Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Explained: What It Is, How It Works, and Who It's For

Founder's Note

I came into wellness technology the hard way — a shredded ankle, then a rebuilt knee, then a severed left-thumb tendon that changed how I think about healing. Cryotherapy and red light made sense to me quickly. Hyperbaric technology was the piece I knew least about, and the more I learned about both its established medical uses and its emerging wellness applications, the more certain I became that responsibly selected hyperbaric technology belonged in the InfraCore lineup.

This article is what I wish I had been handed at the start.

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric therapy places the body in an environment with pressure higher than normal atmospheric pressure. In clinical HBOT, the patient breathes nearly 100% medical-grade oxygen under pressure inside a chamber designed for physician-directed treatment. Some lower-pressure soft chambers are instead pressurized with ambient air and may use a separate oxygen concentrator — so their oxygen exposure and intended use differ substantially from clinical HBOT.

Both categories fall under the broad umbrella of “hyperbaric therapy,” but they are not interchangeable — and that distinction matters when you’re deciding what belongs in your home.

The Science: How Does It Work?

At the cellular level, increased pressure raises the amount of oxygen dissolved in blood plasma, increasing the oxygen available for delivery to tissues beyond what hemoglobin-bound oxygen alone ordinarily provides. Research spanning several decades has explored a range of downstream effects, including:

• Angiogenesis — supports the formation of new blood vessels in oxygen-starved tissue
• Stem/progenitor-cell mobilization — in one small human study, a course of repeated clinical HBOT exposures was associated with an approximately eightfold increase in circulating stem/progenitor cells. That result should not be assumed to apply to every chamber pressure or protocol.^¹
• Reduced inflammatory signaling — downregulates certain inflammatory markers and tissue edema
• Antimicrobial support — high tissue-oxygen levels can inhibit certain anaerobic organisms and support some oxygen-dependent immune defenses
• Collagen synthesis — supports wound closure and connective tissue repair
• Neurological effects — researchers are investigating how HBOT may influence neuroplasticity and recovery in selected neurological conditions, though many proposed uses remain investigational

Established Clinical Uses of HBOT

Clinical hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used in hospital and medical settings for a defined group of serious conditions. Depending on the treatment center, professional guidelines, insurer requirements, and the specific device’s FDA-cleared labeling, these may include:

• Decompression sickness (diving injuries)
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Selected advanced, nonhealing diabetic lower-extremity wounds
• Radiation tissue damage (late effects)
• Severe anemia (when transfusion is not possible)
• Crush injuries and acute traumatic ischemia
• Intracranial abscess
• Necrotizing soft tissue infections

The FDA regulates hyperbaric chambers as Class II medical devices cleared through the 510(k) process. Beyond these established clinical uses, hyperbaric therapy is an active area of research. If you are considering it for a specific medical concern, that conversation belongs with your physician — not a wellness retailer.

Mild vs. Clinical Hyperbaric Chambers

	Mild Soft-Shell Chamber	Clinical Hard-Shell Chamber
Typical pressure	Commonly about 1.3 – 1.5 ATA	Commonly about 2.0 – 3.0 ATA, depending on protocol
Chamber environment	Usually pressurized with ambient air	May be pressurized with oxygen or compressed air
How oxygen is delivered	Ambient chamber air, sometimes paired with a concentrator and mask	Through the chamber atmosphere, or via mask, hood, or breathing system
Typical use	Limited device-cleared uses and nonmedical wellness environments	Hospital or physician-directed medical treatment
Clinical equivalence	Not equivalent to standard medical HBOT	Used for established medical HBOT protocols

Who Uses Hyperbaric Therapy?

Hyperbaric therapy shows up in several communities, but the reasons — and the evidence behind them — vary:

• Athletes and high performers — some use hyperbaric therapy as part of a broader recovery routine, although evidence for general athletic recovery and performance remains developing
• Selected post-surgical situations — physician-directed HBOT may be considered when healing is compromised or particular complications arise. Mild chamber use after surgery should be discussed with the surgical team.
• Healthy-aging research — a small 2020 prospective study of 35 adults aged 64 and older found changes in telomere length and selected markers of cellular senescence after 60 daily clinical HBOT sessions.^² The findings are intriguing but preliminary and should not be interpreted as proof that HBOT reverses aging or extends lifespan.
• Home wellness sanctuaries — some households add a mild chamber to a broader recovery practice alongside cold therapy, red light, and sauna, understanding that mild soft-shell exposure is not equivalent to a clinical HBOT protocol

If you’re researching hyperbaric therapy for a specific medical condition, please have that conversation with your physician. Our role is to help you understand the technology and — when you’re ready — choose the right chamber for your goals, your space, and your budget.

What to Expect in a Session

A typical hyperbaric session may last approximately 60 to 90 minutes, although clinical protocols vary. You enter the chamber, pressure gradually increases, and many people notice ear pressure similar to what occurs during an airplane’s descent. Depending on the chamber, treatment setting, and applicable safety rules, you may be able to rest, listen through an approved communication system, or use permitted reading materials. When the session ends, pressure is released gradually before you exit.

Session frequency varies considerably. Physician-directed medical protocols may involve treatment five days per week for several weeks, while nonmedical wellness schedules are not standardized. Pressure, oxygen concentration, session length, and total number of sessions all affect the exposure.

Safety and Medical Screening

Hyperbaric chambers are pressurized medical devices — not passive relaxation pods. Potential risks include ear or sinus barotrauma, temporary vision changes, claustrophobia, low blood sugar in susceptible individuals, and — more rarely — oxygen toxicity or seizures. Oxygen-rich environments also create a serious fire risk.

An untreated pneumothorax is generally considered an absolute contraindication to clinical HBOT. Certain lung conditions, ear or sinus problems, recent surgeries, medications, pregnancy, implanted devices, and other medical factors may require additional evaluation.

Use only a chamber that is legally marketed for its stated purpose, follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly, and obtain appropriate medical screening and trained supervision. Never bring prohibited electronics, heat-producing items, petroleum-based products, or incompatible clothing into a chamber.

FDA Safety Communication

In an August 25, 2025 safety communication, the FDA reported that it was aware of serious injuries and deaths involving HBOT devices. The agency emphasized fire prevention, proper grounding, control of prohibited items, appropriate clothing, staff training, manufacturer-recommended cleaning and maintenance intervals, and ensuring the patient is properly monitored and supervised for the duration of the treatment.^³ The FDA also states that the root cause of those events is not known, and that it believes serious adverse events with these devices are rare. Take those cautions seriously. This is equipment, not furniture.

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