Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a treatment for cerebral palsy
Today I present to you a scientific study , dating from 2014, in which hyperbaric oxygen therapy was used to treat children with cerebral palsy .
The scientific team, led by Dr. Arun Mukherjee, followed 150 children aged between 1 and 17 years.
These children were divided into 4 groups:
- A first control group, receiving no hyperbaric treatment.
- 3 other groups, performing hyperbaric dives for 7 weeks, at different pressures and at different oxygen levels.
The children's motor development was measured several times during the study using the GMFM system :
- Before starting treatment
- 2 months after the start of treatment
- 4 months after the start of treatment
- 6 months after the start of treatment
- 8 months after the start of treatment
The GMFM scale is a measuring instrument that allows the quantitative assessment of gross motor function. Following this test, a final score is obtained in the form of a percentage. The maximum score is 100%, generally obtained in a normal 5-year-old child.
Improving motor development through hyperbaric oxygen therapy
The results obtained are very positive! In fact, the researchers found that the motor development of children with cerebral palsy who had undergone hyperbaric oxygen therapy dives had improved three times more , compared to the control group:
Here is the conclusion of the study:
A longitudinal study in children with cerebral palsy was conducted.
The study compared three different dosages of hyperbaric oxygen, combined with intensive rehabilitation, with a control group receiving rehabilitation only.
The rate of improvement in GMFM score was significantly higher in all three hyperbaric groups compared with the control group . There was no difference between the three groups of children treated with this therapy.
The level of improvement is similar to results obtained in the multiple studies on the treatment of cerebral palsy using hyperbaric oxygen therapy that have been published, and it is greater than the improvements measured using standard therapies.
The very significant difference observed in the treated children, compared to the control group, can only be a genuine beneficial effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Based on the results of this and other studies (...), hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with rehabilitation should be recommended for children with cerebral palsy.
How does a session in a hyperbaric chamber take place?
Below, I offer you a short video to show you concretely the progress of a session (which is also called " diving ") in a hyperbaric chamber. Subtitles are available for the hearing impaired.