Outcome

A 61-year-old male two years post-stroke experienced significant improvement in upper limb motor function following 60 sessions of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) at 2.0 ATA. Fugl-Meyer assessment scores improved from 17 (severe impairment) to 31 (moderate impairment) post-HBOT and reached 41 at a 1-year follow-up. Handgrip strength also improved with maximum voluntary contraction increasing from 0 to 3 kg. Functional brain imaging showed increased bilateral activation in motor areas and better inter-hemispheric connectivity indicating enhanced brain plasticity.

Introduction

This case study details the remarkable journey of a 61-year-old male stroke survivor who underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) two years post-stroke. Suffering from severe motor impairment in his right upper limb the patient received 60 daily HBOT sessions at 2.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA). The intervention led to significant motor improvements as evidenced by the Fugl-Meyer assessment score which rose from 17 (severe impairment) to 31 (moderate impairment) post-HBOT and further improved to 41 at one year follow-up. Functional MRI scans revealed increased activation in motor-related brain regions and enhanced inter-hemispheric connectivity indicating notable brain plasticity. These findings suggest that HBOT can induce significant motor recovery and neural reorganization in chronic stroke patients providing hope for long-term rehabilitation.

Results

The results from this study highlight the potential benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for stroke rehabilitation. The study focused on a 61-year-old male who had hemiparesis and physical weakness in his right upper limb for two years following a stroke. He underwent 60 daily sessions of HBOT at a pressure of 2.0 ATA.

After the treatment significant improvements in motor function were observed. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) score for the patient’s upper extremity improved from 17 (indicative of severe impairment) at baseline to 31 (moderate impairment) post-HBOT. Remarkably this score further increased to 41 at the one-year follow-up. Additionally the patient’s handgrip maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) improved from being unable to perform at baseline to achieving 3 kg post-HBOT.

Functional MRI (fMRI) results indicated increased bilateral activation in the supplementary motor area (SMA) and the premotor cortex (PMA) during tasks involving the affected hand. The lateralization index decreased showing that the contralesional hemisphere was being recruited suggesting improved brain function and connectivity. Resting-state functional connectivity analysis revealed an increase in both inter-hemispheric and between-network connectivity.

These findings suggest that HBOT can induce brain plasticity and considerable functional improvements in chronic post-stroke patients.

Conclusion

In conclusion this case report highlights the potential benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for improving upper limb motor function in chronic post-stroke patients. Over the course of 60 daily sessions at 2.0 ATA significant clinical improvements were observed such as an increase in the Fugl-Meyer assessment score from severe to moderate impairment and the ability to perform a handgrip task that was previously impossible. Functional MRI scans revealed that HBOT induced brain plasticity as shown by increased activation in the supplementary motor area and premotor cortex as well as enhanced inter-hemispheric connectivity. Despite these promising findings it’s important to note the study’s limitations including its single-patient nature and potential conflicts of interest due to some authors’ affiliations with a medical company. Nevertheless these results suggest that HBOT could be a promising therapeutic approach for motor rehabilitation in chronic stroke patients warranting further research on a larger scale.