Novel Applications of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for Grade II Muscle Injury

This preclinical investigation explores novel applications of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for Grade II muscle injuries. This study is designed to evaluate HBOT both as a standalone intervention and in combination with adjunctive therapies—platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and osteopathic manipulation therapy—to determine their relative and combined effects on muscle repair and recovery in a rat model. The work integrates multiple assessment modalities to provide a comprehensive, translational picture of tissue-level and molecular responses to these interventions. 

Grade II muscle injuries present a significant clinical challenge because they involve partial muscle fiber disruption, substantial inflammation, and impaired functional recovery. The project aims to characterize how HBOT, which increases tissue oxygen availability and can influence inflammation and healing cascades, affects structural repair and biological markers of regeneration after a controlled muscle insult. By systematically testing HBOT alone and in conjunction with PRP—a biologic intervention intended to concentrate growth factors at the injury site—and osteopathic manipulation therapy—an approach that may influence tissue perfusion and mechanical environment—the study seeks to define whether combined modalities yield additive or synergistic benefits compared with single therapies. 

Outcome assessment employs a multimodal strategy. High-resolution ultrasound imaging will be used to monitor changes in muscle architecture and size over time, enabling noninvasive longitudinal tracking of healing. Micro-CT imaging will provide detailed three-dimensional structural data, particularly valuable for quantifying changes in tissue volume and morphology with high precision. Histological analyses will characterize cellular-level repair processes, inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and fiber regeneration, allowing correlation of imaging findings with tissue pathology. Molecular assays, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), will be applied to quantify expression of genes linked to inflammation, angiogenesis, myogenesis, and extracellular matrix turnover, offering mechanistic insight into how HBOT and adjunct treatments modulate the biological pathways underlying recovery. 

Together, these complementary methods will enable the project to connect functional and structural outcomes with cellular and molecular mechanisms, improving interpretability and translational relevance. The rat model provides a controlled experimental platform to evaluate timing, dosage, and combinations of interventions before any potential clinical translation.

By rigorously assessing HBOT with and without PRP and osteopathic manipulation therapy across imaging, histological, and molecular endpoints, this study aims to clarify therapeutic potential and mechanisms for enhancing recovery after moderate muscle injuries. The findings are intended to inform subsequent preclinical optimization and help prioritize strategies for future clinical evaluation in musculoskeletal injury care.