ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on oxygen uptake and measurements in the blood and tissues in a normobaric environment

A N H Hodges, J S Delaney, J M Lecomte, V J Lacroix, D L Montgomery

McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor Montgomery
Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, 475 Pine Avenue West, Montreal H2W 1S4, Canada; David.Montgomery{at}mcgill.ca

Objective: To examine venous partial pressure of oxygen (PvO₂), transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO₂), and VO₂MAX in a normobaric environment after a single hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) treatment.

Methods: This was a prospective study of conditions after the intervention compared with baseline. The participants were 10 moderately trained (VO₂MAX = 57.6 ml/kg/min) men. Two HBO₂ treatments consisting of breathing 95% oxygen at 2.5 atmospheres absolute (ATA) for 90 minutes were administered on non-consecutive days. Baseline testing included measures of VO₂MAX, tcPO₂, and anthropometry. At 6.0 (1.0) minutes after the first HBO₂ treatment, a VO₂MAX test was performed. After the second HBO₂ treatment, leg and chest tcPO₂ and PvO₂ were monitored for 60 minutes.

Results: VO₂MAX, running time, and peak blood lactate were not altered after the HBO₂ treatment. Leg tcPO₂ was lower (p = 0.003) and chest tcPO₂ was unchanged after the HBO₂ treatment compared with baseline values. PvO₂ was significantly (p<0.001) lower in the first three minutes after treatment than subsequent values, but no other differences were found.

Conclusions: A single HBO₂ treatment at 2.5 ATA for 90 minutes does not raise PvO₂, tcPO₂, or VO₂MAX in a normobaric, normoxic environment.

Keywords: ergogenic aid; maximal exercise; maximal oxygen uptake; transcutaneous tissue oxygen

Abbreviations: HBo2, hyperbaric oxygen; Pvo2, venous partial pressure of oxygen; tcPo2, transcutaneous oxygen tension; Vo2max, maximum oxygen consumption

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