Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Sports Injury Recovery in Singapore
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, is used by athletes to shorten
recovery after a hard injury. At Clifford Orthopaedics, sports medicine
physician Dr Dinesh Sirisena and orthopaedic surgeon Dr Edwin Tan decide
when it adds something to a recovery plan. The chamber is at The
Clifford Clinic, 50 Raffles Place, in the same building.
Injuries where HBOT is used
| Injury | How HBOT fits in |
|---|---|
| Ankle and knee ligament sprains | Lower swelling in the first week so movement and physiotherapy start sooner |
| Muscle tears in the hamstring, calf and quadriceps | More oxygen to the torn fibres while new tissue forms |
| Bone bruising and stress reactions | Oxygen reaches bone that has a poor blood supply |
| Recovery after knee surgery such as ACL repair or meniscus trimming |
Less swelling in the joint, which lets the knee bend earlier |
| Recovery after a knee joint injection | Settles the joint faster in the days after an injection for osteoarthritis |
What the
research supports and what it does not
A study of acute muscle stretch injuries found faster recovery with
HBOT. A review in Sports Medicine described how extra oxygen supports
healing in sprains and tears. A Cochrane review, on the other hand,
found no clear benefit for ordinary muscle soreness after training. So
HBOT is for a real injury with swelling and damaged tissue, not for
feeling tired after a run. Dr Sirisena will tell you which group you
fall into.
A typical course for a
sports injury
Three to ten sessions, usually daily or every other day, in the first
two weeks after the injury or operation. Each session lasts 60 to 90
minutes at 2.0 ATA in a hard-shell chamber. Physiotherapy, bracing and
the usual rest and ice plan carry on alongside.
Who should not have HBOT
HBOT is not used with an untreated collapsed lung, certain ear or
sinus problems, or some chemotherapy drugs. Tell the doctor about lung
disease, claustrophobia or pregnancy. A doctor screens every patient
first.
HBOT cost for sports injury
A single 60-minute session is S$250. Five sessions cost S$1,100 and
ten cost S$2,000. Sports recovery is not an MOH-approved HBOT condition,
so MediSave does not apply. The full cost table and the research are on
the hyperbaric
oxygen therapy page at The Clifford Clinic.
Book a sports injury
assessment
Clifford Orthopaedics, 50 Raffles Place, #01-01 Singapore Land Tower.
Call (65) 6532 2400 or WhatsApp (65) 8318 6332.
References
- Best TM, et al. Hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of acute muscle
stretch injuries. Am J Sports Med 1998.
doi.org/10.1177/03635465980260030401 - Staples J, Clement D. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers and the treatment
of sports injuries. Sports Med 1996.
doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199622040-00002 - Bennett M, et al. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for delayed onset muscle
soreness and closed soft tissue injury. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005.
doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004713.pub2