What is a Hyperbaric Chamber?

Before we dive deep into this topic, let’s define what a hyperbaric chamber is. 

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment where 100% oxygen is administered under pressure greater than one absolute atmosphere (ATA). This increases oxygen levels in your blood as well as blood flow. Our chambers are therefore secret weapons for athletes such as LA Galaxy Mark Delgado as they help speed up the recovery from injuries and provide extra boosts of energy needed between intense competitions and workouts (read post here). 

At Oxy Performance, our chambers look like soft cylinders with camping-like beds in them. Once you get in, the pressure will rise in your little cocoon, and you will start inhaling pure oxygen. You will feel enveloped in a soothing imaginary blanket made of healing and recovery. Hyperbaric chambers, MHBOT, oxygen therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy all mean the same thing and are all terms used to describe what we offer at Oxy Performance.

How can Hyperbaric oxygen therapy help MMA fighters?

MMA fighters train hard and fight even harder. They ask a lot of their bodies during every training session and at every event, so recovery and healing from injuries quickly are imperative to them. 

How can a hyperbaric chamber help MMA fighters? It allows the body to get the oxygen it needs to produce the ATP (adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an energy-carrying molecule found in our cells, needed for energy and to expel lactic acid, which causes muscle fatigue. Simply put,  elevated oxygen levels will help MMA fighters improve athletic performance and recover quickly after exercise.

Many MMA fighters have used Hyperbaric chambers to heal injuries: TJ Dillashaw for recovery from shoulder surgery, Daniel Cormier to recuperate from the bruises of training, and of course Boxer Caleb Plant who is a regular at Oxy Performance and even took one of our chambers home to prepare for his last fight. Cain Velasquez and Mike Grundy have also used oxygen therapy for recovery and injury healing.

Dr. Stoller, medical director of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Clinic of Sacramento, helped Faber, “The California Kid,” heal his broken hand utilizing an HBOT. He also treated the muscles of his left leg with a hyperbaric chamber. The rapid healing of Faber’s injuries using HBOT has minimized the trauma to his body from fighting.1

Let’s not forget that Hyperbaric chambers are great for concussion recovery and we know MMA fighters get a lot of them! As a matter of fact, a 2018 study concluded that mild brain injury occurs in 23.6 percent of MMA fighters.2 In a previous post, we addressed the benefits of using Oxygen therapy for concussions and we strongly believe MMA fighters can benefit from regular oxygen therapy sessions. Indeed, a  recent study proved that spending time in a hyperbaric chamber can also help heal head traumas.

The bottom line is this: breathing oxygen in a high-pressure environment increases your blood’s ability to carry oxygen and improves blood flow to your muscles and organs. In turn, this will help your body recover faster and heal from injury. Reading that high-level MMA fighters have used and are currently using oxygen therapy for rapid healing of injuries and faster recovery is also a great argument in favor of HBOT.

Convinced? Come by our location in Hermosa Beach and try one of our Hyperbaric Chambers. We currently have three chambers from 2 different brands for your convenience: OXYNOVA SERIES 7 and OXYNOVA SERIES 8 and Summit to Sea MHBOTs.

Call us today (310) 942-2202 or book your appointment online!

1)https://oxfordrecoverycenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Featherweight-Champion-uses-HBOT-to-heal-Injuries-following-his-fight.pdf

2)https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2830774-football-vs-mma-which-is-more-dangerous-athletes-and-physicians-weigh-in