12/10/2026
A new systematic review (J Pain Res, 2026) analyzed 11 randomized trials involving 480 adults with chronic pain.🩺
The strongest body of evidence was in fibromyalgia, where most trials reported improvements in pain, tender points, function and quality of life, although superiority over sham controls was not consistent across studies.
Evidence in CRPS and trigeminal neuralgia was more limited but showed significant benefit over sham, while radiation-induced brachial plexopathy did not show meaningful pain reduction.
An interesting protocol question also emerges: 1.5 ATA protocols showed improvements in the available fibromyalgia trials, with effect sizes broadly comparable to some higher-pressure regimens. However, no trial directly compared different pressures, so the optimal pressure remains uncertain.
One of the 1.5 ATA fibromyalgia trials included in the review used the Revitalair® 430 chamber.
None of the trials was rated at low risk of bias, and larger, standardized studies are still needed.
Could HBOT have a role as an adjunct in selected patients with chronic pain?
Full review: doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S597243