On December 3, OxyGeneration will be marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This is a time to recognise resilience, raise awareness, and improve access to care. For many people living with mobility challenges or using wheelchairs, crutches, or prosthetics, pressure sores and chronic wounds are a daily risk that can have a huge impact on comfort and independence.
Pressure sores (also called pressure ulcers ) develop when continuous pressure reduces blood flow to the skin and underlying tissue. For individuals using wheelchairs, prosthetics or spending long periods seated or bed-bound, even small areas of irritation can progress into wounds that are slow to heal and vulnerable to infection.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT ) is a treatment that encourages the body’s natural processes to support healing and wound closure. During HBOT, patients breathe high levels of oxygen in a pressurised chamber, allowing oxygen to reach tissues that may have been deprived due to poor circulation. In addition, HBOT has been shown to reduce inflammation and fight infection to support tissue repair.
While strong evidence exists for HBOT in conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers and radiation-damaged tissue, research specifically on pressure sores is still limited. In small studies of pressure sores that have led to osteomyelitis (a bone infection ), HBOT has been shown to be an effective treatment. Some clinicians may therefore consider HBOT in cases where a pressure sore is slow-to-heal or infected.
HBOT sessions are comfortable and last up to 90 minutes each. Patients can read, relax, or listen to music while being fully monitored in a safe environment.
OxyGeneration is committed to supporting people with disabilities and mobility challenges. If you want to explore whether HBOT is right for you, get in touch today on 091 394 444.
