Cognitive tasks
Discuss memory, attention, and processing demands in everyday work or study.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for traumatic brain injury & concussion
Traumatic brain injury & concussion research & care · Scottsdale & Glendale, AZ
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for traumatic brain injury & concussion
Persistent symptoms after concussion can affect thinking, sleep, and the ability to return to familiar routines.
RX-O2 offers a physician-led conversation about the evidence, your diagnosis, and the role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in your broader care plan. Our Scottsdale and Glendale teams serve patients across the Phoenix area.
Recent research reports encouraging cognitive and sleep findings in selected people with traumatic brain injury. A consultation can connect the evidence to your symptoms and rehabilitation goals. Explore the evidence below.
Physician-led care in Scottsdale and Glendale, serving the Phoenix area.
Physician-ledIndividual assessment and treatment planning
FDA-cleared chambersMedical hard-shell hyperbaric equipment
100% medical oxygenDelivered through a mask or hood
NHSA-certified techniciansPreparation, monitoring, and communication
The starting point
Understand the injury and the symptoms that remain
TBI research includes different injury severities and stages of recovery. Much of the recent controlled HBOT evidence concerns persistent symptoms after mild TBI, which may not apply to severe injuries.
Headache, mood, sleep, vestibular symptoms, and cognitive changes can overlap. A coordinated assessment helps identify treatable contributors and avoids attributing every symptom to a single mechanism.
The clinical context matters. Keep your neurologic and rehabilitation care involved. Research does not establish a guaranteed recovery, and trial results differ depending on the comparison group and outcome.
Connect the research to your goals
What matters in daily life?
Sleep and symptom burden
Track sleep and symptoms with agreed measures that can show meaningful change.
Return to daily roles
Set realistic participation goals with your rehabilitation or concussion team.
Your goals help shape the conversation and provide a useful way to follow progress if treatment is prescribed.
Explore the evidence
Traumatic brain injury & concussion & HBOT research
Explore the findings behind the conversation. These selected publications highlight reported benefits, the patients studied, and the questions researchers are still working to answer.
Literature checked
October 20, 2026
2026 · Systematic review and meta-analysis
A 2026 review reported cognitive and sleep signals
Publication indexed in PubMed. 2026.
Read the publicationA meta-analysis of eight randomized trials involving 570 participants reported small pooled benefits in cognition, with favorable findings in memory, executive processing, and sleep measures.
How to interpret it: Most evidence concerned mild TBI. Several broader functional, emotional, and symptom outcomes did not show significant benefit, and results should not be generalized to every brain injury.
2013 · Randomized crossover study
A persistent-concussion study reported improved cognition
Boussi-Gross R, et al. PloS one. 11/15/2013.
Read the publicationA randomized crossover study of 56 people with persistent symptoms one to five years after mild TBI reported improvements in cognitive performance and quality of life after HBOT.
How to interpret it: There was no sham chamber control. The study supports further investigation but cannot fully separate treatment effects from other influences.
2015 · Randomized sham-controlled trial
A military trial helps explain the uncertainty
Publication indexed in PubMed. 2015.
Read the publicationIn a trial of 72 service members, both HBOT and a sham chamber group improved compared with usual care alone. HBOT did not outperform the sham exposure.
How to interpret it: The findings show why suitable comparison groups matter. Positive results across the literature should be discussed alongside this unresolved uncertainty.
What this means for your decision
The cognitive and sleep findings offer a promising basis for further study and a personalized conversation. Some controlled trials have found no added benefit over sham exposure, so ongoing research remains essential. RX-O2 can help you explore the evidence while keeping your broader recovery plan connected.
Plan with your care team
Start with your diagnosis and a coordinated plan
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Share the relevant records
Bring injury dates, neurologic assessments, imaging when relevant, rehabilitation history, medications, and the symptoms most affecting daily life.
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Agree on the purpose of treatment
Review the evidence with your treating specialist and hyperbaric clinician. Identify specific outcomes to follow, the alternatives, and the reasons HBOT may or may not be appropriate.
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Set reassessment points
If treatment is prescribed, discuss the schedule, travel, costs, safety screening, and how progress will be reviewed. A published study schedule does not determine an individual prescription.
Your consultation is an opportunity to ask about expected benefits, treatment experience, scheduling, costs, and follow-up. We review suitability with you and coordinate with your treating clinicians when appropriate.
The RX-O2 difference
A team and setting you can get to know
Medical oversight from the start
Medical Director Marvin A. Borsand, DO, FACOS, FACCS, HCC, leads clinical oversight. A licensed medical provider reviews suitability and prescribes treatment when appropriate.
Medical hyperbaric equipment
Our clinics use FDA-cleared hard-shell chambers. You breathe 100% medical oxygen through a mask or hood while the chamber is pressurized with air.
Preparation and communication
NHSA-certified hyperbaric technicians explain the visit and monitor treatment. Tell us about ear pressure, positioning, mobility, or confinement concerns before you arrive.
Before your visit
Traumatic brain injury & concussion FAQs
Can HBOT help persistent concussion symptoms?
Some studies report cognitive or symptom improvements, while other controlled trials have not confirmed an added benefit. Your clinical history and goals should guide a careful discussion.
Do mild-TBI studies apply to severe brain injury?
Not automatically. Injury severity, timing, and the outcomes being measured can differ substantially.
Should I stop concussion rehabilitation?
No. Continue the care recommended by your treating team and coordinate any additional treatment with them.
Where can I discuss this research near Phoenix?
RX-O2 has clinics in Scottsdale and Glendale. Bring your records or ask your provider to send a referral so that the team can review your circumstances and explain whether an outpatient consultation is appropriate.
Local care, two Valley locations
Explore HBOT in Scottsdale or Glendale
Looking for a hyperbaric consultation near Phoenix? RX-O2 offers two locations for patients across the Valley. Call the clinic closest to you for appointment availability and help planning repeat visits.
RX-O2 Scottsdale
9035 E Pima Center Parkway #11Scottsdale, AZ 85258
An East Valley option for patients in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and nearby communities.
RX-O2 Glendale
5626 N 51st AvenueGlendale, AZ 85301
A West Valley option for patients in Glendale, Peoria, Phoenix, and nearby communities.
Take the next step toward a personalized plan
You do not have to interpret the research alone. Meet with our Scottsdale or Glendale team to discuss your goals, ask questions, and explore whether HBOT is right for you.
Sources & further reading
- Publication indexed in PubMed. 2026. A 2026 review reported cognitive and sleep signals.
- Boussi-Gross R, et al. PloS one. 11/15/2013. A persistent-concussion study reported improved cognition.
- Publication indexed in PubMed. 2015. A military trial helps explain the uncertainty.
Browse the complete HBOT research library · Learn how HBOT works
Selected research checked October 20, 2026. Evidence continues to evolve. This educational overview supports a conversation with your treating clinician; individual results vary.
Read HBOT safety and treatment FAQs. Discuss treatment risks, medicines, implants, and relevant medical history with your clinician. Equipment clearance does not establish effectiveness for every condition.