Athlete Overcomes Concussions & TBI with HBOT

A 23 year old male came to our office with a history of multiple concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), which he previously sustained while playing football and lacrosse. His most recent TBI occured in 2019 which led to recurrent headaches, light sensitivity, brain fog, tinnitus, short term memory loss and occasional scotomas (blind spots).

Details on the Athletes Torn Meniscus Case: 

Patient Age: 23

Gender: Male 

Presentation: Post-concussion symptoms of headaches, light sensitivity, brain fog, tinnitus, short term memory loss and scotomas.

Health History: History of concussions and head injuries. Last injury was 3 years ago.

Personalized Treatment Protocol: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in a hard chamber at 2.0 ATA for 90 minutes daily, forty sessions total.

Patient Outcome: Noticeable improvement fatigue, frequency and intensity of headaches and memory loss.

Notes from the clinical team at HMS: 

Why HBOT Is Popular Among Athletes

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has gained significant popularity among athletes as a performance-enhancing tool due to its various benefits. Athletes use HBOT to accelerate recovery after intense physical exertion or injuries, leveraging its anti-inflammatory effects to reduce injury risk and improve recovery times. By increasing the amount of oxygen delivered to the body's tissues, HBOT enhances aerobic capacity and endurance, enabling better performance during training and competition.

Moreover, mitochondria, known as the powerhouses of the cell, are crucial for muscle contraction and aerobic metabolism, both essential for athletic performance. Research indicates that HBOT can enhance mitochondrial function in athletes, further contributing to its appeal as a powerful recovery and performance aid.

Every Concussion is a Traumatic Brain Injury

You don’t have to be an athlete to get a concussion. It can happen to anyone, at any age, under an array of circumstances.  In fact, concussions most commonly result from motor vehicle accidents and falls.

Even a mild concussion can lead to significant health challenges. Although some may notice an improvement in their condition immediately, or after several months, others may continue to suffer lingering effects for much longer. If symptoms last more than three months, this is defined as post-concussion syndrome (PCS).

Post-Concussion Symptoms:

Post-concussion symptoms often include but are not limited to:

• Headaches or migraines
• Personality changes
• Depression
• Sleep disturbances
• Memory issues
• Sensitivity to light and/or sound
• Difficulties focusing
• Light-headed or dizziness
  
  

HBOT for Concussions & Post-Concussion Syndrome

The use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to help treat concussions and traumatic brain injuries in patients aims to relieve symptoms and accelerate recovery by promoting damaged tissue repair and angiogenesis, or blood vessel growth.

HBOT can help those suffering with traumatic brain injury and/or PCS by:

• Reducing inflammation
• Increasing neural regeneration
• Reducing pain
• Creating new blood vessels
• Stimulating stem cell mobilization
• Reducing cognitive impairment

Read more about HBOT for Concussions and TBI here.