Under normal conditions, 98.5% of oxygen is carried by red blood cells. Only a tiny amount - 1.5% dissolves in blood plasma.

The higher air pressure is what massively dissolves the oxygen in the blood plasma, so we get real liquid oxygen in our bodies that reaches deeper into the tissues.

Pressure is usually described with the unit of measurement ATA (atmosphere of air pressure absolute), sometimes also with PSI (pounds per square inch). Air pressure at sea level is 1.0 ATA or 14.7 PSI.

Increasing the pressure is the most important component of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and affects the dose the most.

The usual session time at full pressure is 60-90 minutes. It does not include the time it takes to go up and down in pressure.

In barotherapy, more air is blown into the chamber so that it becomes under pressure. The oxygen concentration in the air is 21% and it dissolves in the body.

In some cases, with an additional hose and mask, the person is given 100% oxygen, which they breathe in the chamber. This increases the oxygen dose.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is cumulative and works best only in consecutive sessions as different healing factors come into effect.

Very often, 40-hour hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocols are used. This number does not come from research, but has become the standard for this therapy through use. This means that the patient undergoes 40 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen chamber, which are performed at least 5-6 times a week.


The oxygen dose that is received with this protocol is different and depends on all the previous factors - pressure, time of the session, administration of additional oxygen. It is interesting that the protocol has produced powerful results at different pressures, both 1.3ATA pressure and 2.4ATA pressure. At the same time, some specialists (e.g. Jason Sonners) have said that with a lower pressure, for example 1.3ATA, the course could be about 70-80 sessions.

In recent decades, it has been found that at least half of the healing effect of hyperbaric oxygen chamber is not related to the oxygen dose, but to frequent pressure changes. The body interprets the drop in pressure as a lack of oxygen and turns on the production of stem cells and other powerful healing effects.

Therapy centers also sometimes use protocols where a person does the hyperbaric oxygen chamber twice a day. There must be at least 4 hours between sessions, so that oxygen does not accumulate too much,

The 40-hour hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocol can be completed in 2 months or in 1 month by doing sessions twice a day.

It is important to know that, in the light of the latest research, it has been understood that the therapeutic effect of the hyperbaric oxygen chamber does not come only from oxygen, but about half of the effect comes from up-and-down pressure changes. This "relative hypoxia" signal to the cells (the body thinks there is a lack of oxygen when the pressure drops, when there actually isn't) triggers a series of biological changes that turn on the body's self-healing mechanisms.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has its effect also with shorter courses. The antioxidant-boosting and body-protecting effect of hyperabaric oxygen chamber comes in just one session. The anti-inflammatory effect also starts to work after 4-5 sessions. Several studies have shown pain-reducing effects in as little as 10 sessions.

According to the need, shorter courses have their place of use.

It may be important to perform hyperbaric oxygen therapy as soon as possible after the injury, especially if it is a brain injury.

In the case of patients with nervous system problems or oxygen-sensitive patients, the protocol can be significantly different - lower pressure, shorter session time and lower frequency of sessions.