Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• Single-session hyperbaric oxygen therapy effectively improves physiological monitoring indicators of exercise-induced fatigue, such as heart rate and heart rate variability, but shows limited or controversial effects on biochemical markers like blood urea and creatine kinase. • The differential response may be due to variations in fatigue induction protocols, insufficient oxygen dosage, and the metabolic dynamics of biochemical indicators. • When biochemical markers are significantly altered, single-session hyperbaric oxygen may be insufficient, necessitating higher doses or multiple sessions. • Future research should focus on comparing different hyperbaric oxygen protocols, optimizing intervention timing, and developing a comprehensive evaluation framework.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Currently, the research on the fatigue elimination effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy mainly involves two forms: single-session intervention and periodic multiple intervention, with the application research of single therapy being the main focus. However, the effectiveness of single-session hyperbaric oxygen therapy on exercise-induced fatigue remains controversial, affecting its application in sports training. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the intervention effect of a single hyperbaric oxygen therapy on exercise-induced fatigue from two aspects: the commonly used biochemical monitoring indicators and physiological monitoring indicators for exercise-induced fatigue, and proposes corresponding application strategies based on the current research status and training practice. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang) and English databases (PubMed) using combinations of keywords such as 'hyperbaric oxygenation', 'micro-barometric oxygen', 'oxygen therapy', 'micro-hyperbaric oxygen' with 'exercise fatigue', 'high intensity exercise', 'heart rate', 'heart rate variability', 'rating of perceived exertion', 'blood urea', 'creatine kinase', 'testosterone', 'cortisol', 'white blood cell', 'hemoglobin'. The search period was from January 2001 to June 2025, and 62 articles were finally included for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Single-session hyperbaric oxygen intervention can promote the elimination of exercise-induced fatigue, but its intervention effect on commonly used physiological monitoring indicators is better than that on biochemical indicators. The differences in fatigue type and fatigue degree (differences in fatigue induction protocols), insufficient dosage of hyperbaric oxygen, and metabolic characteristics of biochemical indicators in the body may be the main factors causing this issue. (2) In view of the current research status, it is recommended that future research should be conducted in the following directions: 'comprehensively comparing the advantages and disadvantages of different hyperbaric oxygen modes', 'deeply comparing the intervention effects of different hyperbaric oxygen intervention times on exercise-induced fatigue', 'clarifying the intervention effect of single-session hyperbaric oxygen therapy during non-acute exercise fatigue period', and 'establishing a comprehensive evaluation index system for the intervention effect of hyperbaric oxygen'.
1. Introduction
Exercise-induced fatigue is a temporary decline in exercise capacity and physical function caused by exercise, and it is an important factor affecting athletes' training quality and performance. Hypoxia is a key cause of exercise-induced fatigue, as it disrupts metabolic homeostasis, leading to accumulation of metabolites such as blood lactate, hydrogen ions, inorganic phosphate, and ammonia, which alter the internal environment's pH and osmotic pressure, inhibit cellular activity, and induce fatigue. Therefore, high-quality oxygen supplementation after exercise is beneficial for fatigue elimination.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves placing an individual in an environment above 1 atmosphere absolute (ATA) and inhaling high-concentration oxygen, which increases blood oxygen partial pressure and physically dissolved oxygen, enhances effective oxygen diffusion distance, and improves cellular oxygen supply. This plays an important role in promoting the elimination of exercise-induced fatigue. Hyperbaric oxygen is classified into medical hyperbaric oxygen and micro-hyperbaric oxygen, with the latter being commonly used in sports training. From an intervention dose perspective, hyperbaric oxygen can be administered as periodic multiple sessions or as a single session.
Currently, research on the fatigue-eliminating effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy mainly involves single-session and periodic multiple intervention modes, with single-session therapy being the primary focus. However, the effectiveness of single-session hyperbaric oxygen therapy on exercise-induced fatigue remains controversial, affecting its application in sports training. This review aims to summarize the intervention effects of single-session hyperbaric oxygen therapy on exercise-induced fatigue from the perspectives of commonly used physiological and biochemical monitoring indicators, and to propose application strategies based on current research and training practice.
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Xiang Yang, Hu Jiangping, Liu Qi, Fu Beilun, Li Miao, Zhu Huan, Qian Youling, Wang Kangfeng (2026). Single hyperbaric oxygen for exercise-induced fatigue: an evaluation using conventional monitoring indicators. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research. https://doi.org/10.12307/2026.21327
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the effect of single-session hyperbaric oxygen therapy on exercise-induced fatigue?
Single-session hyperbaric oxygen therapy can promote the elimination of exercise-induced fatigue, but its effect is more pronounced on physiological monitoring indicators (e.g., heart rate, heart rate variability) than on biochemical indicators (e.g., blood urea, creatine kinase). The effectiveness may vary depending on fatigue type, intensity, and oxygen dosage.
Why is the effect of single-session hyperbaric oxygen on biochemical indicators limited?
The limited effect on biochemical indicators may be due to insufficient oxygen dosage, the metabolic characteristics of these indicators (e.g., slow clearance from blood), and differences in fatigue induction protocols. When biochemical markers are significantly altered, a single session may not be enough, and multiple sessions or higher doses might be required.
What are the commonly used monitoring indicators for exercise-induced fatigue?
Commonly used physiological indicators include heart rate, heart rate variability, and rating of perceived exertion. Biochemical indicators include blood urea, creatine kinase, testosterone, cortisol, white blood cell count, and hemoglobin.
What are the future research directions for hyperbaric oxygen therapy in sports?
Future research should focus on comparing different hyperbaric oxygen modes (e.g., medical vs. micro-hyperbaric), optimizing intervention timing (e.g., immediate vs. delayed), evaluating effects during non-acute fatigue periods, and establishing a comprehensive evaluation index system to better assess intervention outcomes.
Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy effective for athletes training in hypoxic environments?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is particularly beneficial for athletes training in hypoxic environments, such as winter sports at high altitudes, as it helps counteract the combined effects of natural and exercise-induced hypoxia, thereby aiding fatigue recovery and performance.
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