Oxygen therapy may give athletes an edge

NCT ID NCT03524989

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether 40 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber) could improve aerobic and anaerobic fitness in healthy athletes. 59 participants, aged 18-25 or 40-50, underwent either real or sham treatment over two months. Researchers measured changes in VO2 max and muscle respiration to see if the therapy enhances performance.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (device)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could show that hyperbaric oxygen boosts physical performance in athletes, potentially leading to new training methods.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-stage study with only 59 healthy participants. The results may not apply to the general population or to people with health conditions.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

tinea pedis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center

    Ramla, 70300, Israel