Postural stability before and after hyperbaric oxygen treatment

• Published in: Acta neurologica Scandinavica Vol. 112; no. 6; pp. 414 - 416
• Main Authors: Tvede, M. F., Jansen, T., Jansen, E. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Munksgaard International Publishers 01.12.2005; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Air Pressure; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - therapy; Cranial nerves. Spinal roots. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system. Gustation. Olfaction; Decompression Sickness - therapy; Diving - physiology; Ear, Middle - physiology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurologic Examination; Neurology; Postural Balance - physiology; postural stability; Reference Values; Romberg's test; Vestibule, Labyrinth - physiology; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Romberg's test; Nervous system diseases; Stability; Treatment; hyperbaric oxygenation; postural stability; Hyperbaric oxygen
• ISSN: 0001-6314; 1600-0404
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2005.00490.x

Objective –  The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) on postural stability in healthy volunteers. The study was performed in accordance with treatment protocols for divers’ decompression sickness and carbon monoxide poisoning. Methods –  Twenty‐one healthy male divers, aged 31 ± 6.88 years (mean ± SD), were tested with quantitative Romberg's test before and after HBO (90 min in a pressure chamber at an ambient pressure of 253 kPa, ∼15 m of sea water, breathing pure oxygen). The quantitative Romberg's test is a calculation of the average sway for 50 s. Results –  No difference was found between sway before and after the HBO (P < 0.05), i.e. we were unable to show that the results of quantitative Romberg's test are affected by HBO. Thus, the quantitative Romberg's test may be a valuable tool in evaluating patients with decompressions sickness, carbon monoxide intoxication and other neurological diseases normally treated with HBO.