SECTION II - EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND SPORTS MEDICINE / RESEARCH PAPER
Ten Sessions of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Fail to Improve Physical Performance or Body Composition
in Healthy Young Men
1
Department of Athletics, Strength and Conditioning, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland.
2
Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
3
Department of Econometrics and Statistics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Toruń, Poland.
4
Department of Physical Education and Sport, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece.
Submission date: 2025-06-13
Final revision date: 2025-08-24
Acceptance date: 2026-01-19
Online publication date: 2026-06-01
Corresponding author
Barbara Pospieszna
Department of Athletics, Strength and Conditioning, Poznan University of Physical Education, ul. Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, 61-871, Poznań, Poland
Department of Athletics, Strength and Conditioning, Poznan University of Physical Education, ul. Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, 61-871, Poznań, Poland
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT) is a therapeutic method that combines the effects of hyperoxia and increased pressure. This clinical trial aimed to assess how ten HBOT sessions would influence body composition and physical performance of healthy young men, and whether the frequency of treatment would affect these outcomes. Healthy adult males were enrolled and randomized into three groups: a control group (n = 15), frequent HBOT users (six sessions per week; n = 20), and rare HBOT users (three sessions per week; n = 19). Participants in the intervention groups received ten 60-min sessions of 100% oxygen at a pressure of 2.5 atmospheres absolute (ATA). Participants underwent body composition evaluation and performed an incremental treadmill test before and after the intervention. Marginal but statistically significant reductions in body mass and the body mass index (BMI) were observed only in the rare HBOT users. In both intervention groups, but not in the control group, a significant increase was noted in the maximal speed and distance covered during the treadmill test. Additionally, rare HBOT users showed a significant increase in relative maximal oxygen uptake, while absolute VO₂max remained unchanged. The main finding of our study was that ten hyperbaric oxygen treatments did not significantly enhance body composition or physical capacity in healthy young men. Furthermore, our study showed no indications for the daily HBOT administration in healthy individuals; instead, the findings suggested potential benefits from a less frequent, extended treatment protocol.
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