Have you ever finished running a marathon and felt as if you had bricks for legs?
You’re not alone. Every athlete has suffered through TORTURE hurts after a race. And the recovery process can seem to take FOREVER. But there is a science proven method to recover WAY faster.
It’s known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy. And it’s revolutionizing how marathoners recover from that grueling 26.2.
Here is the deal:
- It reduces muscle soreness fast
- It fights inflammation
- It gets you back to training sooner
Time to take a closer look…
In this article:
- What Is Pressurized Oxygen Treatment?
- Why Marathon Recovery Is So Brutal On The Body
- How This Treatment Speeds Up Marathon Recovery
- What To Expect During A Session
What Is Pressurized Oxygen Treatment?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) or pressurized oxygen treatment is where oxygen is breathed into a tube or chamber at levels higher than normal air.
The chamber’s one key characteristic: The air pressure within is significantly greater than normal atmospheric pressure. This pushes oxygen further into the body’s tissues, bloodstream, and cells.
Why does this matter for marathon runners?
Ever wonder why you get that infamous lactic acid burn during a long race? Your muscles are deprived of oxygen. They’ve been beating themselves up for hours. Muscle fibers develop small tears that require oxygen to repair. Pressurized oxygen treatment allows the body to take in oxygen at levels beyond what you can do by simply breathing.
Athletes that want to take recovery into their own hands can purchase a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for sale for home use. If you have a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at home you can hop in between training runs and don’t have to schedule time at a clinic. Many dedicated marathon runners incorporate pressurized oxygen treatment into their weekly training/recovery regimen.
Pretty cool, right?
Now, on to why marathon runners actually need this level of recovery help.
Why Marathon Recovery Is So Brutal On The Body
Completing a marathon can subject your body to extreme stress. Many runners underestimate the longevity of the damage.
Marathon recovery takes much longer than many realise. New studies have shown that biomarkers of inflammation remain in a runner’s body for up to nine days after finishing the race. Nine whole days of your body working hard to recover.
What actually happens to your body during a marathon:
- Tiny tears form in your muscle fibres
- Inflammation builds up across your legs
- Glycogen stores get completely drained
- Cell damage markers stay high for days
And that explains how marathon runners feel like death for so long. Your body is actually trying to repair what the race destroyed.
You know the old ways of dealing with muscle recovery? Rest, ice, protein, stretch. Sure they work…. But they take forever. Enter Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
How Pressurized Oxygen Treatment Speeds Up Marathon Recovery
Okay, now for the cool science stuff. Here’s precisely how pressurized oxygen treatment helps with marathon recovery.
Reduces Muscle Damage & Soreness
Delayed-onset muscle soreness or DOMS is every marathon runner’s worst nightmare. Symptoms usually begin 24-48 hours after the marathon and can stick around for days.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy addresses this issue head on. By flooding your muscles with oxygen under pressure, cell repair accelerates.
Research showed that mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy decreased blood indicators associated with muscle damage and oxidative stress after exercise. Less muscle damage translates to less soreness. Less soreness means you are back on the road much sooner.
Fights Inflammation
Inflammation is the primary cause of extended marathon recovery time. Your body produces inflammatory agents to damaged tissues to begin repair.
But here is the issue:
Too much inflammation actually slows recovery down. It is a balance.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy assists in maintaining this equilibrium. Exposing your body to high pressure oxygen minimizes inflammation in injured tissue. It can also accelerate the removal of waste build up such as lactic acid. You will notice that your legs don’t feel as heavy or swollen after only a few treatments.
Boosts Energy For Your Next Run
Here is something most runners do not know…
Treatment with pressurized oxygen will not only help you recover but can also help energize you for your next workout. Training sessions in high oxygen can lead to an increased production of red blood cells which helps with oxygen delivery.
The result?
- Faster recovery between hard workouts
- More energy on long runs
- Better overall race performance
Marathon runners using this treatment often report feeling stronger just days after their race.
What To Expect During A Session
Want to know what an ACTUAL session looks like? It’s WAY easier than you think.
You enter a pressurized chamber (they have soft shell and hard shell models). The pressure in the chamber slowly rises. You breath normally as pure oxygen is pumped around you.
A typical marathon recovery session lasts around 60-90 minutes.
During the session, you can:
- Read a book
- Watch a movie on your phone
- Take a nap
- Just relax
Runners typically experience warmth and comfort when they are inside their bodies. Your ears may pop (similar to on a plane) as your body adjusts to pressure. That is completely normal.
After the session, most runners feel:
- Less muscle soreness
- More energy
- Better sleep that night
- Faster recovery over the following days
Disclaimer: Consult your physician before beginning any recovery technique.
Especially if you have any lung or ear disorders.
How often should runners do it?
Best recovery results for marathons come from 3-5 treatments during the first week post race. Once or twice a week is ideal following regular training.
Bringing It All Together
You don’t have to spend weeks dragging after your marathon. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy offers runners a scientifically proven method to recover faster and return to training sooner.
To quickly recap:
- Marathon damage can last up to nine days
- Pressurized oxygen treatment reduces muscle damage markers
- It fights inflammation faster than rest alone
- It boosts energy for your next run
- Sessions are simple, relaxing, and effective
Fact is recovery is where the real training takes place. If you train while your muscles are sore and damaged you will not get stronger. Recover quickly and you can train harder, more frequently and smash your PBs.
Pressurized oxygen therapy is one of the strongest recovery weapons in a marathon runner’s arsenal. Research continues to prove its effectiveness and more elite runners are using it each year.
Whether it’s your first marathon or your 50th, quicker recovery equates to better running. Try hyperbaric oxygen therapy after your next race. Your legs will thank you.
Written by Lisa Moletto (lisa@blogoutreach.co.uk)
