Cerebral palsy is an unfortunate neurological condition affecting more and more people that can cause developmental disabilities. It usually occurs in children while in the womb, up to age three. Like many other conditions, such as autism, cerebral palsy is usually very stagnant, not getting better or worse on its own over time. This makes it very frustrating to deal with, and very discouraging when one is trying to find a cure. But luckily, some people have found the magic in hyperbaric oxygen chambers.
Hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatment (HBOT) can hyperbaric chamber cost assist many diseases and disorders, as well as helping those who may just want to be a little healthier. In a hyperbaric chamber, pure oxygen is pressurized higher than normal atmospheric pressure, so oxygen enters the bloodstream and bodily tissues more easily. The connection between cerebral palsy and hyperbaric chambers is in the way the concentrated oxygen reduces excess fluid and swelling in the brain.
The area of the brain affected by palsy is the cerebrum, which controls physical movement, so people with cerebral palsy often have very limited motor skills. Experts believe that the use of hyperbaric chambers for cerebral palsy is beneficial because the oxygen treatment can restore cells to the brain, possibly helping patients regain the ability to function normally.
In studies conducted on the effectiveness of hyperbaric chambers on cerebral palsy, the HBOT lasted longer and were more successful in restoring motor function skills. Two trials were conducted around 2001 that found that the two groups of children with cerebral palsy who were studied were more positively affected by the hyperbaric chambers. Though some view the reports as controversial, the children did seem to be helped much more with HBOT than with other methods of therapy that were tried.