HBOT for Youth Concussion Treatment
By: Ella Napotnik
This is a photo of the inside of the hyperbaric oxygen tank located at Hamlin Chiropractic
Imagine a scenario where a child is in the middle of soccer practice, but faces a traumatic hit to their head which results in a concussion What if the injury was severe enough to have caused the child to suffer from this brain injury for the rest of their life? This is the case for many patients of youth concussions. According to Harvard Health, around two million children and teens suffer from a concussion every year 1 To fully grasp the severity of this issue, it is important to examine what a concussion is as well as the treatments offered for it. Defined as an injury where a physical blow done to the body causes the brain to move around in the skull, a concussion can become a major issue in a child or teen’s life if it is not treated properly Researchers are constantly conducting insightful tests to find the most effective treatment for youth concussions While most can agree that relative rest and refraining from strenuous activities are vital to cure a concussion, Dr Justin Napotnik from Hamlin Chiropractic suggests another treatment: hyperbaric oxygen therapy.2
What is a concussion?
A concussion occurs when a sudden blow causes the brain to move back and forth throughout the skull. This injury often leads to dizziness, headaches, changes in vision, and in more serious cases, frequent passing out The Mayfield Clinic categorizes concussions amongst a scale,
1 MD, Claire McCarthy “Concussion in Children: What to Know and Do ” Harvard Health, 12 Apr 2024, wwwhealth harvard edu/blog/concussion-in-children-what-to-know-and-do-202404123032
2 Napotnik, Justin Personal interview with the doctor 18 January 2025
which can help patients to find treatments based on the severity of their injury In a Grade I concussion, there is no loss of consciousness, and amnesia is absent or present for less than 30 minutes Slightly more intense, a Grade II concussion is characterized by loss of consciousness for less than five minutes or amnesia for between 30 minutes and 24 hours. Grade III concussions, being the most serious, include loss of consciousness for more than five minutes or amnesia for more than 24 hours 3 A concussion must be properly treated for the safety of the child or teen. During the first few days after the concussion happens, doctors recommend some rest to help heal hurt brain tissue Physical therapy is also recommended for more serious cases This process has proved to be lengthy and laborious Consequently, doctors have begun to explore other treatments.
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
According to the Mayo Clinic4 , hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, is when the body’s levels of oxygen are increased through a pressurized chamber. As explained by Dr. Justin Napotnik, “This therapy involves bypassing the red blood cell carrying capacity by saturating the plasma and other liquids of the body to deliver higher than normal amounts of oxygen to all the tissues of the body.”5 After getting a concussion, the body’s immune system works hard to repair any damaged brain tissue The Mayo Clinic states, “The goal of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is to get more oxygen to tissues damaged by disease, injury or other factors ”6 The damaged cells can now begin their healing process. The brain is the most energy dense organ of the body, consuming 20-25% of all the energy needs Every cell in the body needs oxygen to make ATP, the energy currency of the cell The increased oxygen leads to faster repair from injury and promotes regeneration of damaged brain tissue. Studies from PubMed Central indicate that HBOT can increase neurological function after a brain injury occurs
What are the main concerns of using HBOT for youth concussions?
Many parents of children or teenagers who have experienced concussions have concerns for the safety of HBOT It is not a common or traditional treatment As explained by PubMed Central, “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been demonstrated as an effective method for treating acute and severe traumatic brain injuries, but its efficacy in post concussion syndrome remains controversial ”7 There is not enough research to prove the effects that HBOT has on the lasting symptoms after a concussion is treated. A patient’s desired results cannot always be guaranteed with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Despite its overwhelming potential, the FDA has
3 Kachmann, Michael. “Concussion.” Mayfieldclinic.com, 2018, mayfieldclinic com/pe-concussion htm?ss360SearchTerm=concussion Accessed 3 Feb 2025
4 Mayo Clinic. “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - Mayo Clinic.” Mayoclinic.org, 2 Dec. 2023, wwwmayoclinic org/tests-procedures/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/about/pac-20394380
5 Napotnik, Justin Personal interview with the doctor 18 January 2025
6 Mayo Clinic “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - Mayo Clinic ” Mayoclinic org, 2 Dec 2023, wwwmayoclinic org/tests-procedures/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/about/pac-20394380
7 Hu, Qin, et al “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Post Concussion Symptoms: Issues May Affect the Results ” Medical Gas Research, vol 5, no 1, 25 Aug 2015, wwwncbi nlm nih gov/pmc/articles/PMC4547434/#Abs1title, https://doi org/10 1186/s13618-015-0033-3 Accessed 24 Mar 2019
not yet officially approved HBOT for concussion treatment As more research is done, a growing number of doctors have begun to advocate for HBOT for youth concussions. The most common complaint during treatment is the ear pain that comes from the change in pressure of the chamber. This pain is mostly mild, and tends to decrease with each session. “HBOT is inherently safe,” says Dr Napotnik “Research is continuing to expand with HBOT and in particular for treatment of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBI) As a non-invasive treatment modality, HBOT is a great first line of treatment for any youth patient who sustained a concussion to recover from initial injury and reduce risk of post traumatic disorders later in life ”8
While traditional concussion treatments prioritize rest, HBOT offers a potentially faster path to recovery from youth concussions through increasing amounts of oxygen to the tissues of the body. Reaching the cellular level, particularly the mitochondria where energy production takes place, is the key component of HBOT This increases the rate at which the body is able to heal itself. Many doctors hope that this therapy will become the “gold standard” for treatment of youth concussions As more research is conducted, the role HBOT plays in concussion treatment will expand