فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Background and Objectives: The popularity of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) among athletes for speeding up recovery from sports injuries has been increasing recently. We aimed to systematically investigate the effect of HBOT on outcomes related to ankle function in acute ankle sprain.   Methods: A literature search was conducted using population, intervention, comparison and outcomes (PICO) method in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, Google scholar, and Science Direct databases to obtain literature published until January 2025. The studies quality was examined through modifies Downs and Black checklist. A narrative analysis was performed since meta-analysis could not be conducted.   Results: Five studies involving 122 individuals in the range of 18 and 34 years with a history of lateral ankle sprains were selected for final evaluation, all of whom received HBOT during the acute phase of their injuries. The HBOT was administered within the first 24 to 36 hours after the injury occurred. The quality of the studies varied, with three receiving a poor score and two receiving a good score. The outcome measures related to ankle function included ankle edema, pain levels, active and passive range of motion, overall ankle functionality, and the time taken to achieve recovery. There was a general consensus that follow-up visits after HBOT—especially when conducted at absolute atmospheric (ATA) pressure above 2—indicated significant improvement in these outcome measures compared to the initial visit for patients with lateral ankle sprains during the acute phase. However, there were discrepancies among the limited studies regarding the priority of HBOT compared to standardized physiotherapy.   Conclusion: While the studies had some limitations in number and scientific quality, this review indicated that HBOT can be an effective intervention for improving ankle function in the acute phase of a lateral ankle sprain if administered within the first 24 to 36 hours following the injury.