damage. This might conceal differences in the extent of
muscle damage. In this context, note significantly larger reduction in peak
torque in sham group.
3.
Our results are estimations from graphs rather than published data.
4.
Results earlier than 5 days may be of more relevance to elite athletes.
Appraised
by:
Dr Juliette Leverment, Dr Mike Bennett. Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick NSW
Australia; Monday, 10 February 2003 Email: m.bennett@unsw.edu.au
Kill
or Update By: March 2003