8 Questions to Ask Before Starting Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is growing in popularity, as recent research has highlighted its ability to improve cognitive performance, physical recovery, and even potentially reverse aging biomarkers.  But it’s important to understand that not all HBOT programs are created equal.  From hospital wound care clinics to medi-spas promising to heal anything and everything, the types of HBOT available today vary widely in safety, science, and effectiveness. No matter where you’re considering treatment, there are important hyperbaric oxygen therapy questions you should ask first.

As more HBOT facilities open around the United States, it has become increasingly important to understand the differences and identify the option best able to meet your health goals and needs. Before you commit to a treatment plan, ask these seven questions to ensure the program aligns with your goals and delivers meaningful results.

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1. What Type of Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Will I Be Using?

There are two main types of hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers: monoplace and multiplace. Monoplace chambers treat one person at a time in an enclosed tube, while multiplace chambers are larger and accommodate multiple patients comfortably.

• Monoplace chambers are the most commonly used type of chamber and are frequently found in hospital burn units or wound care facilities. Patients typically recline in the tube while it is pressurized with 100% oxygen.  Monoplace chambers are sometimes referred to as “Michael Jackson” tubes because the singer was once pictured inside one on the cover of the National Enquirer tabloid.
• Multiplace chambers, like the hyperbaric suites used at Aviv Clinics, are spacious, comfortable rooms that accommodate multiple people at once.  Aviv’s suites resemble a first-class airplane seat, with comfortable seating, personal entertainment tablets, and a medical team member inside the chamber during every treatment. Instead of being pressurized with 100% oxygen, these suites are pressurized with medical-grade air, and patients breathe oxygen through a specialized mask.

Aviv Clinics – Multiplace HBOT suite

What about soft-sided “mild” chambers?

A growing number of people are asking this hyperbaric oxygen therapy question, as many clinics tout the use of soft-sided “mild HBOT” chambers. However, these portable bag chambers are only approved for treating altitude sickness. They also operate at much lower pressures than hard-sided monoplace and multiplace chambers, limiting their therapeutic effect.  Additionally, many clinics that offer “mild HBOT” often don’t meet the rigorous regulatory or fire safety code requirements for HBOT facilities.

 

2. What Conditions or Goals Does This HBOT Program Support?

HBOT can be used for a wide range of medical and wellness goals. Some clinics treat only acute wounds or infections, while others, like Aviv Clinics, offer research-backed programs that address cognitive decline, brain injury, PTSD, and more. Choose a clinic aligned with your specific condition or health objective.

Traditional HBOT facilities only treat acute conditions like gangrene, infections, burns, or decompression sickness. HBOT has been used for decades to treat these “on-label” conditions, which are typically urgent, treated at hospitals, and covered by insurance. In these instances, the number of HBOT treatments can be as few as one or two sessions.

Other facilities offer spa-like experiences, providing “wellness” dives without a clear protocol or clinical oversight.

In contrast, the research-backed Aviv Medical Program treats conditions that affect brain and body function. These include:

• Age-related cognitive and physical decline
• Stroke recovery
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-concussion syndrome
• PTSD
• Fibromyalgia
• Long COVID
• Lyme disease
• Chronic carbon monoxide poisoning
• Athletic performance issues
• Surgical recovery

3. Is the HBOT Protocol Backed by Scientific Research?

Many facilities offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy without peer-reviewed evidence or standardized protocols. Ask whether the treatment is rooted in science, and how the facility’s protocols compare to those used in the clinical trials. Every treatment you choose can affect your body positively or negatively, so doing your research and choosing a reputable clinic is paramount. 

The pressure and length of treatments, as well as the oxygen dosage used in Aviv’s HBOT treatments, are the result of peer-reviewed scientific research. Aviv Clinics’ HBOT treatment protocol is based on nearly two decades of rigorous, published research. It was developed at the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, the world’s most advanced facility of its kind. The Aviv Protocol is uniquely designed to spark the body’s innate capacity for regeneration using oxygen fluctuation techniques, a method known in the scientific community as the hyperoxic-hypoxic paradox. In clinical trials, this protocol has proven to stimulate stem cell activity, reduce inflammation, and improve blood flow in the brain and tissues.

