Hi NTT
Just found this info and thought it might be of interest to you
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical technique that involves the administration of 100 percent oxygen, at a controlled pressure, to patients over a 60 to 90 minute period. While the interest in HBOT has increased substantially, it is not a new technique. It has been used for many years to heal wounds and burns, treat underwater diving injuries, correct circulatory problems, and to treat those with carbon monoxide poisoning. Recently, however, HBOT has been used throughout the world to treat children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Cerebral palsy is the result of damage to areas of the brain. However, patients with CP not only have damage to specific areas of their brain, but the surrounding areas of the damage may also be affected. These other areas may not be functioning properly because they are not receiving sufficient amounts of oxygen due to a decrease in blood flow (which may be caused by brain swelling). As a result, some researchers believe that this will prevent the ability to produce myelin, which is what protects the nerve fibers in the brain. These nerve fibers are involved in impulse transmissions and when they are left unprotected, they slowly deteriorate, causing a lack of communication between nerve cells. This can then result in spasticity, a common symptom found in children with CP.
The cells in the areas surrounding the damages can lie "dormant" for many years with just a small amount of oxygen. It is believed that if these areas are given large amounts of oxygen, they will likely become functional, which would result in an improvement in spasticity and other CP-related symptoms. In addition, HBOT may reduce swelling in the brain by constricting blood vessels and provide an environment that can promote the growth of new brain tissue.
A recent study, by Canadian researchers at McGill University, has shown that HBOT has positive effects on children with CP. Dr. Pierre Marois and his team of researchers studied 25 children with CP, ages 4 to 7 years. They were all given 20 HBOT treatments and 23 out of the 25 showed improvements in spasticity and in communication skills. While these results are very promising, they are still under critique. Therefore, further studies are currently underway to validate the use of HBOT as an effective treatment approach for children with CP.
It is important to know that HBOT does not have the same results on every child. The degree of improvement largely depends on the amount and type of brain damage that each child has. A SPECT scan can be used to not only identify the actual brain damage, but the surrounding areas that are not functioning properly as well. In addition, the SPECT scan can be a useful tool in determining whether HBOT is working because it is able to actually monitor the change in blood flow to the brain tissue.
The treatments are administered at a pressure equivalent to 16.5 to 25 feet below sea level. In the first phase, the child will typically receive a 1 hour treatment every day for a total of 40 treatments. Thereafter, the treatment plan is based on each individual case. Many believe that if improvement was seen in the first 40 treatments, a one to four week break should be taken, and another 40 treatments should be given.
As with any medical procedure, there are side effects associated with HBOT. Minor ear discomfort is the most common complaint of children. Since HBOT is much like being in an aircraft while it descends, the child will need to alleviate the pressure in his or her ears, most often by swallowing. If the child is unable to equalize the pressure, damage can occur to the eardrum. Other complications can occur if the child has lung abnormalities. As a result of these potential side effects, it is recommended that you consult with your child’s primary physician before having your child treated with HBOT.
HBOT may one day be a common treatment technique for children with CP. However, it is important to understand that HBOT is not a miracle cure. It should be used in conjunction with more traditional approaches, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and available medications used to reduce spasticity.
To learn more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy, please see the following:
Chico Hyperbaric Center www.hbotoday.com/treatment/cp.shtml
Hot 4R CP Kids Foundation www.hot4rcpkidsfoundation.on.ca
Perlmutter Hyperbaric Center www.brainrecovery.com/hyperbaric.htm
Montgomery D, Goldberg J, Amar M, Lacroix V, Lecomte J, Lambert J, Vanasse M, Marois P. "Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy: a pilot project."Undersea Hyperb Med 1999 Winter; 26(4):235-42
Ocean Hyperbaric Center www.hyperbaric-oxygen.com/cp.html
sorry should have just given you the link, here goes
www.specialchild.com/archives/ia-046.html
hope this helps
Dizzy