A powerful combination: the accelerated healing benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy
For any injury or pain, a faster healing time is ideal. While PRP and HBOT are individually effective accelerators of healing, combining them creates a synergistic effect that optimizes the efficacy of the PRP treatment.
What is Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP)
PRP is a procedure that uses a patient’s own blood to increase the generation and growth of healthy cells. Platelets are one component in blood plasma. They promote healing by attracting stem cells and secreting growth factors (GF), both of which increase cell production in the affected area. A solution with a high concentration of platelets in the plasma is obtained using a blood sample. The solution is then injected in the injured area. The increase of platelets, stem cells, and growth factors stimulates cellular growth and tissue regeneration, which accelerates healing in the wounded area. (2)
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing 100% infused oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. For decades, HBOT has proven effective for treating a multitude of medical conditions. HBOT enables oxygen to reach every part of the body, where it both repairs damaged cells and encourages new cellular growth. At the same time, HBOT promotes circulation and stem cell growth, which reduces inflammation, and supports the immune system (1).
PRP and HBOT together
There are many benefits to using HBOT together with PRP. To begin with, HBOT sessions before PRP create a hyperoxygenated body that is better equipped to endure a medical procedure, making the body more apt to heal. The increased circulation from HBOT makes it easier for the PRP injections to distribute stem cells to the damaged area during treatments, and minimizes soreness or aches from the injections afterward. (3) Adding HBOT gives a patient’s body an extra push to maximize the healing power of PRP.
PRP and HBOT have been shown to be an effective treatment for knee pain,muscle injuries, tendon healing, diabetic wound care, bone regeneration, osteoarthritis, and more.(4, 5) A 2015 study found a 46 percent decrease in healing time for grade 2 injuries using HBOT and PRP together. (6) Many other peer-reviewed studies are in the process of demonstrating the powerful healing potential of these therapies.
To put it simply, PRP + HBOT help patients put their pain behind them faster.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
Jerry’s Story
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a useful addition to Platelet-Rich Therapy (PRP). By increasing circulation, cell growth, and stem cell concentration, HBOT creates ideal conditions for the body to maximize the effectiveness of PRP.
For best results, HH recommends at least three pre-procedure treatments, as well as sessions immediately following PRP.
At hh, we are seeing more patients who want to add HBOT to their PRP treatment. We recently interviewed Holistic Hyperbarics patient, Jerry, about his experience with this powerful duo. Here is his story.
Jerry’s Pain
Like many people who do intensive work, Jerry had facet joints, torn ligaments, and muscle pain, all of which had become unbearable in the last year. He said he “was in so much pain he just couldn’t live like this anymore.”
Why Holistic Hyperbarics
Jerry was skeptical, but was committed to “finding the right resources and doing his own research.” He wanted to employ “something natural and healing at the same time.” He found Holistic Hyperbarics online during his research. He remembers “seeing a lot of positive feedback, even through your website, with all five starts, people having positive feedback. So I wanted to give it a shot.”
Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy with PRP
Jerry had completed an initial round of PRP without HBOT. The second time, he wanted to try adding HBOT to hopefully experience even more benefit. Comparing the two treatments, Jerry said, “It seemed like the first one, there was improvement, but with the hyperbarics combined with PRP it just makes a huge difference by far.” He “felt a tremendous improvement just in the first session,” and after three sessions reported feeling “better each day that I was in here, doing each session.” His overall impression of combining HBOT with PRP is “ that he “felt more rapid healing.”
Advice About Using HBOT and PRP Together
When we asked Jerry what advice he would give to anyone who is wanting to try HBOT with PRP, he said he “would definitely do this in conjunction, it’s just like adding rocket fuel to your PRP. Combined together it makes a huge difference.”
Thanks for your story, Jerry! We’re so happy Holistic Hyperbarics helped your healing!
PRP is a source of growth factors involved in wound healing via clot formation.24
Marx, R. E., E. R. Carlson, and R. M. Eichstaedt. et al. Platelet rich plasma: growth factor enhancement for bone grafts. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Path Oral Radiol Endod 1998. 85:638–646.
There is good evidence to support the use of a single injection of LR-PRP under ultrasound guidance in tendinopathy. Both the preparation and intratendinous injection technique of PRP appear to be of great clinical significance.
The Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Tendinopathy: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials
Jane Fitzpatrick, MBBS, FACSP*, Max Bulsara, BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD, Ming H. Zheng, MD, PhD, FRCPath, FRCPA
First Published June 6, 2016 Research Article Find in PubMed
https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546516643716
The number of basic science, animal, and human investigations of PRP for tendon and muscle injuries worldwide has risen sharply in recent years.
Volume 28, Issue 1, January 2009, Pages 113-125
Hyperbaric medical solutions:
Stimulates healing
Synergistic effect
Increases stem cell circulation, delivers to injured areas
Regenerative cellular therapies
Accelerates healing response
More efficient and through restoration of tissue to a healthy state
Sustained for long term
Alleviate achy sore feeling experienced with prp
Increase mobilization of stem cells
Enhance efficacy of regenerative process
Generate repair and healing
Recover from wounds muscle injuries, pain
Achieve optimal health results
Use components of own blood to stimulate healing in damaged tissue.
Platelets attract stem cells,
Spread growth factors
Concentration can stimulate cellular growth
Accelerate self healing
Low risk of rejection
Hbot releases and activates stem cells from bome marrow, enablin travel to injured areas
Decreased inflammation, swelling, reversal of hypoxia, stipulation of new blood vessels.
Together, powerful healing accelerators eenable avoid long surgeries
Hbot increases stem cell circulation, make easier for injected prp to attract and deliver stem cells to injured area
Study linked combined efforts with decreased healing time for rugby/hamstring