HYPERBARIC-OXYGEN IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE MUSCLE STRETCH INJURIES -RESULTS IN AN ANIMAL-MODEL

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an established therapy in several areas o f clinical medicine. However, studies have produced conflicting result s regarding its efficacy for sports-related soft tissue injuries. This study examines the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy after an acute mu scle stretch injury in an animal model. Two groups of rabbits (nine in each group) were subjected to a partial stretch injury to the tibiali s anterior muscle-tendon unit. For all 18 animals, the injuries were i nduced in the left limb, and the uninjured right limb served as a sham -operated control. In group 1, the animals were exposed to hyperbaric oxygen (>95% O-2 at 2.5 atm) for 60 minutes daily for 5 days. Treatmen t began 24 hours after injury. Group 2 animals were not exposed to hyp erbaric oxygen. Evaluation 7 days after injury demonstrated a function al deficit (percent ankle isometric torque; injured side versus uninju red side) of 14.9% +/- 5.5% (mean +/- SD) for the treated group and 47 .5% +/- 5.4% for the untreated group, representing a statistical diffe rence using the Behrens-Fisher version of the t test (P = 0.001). Morp hologic studies revealed more complete healing in the treated group. T his study suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may play a role in a ccelerating recovery after acute muscle stretch injury. Further studie s are needed before definitive conclusions and treatment recommendatio ns can be made.