Notably, this protocol is difficult to replicate in single-person monoplace chambers and is not possible to administer in low-pressure “mild” chambers.

4. Who Makes Up the Clinical Team Supporting the HBOT Program?

An important hyperbaric oxygen therapy question is to ask about the type of expert on-site support available for treatment and guidance. Some clinics operate more like spas, with minimal or no clinical oversight by an on-site physician. Others focus narrowly on wound healing, with limited scope for treating complex or neurological conditions.

At Aviv Clinics, clients have access to a multidisciplinary team that includes:

• Hyperbaric physicians
• Clinical psychologists and neuropsychologists
• Physical therapists
• Physiologists
• Nutrition specialists
• Nursing professionals

5. Will Medical Staff Be Present During My HBOT Sessions?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a medical treatment, so professional oversight and support during your sessions are critical. Some facilities and spas offering mild HBOT don’t even have a physician on site during treatments, or choose to monitor clients remotely via video feed.

Aviv Clinics offers a medically supervised HBOT experience:

• A nurse or other medical professional is inside the multiplace suite to provide care during every session
• A trained hyperbaric technician monitors each session from a control console next to the HBOT suite
• A physician is on site at all times during hyperbaric treatments.

Your safety and comfort are always top priorities.

6. What Pre- and Post-Treatment Assessments are Included?

If a clinic doesn’t offer detailed assessments before and after treatment, there’s no objective way to track your progress. At a minimum, your provider should conduct a detailed medical history and physical examination and a chest x-ray before hyperbaric treatment. Depending on your individual needs, you may also need blood work or heart and lung function testing to determine your suitability for the treatment.

In addition to these assessments, the Aviv Medical Program can include the most comprehensive battery of pre- and post-treatment evaluations available.

At your request, these cognitive and physical tests can include:

• Extensive blood panels
• High-resolution brain imaging with MRI or SPECT
• Cognitive testing to measure memory, attention, and other cognitive domains
• Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET)
• Body composition analysis
• Gait, balance, and overall motor function assessment
• Stem cell count and assessment of aging biomarkers

These assessments help define your health goals, guide your physician-prescribed treatment plan, and track measurable improvements.

7. Will I Receive a Detailed Report of My HBOT Progress?

Too often, clients leave HBOT clinics with no clear understanding of their results. Some facilities that work on a session-to-session basis may only provide minimal or per-visit tracking. Others may not offer results at all.

While some of our clients are perfectly happy with simply “feeling better,” others prefer a detailed before-and-after report. For those clients, we offer in-depth post-treatment reporting. Depending on your condition or reason for treatment, this report may track changes in:

• Physical health
• Cognitive performance
• Brain imaging
• Aging biomarkers
• Cellular health
• Condition-related metrics

Clients review their progress one-on-one with their Aviv Clinics physician, who explains and interprets the data and provides next steps. 

8. Will The HBOT Clinic Coordinate With My Physician?

Some hyperbaric clinics operate outside the traditional medical system and don’t communicate with your personal healthcare team. If you’re working with a physician, specialist, or other provider, it’s important to choose an HBOT program that can integrate with your broader care plan.

At Aviv Clinics, we consider ourselves part of your overall care team. With your permission, we’ll coordinate directly with your existing physicians, share your assessment data and progress reports, and provide pre- and post-program evaluations for your permanent medical record.

Some clients are hesitant to tell their doctors that they’re exploring HBOT or other nontraditional therapies, but Aviv Clinics encourages transparency. In fact, many physicians are excited when they learn about the science behind our program and the measurable improvements their patients experience. We believe collaboration leads to better outcomes, and we’re here to support your health journey from every angle.

The Bottom Line: Not All HBOT is Equal

Before you invest time and money, make sure you know what you’re getting by asking these hyperbaric oxygen therapy questions. Your HBOT treatment protocol should be scientifically validated, supported by a caring, expert medical team, and offer a full range of assessments to show your progress.

This comprehensive approach allows Aviv Clinics’ clients to improve memory, regain physical stamina, and live with greater clarity and resilience.

Contact us to learn more about the Aviv Medical Program and how it can benefit you.

 

Last Update: July 10, 2025