Last updated on 07 April 08

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Hyperbaric medicine, also known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the medical use of oxygen at a higher than atmospheric pressure. Hyperbaric is the only technique available to overcome the natural limit of oxygen solubility in blood. The hyperbaric procedure is done in specially designed chambers that permit the delivery of 100% oxygen at ambient pressures that are greater than atmospheric. This allows dissolved oxygen in the blood and clear fluids to be increased by up to 20 times normal levels. This additional oxygen in solution is almost sufficient to meet tissue needs without contribution from oxygen bound to hemoglobin and is responsible for most of the beneficial effects of this therapy. The versatility of our hospital quality "hard" chambers allows us to treat a wide range of pediatric patients. Our chambers are so roomy, caregivers of little patients can accompany them into the chamber where they can lie down, sit up or recline during the child’s therapy and watch movies on flat-screen television. Since the chambers are energized with medical grade oxygen, there is NO NEED for the patients to wear masks or hoods during their session in the chamber. Recognizing the fact that it will be a long road to recovery, we offer special discounts to children with challenges. Cerebral palsy is characterized by a lack of physical coordination, involuntary movement, and often mentally challenged. It covers a group of non-progressive, but often changing motor impairment syndromes secondary to lesions of the brain arising in the early stages of development. The areas affected in CP are in the middle of the hemispheres of the brain and one side or both sides may be involved. The critical area is the internal capsule structures (the area in the middle of the brain) where fibers from the controlling nerve cells in the grey matter of the brain pass down on their way to the spinal cord. In the spinal cord they interconnect with the nerve cells whose fibers activate the muscles of the legs and arms. Scientific studies are just beginning for HBOT treatment of CP, but the anecdotal evidence is overwhelming. A large number of patients have been treated all over the world and some has been followed up for long periods to document improvement that can be correlated with imaging studies. One of the primary causes of CP is poor oxygenation of the developing brain, which of course HBOT excels in treating. Patients have known to show dramatic improvement in all areas of their disability. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy relieves the oxygen starvation of the brain known as hypoxia. Since full blood circulation to specific areas of the brain are impaired, increasing the rate at which oxygen diffuses into all of the body's fluids, increases the amount of oxygen carried to the hypoxic brain tissues. Oxygen enriched cerebrospinal fluid will help to repair any recoverable brain tissue that is intact but not functioning normal. In many cases, HBOT has shown these idling neurons have started to function more efficiently, producing long term improvements in both brain and clinical function. With the improvement of micro circulation and the relief of any brain swelling, a patient can experience a reduction in spasticity and an improvement in cognitive ability, vision, hearing and speech. The greatest improvements have been seen in young children, as their brains are still developing.