In this article, we are going to examine the benefits of HbOT for arthritis patients and whether HbOT can provide relief for the symptoms of arthritis.
There are many forms of arthritis and symptoms can vary depending on the specific type, but common traits include:
Arthritis can affect many areas of the body, but it is most common in knees, hips, hands/wrists, back and feet.
In addition, patients living with the long-term chronic pain of arthritis can experience negative effects on their mental health:
Millions of people in the UK experience the debilitating effects of arthritic pain every day.
The burden on the NHS is ever-growing, so exploring alternative complementary treatments such as HbOT to provide relief for arthritis sufferers offers an effective solution to managing symptoms.
Although there are several types of arthritis, the two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
This is the most common form of arthritis found in the UK, affecting almost 9 million people and is caused by wear and tear on cartilage.
Although it can occur at any age, it more commonly appears in people from their mid-forties onwards.
Affecting the cartilage lining of joints, it tends to develop following injuries or joint-related conditions, such as gout.
It is characterised by stiffness and pain in the joints as the smooth cartilage lining is affected, causing pain and reduced joint mobility.
As the cartilage thins out over time, bone spurs can form and tendons and ligaments have to compensate by working harder, affecting the shape of the joint.
In severe cases, bones can be forced out of position.
Although human trials are limited and further research is required to understand how HbOT provides relief for osteoarthritis sufferers, a recent study observed a delay in the progression of knee osteoarthritis in mice, bringing renewed hope that HbOT treatments can help those with the condition.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes systemic inflammation of joint linings, most commonly affecting middle-aged patients in their 40s and 50s.
Rheumatoid arthritis is and inflammatory condition caused by the body’s own immune system targeting joints, resulting in intense pain and inflammation, and inhibiting movement.
The condition affects the outer covering of the joint first, before spreading further, resulting in swelling and changes to the shape of the affected joint.
A recent study using MRI scans to evaluate the impact of HbOT treatments over three and six months on the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, suggested it may help to stabilise the disease as no progression was observed in joint erosions, synovitis or bone marrow oedema (fluid build-up) in the nine patients observed.
It was previously thought that around 400,000 people in the UK suffered from this type of arthritis, but a recent study has highlighted the increase in inflammatory arthritis conditions.
A recent study published in 2022 by Keele University found that the proportion of adults in England with inflammatory arthritis increased by more than 40% between 2004 and 2020.
Researchers examining data from a large GP database wanted to understand how rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and axial spondylarthritis diagnoses had changed.
The study found that 1% of adults and more than 2.5% of those over 65 had a diagnosis for one of the three conditions.
Although this doesn’t sound like a lot of people, it totals 4 million and more than 2.75 million patients respectively!
Along with the 9 million people suffering from osteoarthritis, these numbers represent a huge burden on the NHS, so can HbOT provide relief for arthritis sufferers as a complementary treatment?
HbOT is a non-invasive and pain-free complementary therapy for arthritis sufferers.
It involves patients breathing almost 100% pure oxygen while relaxing in a pressurised chamber, which increases the amount of oxygen dissolved into the bloodstream.
This is carried to every cell in the body, reducing inflammation and supporting healing.
There are a number of ways HbOT can provide relief to arthritis sufferers:
Because inflamed tissue has poor oxygenation, the improvement in oxygen delivery from HbOT treatments helps to promote healing.
Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis elevate the production of inflammatory cytokines, and HbOT has been shown to decrease this, thus reducing inflammation.
The reduction in inflammation and swelling of the joints results in lower pain levels for patients.
HbOT treatments can improve angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels), and also support the production of collagen, helping with joint repair and cartilage maintenance.
When answering the question, can HbOT provide relief for arthritis sufferers, the benefits aren’t purely confined to the physical.
It can also impact the negative effects of arthritis on the mental wellbeing of patients.
At Oxify many of our clients tell us that they feel relaxed and more positive, even after just one session!
At Oxify, our caring and knowledgeable team understands the debilitating effects of arthritis symptoms.
They will fully explain the process, put you at ease by answering all your questions, and provide the best treatment possible.
Here is what Debbie said after just one session:
“After suffering with arthritic pain for over a year and self-medicating, my mood and self-esteem were at an all-time low…
… I have had just one session and can’t quite believe how much better I feel. No more pain in my legs at all. I even have a bit more movement and feel much more relaxed than I have in a long time!”
To read the full review and others, please go to Trust Pilot.
If you would like to talk to us and learn more about how HbOT can provide relief for arthritis sufferers or other conditions, contact us and one of our friendly team will call you back to discuss your options. If you would prefer, book a taster session at one of our Oxify branches in Leeds, Manchester, Retford, York or Newcastle (Gateshead), to try it out first. Just choose your location and follow the on-screen instructions.
