Can Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Help with Knee Arthritis?

/ HealthFit Physical Therapy & Chiropractic /

Arthritis is a very common condition we come across at HealthFit, and there are various ways we can help you manage the pain and discomfort that comes from it. Arthritis can be characterized by joint stiffness, swelling and discomfort with movement. It can affect any of the joints in your body, ranging from your neck and shoulders to your knees and ankles. Regardless of severity, arthritis can be difficult to live with and requires professional care to manage it. 

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Be a Treatment Option for Arthritis

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an all-natural, non-invasive treatment with which you can simply breathe pure oxygen in a greater than normal pressure environment. 

The normal air that we breathe consists of 21% oxygen. By breathing in 100% oxygen in a pressurized environment similar to several feet undersea, the effects are tremendous. This combination can increase your body’s oxygen concentration up to 400% - giving the potential to lead to extraordinary health benefits.

Alongside with physical therapy and chiropractic treatment, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be utilized in conjunction with your current treatment to manage arthritis. There are people with different forms of arthritis, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis or Gout, that have seen lasting benefits from hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

 Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an alternative treatment recommended to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases that range from muscle soreness after a workout to traumatic brain injuries suffered from an injury. 

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been compared to the use of aspirin in various tests for reducing joint inflammation and hyperalgesia, a condition that increases your body’s sensitivity to pain. With arthritis, the inflammation at your joint may vary with activity, therefore influencing the level of pain you may feel. Incorporating a regimen of hyperbaric oxygen therapy with physical therapy and chiropractic care may complement the lasting effects of each of your therapy sessions. 

People with Osteoarthritis Have Experience Positive Results 

If you are suffering from Osteoarthritis, chances are there is a significant amount of “wear-and-tear” that may affect your knee joint. When you go to a physical therapist or chiropractor, they will help you manage your pain by building strength in the affected joint accompanied with manual tissue work. In addition to the great treatment you are receiving, you will need to keep up with an exercise regimen prescribed by your health professional to maintain an overall quality of life.

By adding hyperbaric oxygen therapy to your ongoing treatment, you are providing your body with a surplus of oxygen that can be utilized to recover efficiently. The higher pressure essentially pushes more oxygen into your body’s tissues, with more red blood cells transporting oxygen around your body to be used as energy. This also gives cells, like lymphocytes, or your white blood cells, additional support to remove foreign bacteria and regulate inflammation in your joints. Simply put, by supercharging your white blood cells, your joint inflammation can be reduced.

With degenerative diseases like Osteoarthritis, the damaged cartilage receives very little blood flow compared to other tissues in the body. That makes it difficult for your body to repair the damaged areas, but by introducing an increase of supply in oxygen, all of that can change. Instead of relying on painkillers to numb the pain for a couple of hours, you can actually start to make physiological changes with lasting effects. 

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy May Reduce Symptoms of Rheumatiod Arthritis

People who have Rheumatoid Arthritis that have implemented hyperbaric oxygen therapy to their therapeutic regimen have seen positive results. Using HBOT in conjunction with other treatments may:

  •       Decrease joint pain

  •     Increase activity level

  •       Improve sleeping patterns

  •       Decrease the need for rheumatologic medications

  •       Effectively reduce the effects of immunosuppression 

Depending on the severity of your arthritis, taking more medication to tolerate the pain can actually cause more harm to your body in the long run. That is one of the many reasons why people are starting to use HBOT as an alternative treatment method. 

With physical therapy and chiropractic treatment, the initial stages of recovery can be painful, since part of rehabilitation is exercising. Implementing HBOT in the early stages of treating rheumatoid arthritis can help with managing any soreness you feel after your therapy session. This can be used as a motivator for people who are constantly in pain, because it can help manage any fears of feeling more pain after a 30 minute or 1 hour session. The amount of pain relief is different for everyone, but having some level of pain relief can make a big difference during their rehabilitation.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is Great, but Not Enough to Treat Arthritis Alone

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not the magical cure that will eliminate all of your pain. It is a great alternative to other medications and treatment, but it won’t solve all of your body's issues on its own. 

If you are suffering from arthritis and have already started treatment with a health professional, then you know it takes more than an office visit to manage the pain. Instead of resorting to painkillers, try incorporating hyperbaric oxygen therapy to see if your pain improves. Because everyone’s body is different, for lasting results to take effect, several sessions may be recommended. 

For the majority of our patients at HealthFit, there have been positive results within hours after completing a session. Some patients have noticed lasting effects after continuing their weekly HBOT regimen. With that being said, they are also receiving some other form of treatment that is getting a boost from the supplemental HBOT. 

No matter the severity of arthritis you may have in your knees, or any other joint in your body, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be an impactful alternative for you. The length of the HBOT treatment can help with the longevity of your health and could lead to lasting results. 

If you are ready to start your Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy session or know someone that may benefit from it, fill out our online HBOT Inquiry by clicking here. 

 Want to speak to our Front Desk to see if Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is right for you? Call us at (626) 365-1380, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. 

 Do you want to see the HBOT chamber in person? Schedule a Discovery visit today, and find out how hyperbaric oxygen therapy may benefit you.