Which athlete does not want improved aerobic capacity, faster healing, reduced inflammation especially after a long workout, improved mental clarity and better sleep? Sports history has seen many coaches cut corners and even step over the line when it comes to looking for ways to create an edge for their athletes. The real question is, where can we find a technique or a technology that is beneficial to athletic performance, and at the same time good for the athlete?
Enter Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), which can improve athletic performance in several ways; at the heart of the therapy is the fact that HBOT increases the amount of oxygen in the blood. This helps deliver more oxygen to muscles and other tissues, which in turn helps with recovery from injuries and intense workouts.
Those on the cutting edge of their sports have included this tool in their routine. Amongst popular high-performing athletes who use the technology are NBA star LeBron James, known for his longevity in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympic swimmer of all time. Portuguese footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, uses the HBOT to remain at peak performance. Someone who has used it to deal with heavy-impact sports is NFL Hall of Famer Joe Namath who is also a vocal advocate of its use to deal with HBOT’s potential to treat brain injuries.
“Everyone wants to be better. The challenge is how to create an edge over the competition so that you can train harder, perform better on the field and ultimately stand on the podium. This is the dream; the journey, however, is not so simple and sports have become increasingly competitive. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is now part of the tools that can be used by athletes,” said Sayaka Misumi, the founder of Japanese Healing which offers HBOT in Malaysia.
How it works? The increase in oxygen coupled with the increase in pressure in the chamber improves aerobic capacity which helps delay fatigue during training and competition. Off the field, HBOT can help with faster healing from injuries and non-injury soreness as it also helps to reduce inflammation.
When it comes to mental clarity, HBOT can help improve attention, focus, and information processing speed – all positive elements for those competing at the higher levels of the sporting world. The hardest element to control sometimes is sleep, which is often known as the secret weapon of the best athletes. HBOT can help improve sleep, which can sometimes be difficult for athletes due to injuries, stress, and pressure.
When speaking with News Hub Asia, Sayaka explained, “Some of the highest-paid athletes in the world use Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. In the early days, the therapy was very expensive and only the rich clubs or national bodies could afford it. Now that cost has come down significantly making it accessible to more athletes both professional and amateur.”
If you are curious about how the Japanese Healing team can get you started on the journey of feeling better, visit www.japanese-healing.com for more information. To book a session at their outlet in Plaza Damas 3 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, contact +6012 656 1388 or write to japanese.healing.kl@gmail.com. 
